Sending lots of drooly kisses and cuddly hugs your way!

Love,

Alyce 💕

Turning the Page: Juggling Parenting, Partnerships, and Professional Growth

Hello I hope this message finds you all in good health and high spirits. As many of you know, I recently returned to work after a four-month parental leave, and what an incredible journey it has been. Baby Alyce has grown so much in such a short time, and the work landscape seems to have shifted just as quickly.

In Canada, we’re fortunate to have the option for extended parental leaves, which is quite different from our American neighbors, who typically only take one month away. Spending these past four months fully immersed in the new and delightful challenges of parenting alongside Kat has been nothing short of life-changing. It’s a stark contrast to the whirlwind experience of our friends in the U.S., and it has given us a precious opportunity to bond as a new family.

Returning to the office was like stepping into a familiar book during a later chapter. The dynamics have shifted, and catching up on all the office politics was an adventure in itself. Remember the leader who seemed to undermine my efforts last year? It turns out, changes were afoot there too. It’s a potent reminder that some things are beyond our control, and fretting about them often proves fruitless.

While I missed my colleagues and the camaraderie we share, I also recognized a dissonance. The love for the people I work with is strong, but the frustration with outdated processes and systems—like tracking projects in Excel and managing intake with Word documents—sometimes makes me want to pull my hair out. We’re a technology team; it’s ironic, isn’t it?

Despite these challenges, the team did an outstanding job keeping things moving forward in my absence. Their dedication and effort in steering the ship have been commendable, and I’m truly grateful to return to such a supportive environment.

Yet, as I sit at my desk, I find myself reminiscing about the quiet moments watching every new hair sprout on Alyce’s head, and the quality time spent with Kat and our dogs. These memories are treasures that remind me of the fast-paced passing of time and the precious moments we must savor.

Now, as we turn the page to this next chapter, the task ahead is to balance the roles of being a dedicated parent, a supportive partner, and a committed team member. Life, with all its new responsibilities and old challenges, marches on, and we adapt and grow through it all.

Thank you all for your continued support and love. Here’s to embracing whatever comes our way with grace and gusto!

Woof Woof! 🐾

Bonjour fur friends and hoomans! It’s your favorite French bulldog duo, Boujee and Dapper, back with another tail-wagging blog post. And oh boy, do we have some pawsitively hilarious stories to share from our latest adventures!

First things first, let’s talk about the celestial extravaganza – the eclipse! Our grandma came over to watch this astronomical phenomenon with us. You should have seen us all with our fancy schmancy eclipse glasses. Okay, okay, we admit, no glasses for us pups (safety first!), but we enjoyed the excitement and extra treats while Grandma and the fam oohed and aahed.

Speaking of Grandma, you know how grandmas are, right? They spoil you rotten! Every time she visits, it’s like our treat stash magically doubles and our belly rubs triple. We tried showing her our best tricks, but between you and me, we were really just angling for more treats. Can you blame us?

Now, let’s not forget about our tiny human, Alyce. Dapper here, and I gotta say, I take my job as her furry bodyguard very seriously. Whether she’s napping or playing, I’m on paw-trol duty. It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it, and who better than a dashing Frenchie like me?

Even though we love sniffing around for toys on our family walks (because, let’s face it, every walk is a treasure hunt), we’ve never laid a paw on Alyce’s toys. We’re gentlemen, after all. We just like to keep our eyes peeled, in case any of those toys decide to, you know, volunteer themselves for a bit of doggy inspection.

Speaking of our family walks, they’re literally the highlight of our weekends. There’s nothing like a good ol’ family parade with our humans. Lately, though, it’s been getting warmer, and let’s just say we’re not exactly fans of the heat. Us Frenchies prefer our weather like we prefer our snacks – cool and easy to digest. But worry not! Our humans have it all figured out with our special wagon rides when our paws declare, “No more!” And when there’s water involved, you bet we’re the first to dive in (well, more like cautiously waddle towards it).

So, as the days get warmer and our walks get splashier, remember to keep cool and treat your paws to as much fun as possible. And maybe sneak in an extra treat or two (we won’t tell if you don’t).

Until next time, keep those tails wagging and noses sniffing. Boujee and Dapper, signing off – after our nap, of course! ❤️

Thank you to our dear Vilhelmians for following our adventures! Hit like and subscribe for more! Get ready for a wild ride! Hit that subscribe button to join our awesome Substack community! Vilheeeeeelm!