Damian & Katerina = How To [vil-helm] #101

Alyce is walking, teething, and Keeping parents on their toes with her new skills and antics, a fun update on baby's milestones. Damian and Katerina navigate toddlerhood, seeking routines, and sanity, while sharing joys and chaos of parenting and work life balance. Boujee and Dapper discuss their favorite things, from yogurt to walks, and how they find joy in everyday moments with their humans, amidst the cold winter weather.

Tiny Tales from Alyce's Weekly Wonders

Hello everyone! It’s me, Alyce, and guess what? I’m walking! Yes, you read that right! I’m on my feet, zooming around the house, trying to discover every single little thing in every single little corner. My legs are so fast now, and I’m just a blur of excitement wherever I go. My mom and dad are doing their best to keep up, but trust me, they have their work cut out for them. If they think they can sit me down for a feed, well, that’s another story. Let’s just say I’m not too keen on being held in one spot these days. I’d rather be moving!

I’ve figured out how to pull myself up from any position—I can even do it from the floor! And when I crawl? Watch out, because I’m as fast as lightning. My favorite thing right now is chasing after Boujee and Dapper, the dogs. I see them, and it’s like a race—catch me if you can! (Spoiler: I’m super quick, so they usually can't.) But don't worry, they’re totally into it too, and we have so much fun together. Sometimes I can’t believe how cool they are!

Speaking of things that are tough, getting into my car seat is like a little mission now. Sitting still? No thanks. I’ve got places to go, and I don’t want to wait! But I guess I have to, even if I’m not a fan of it.

Now, let’s talk about eating. Have you heard of baby-led weaning? Well, my dad has, and he’s started me on this new morning routine with finger foods. It’s awesome! I get to pick up my own food and feel all the different textures. So far, my favorite things are banana sticks (yum!), strawberries (so squishy!), eggs (so tasty!), and water (so important!). Oh, and water is really, really important right now because my teeth are coming in, and it hurts so much. Big teeth are popping up on both sides, and my mouth is just sore. So I’ve been getting a lot of Tylenol and chewing on frozen noodles to help me feel better.

Anyway, it’s been quite a week of new discoveries, lots of love, and a little bit of teething pain (but that’s okay, I’ve got my family and my dogs to help me through!). So much to explore, so much to learn, and I’m just getting started!

Big hugs from me to you!
Love, Alyce 💕

Toddler Takeover!

Well, folks, we've officially entered the toddler zone, and let me tell you, it's a whole new level of… everything. If you haven't heard from us lately, it's because we've been in survival mode, navigating the exciting (and often exhausting) world of Alyce's burgeoning independence.

Remember those early days when Alyce’s first teeth were a monumental occasion? Oh, how naive we were! Those were the calm before the storm. Now, every new tooth arrival is accompanied by a symphony of protests, dramatic sighs, and a level of finger-pointing that would make a seasoned lawyer proud. But it’s not just the teething; it’s the whole toddler package. Alyce has this uncanny ability to zero in on the exact moment we think we have a handle on things. It's like she has a tiny internal clock that chimes "Chaos O'Clock" just as we pour our first cup of coffee.

Life has been extra crazy with the new year and work in full swing! At work, we’re setting goals, and that’s something we’re also working on at home. Goal number one is to come up with a routine that works for all of us.

In a desperate search for routine inspiration, I turned to YouTube (as one does). While some families seemed to have it all figured out (or at least faked it well), it was the homesteaders with their batching systems that caught my eye. So, for the past couple of weeks, Katerina and I have been trying to find a system that works. Let’s just say, it’s been… an adventure. One morning, Katerina gamely attempted my meticulously planned morning routine: Alyce, the dogs, and breakfast, all conquered before 8:15 am, allowing me a guilt-free Peloton session. I breezed downstairs, ready for my post-workout shower, only to find a scene of utter domestic disarray. Toys were strewn across the living room, and Katerina stood amidst the chaos, a look of bewildered exhaustion on her face. "This is chaos!" she exclaimed. "How do you start so many things?" The crazy thing about routines is that they take time to develop. We’ve started finding things that work. I put on nature shows in 8k (the soothing music is key!), naming each animal for Alyce. While she's mesmerized by capuchin monkeys, I whip up scrambled egg strips and bananas. Taking turns on morning duty is a game-changer, and it's so good to be back on the Peloton.

Reflections:
Honestly, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster. It’s definitely challenging to maintain focus and stay present when there’s a tiny human constantly testing every boundary. It’s a bit like trying to manage multiple projects at work, but with significantly less sleep and a lot more… enthusiastic feedback. My ADHD brain is constantly trying to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of toddlerhood. But amidst the chaos, there are these incredible moments of pure joy. Like this morning, when she dropped her toy at Dapper and said, “Dap Dap,” then giggled uncontrollably. It’s those little moments that make all the chaos worthwhile. Finding a rhythm, even if it’s constantly shifting, helps me stay grounded and be a more present dad.

Toddlerhood is definitely a wild ride, but we wouldn't trade it for the world. We’re learning to embrace the chaos, laugh at the mishaps, and cherish the precious moments of connection.

Thanks for being a part of our journey!

Woof Woof! 🐾

Bonjour les amis! And Mon Dieu! There’s one thing we, Boujee and Dapper, need to talk about... Alyce and her toys! Oh la la! You should see the mess she makes, tossing them around like they’re part of some crazy game. But we can’t be too upset with her because, well, we also have something in common... her teeth are bothering her! Sacré bleu, poor little thing! She’s been chewing on all sorts of things, and who can blame her? We all know a little plastic goes a long way, right?

In fact, the other day, we were lucky enough to witness the dad washing out a cup of drinkable yogurt. Of course, like the wonderful creatures we are, we knew exactly what was going on. Voila! He gave us each a cup, and voilà—a chewy party! It was like a French bulldog dream come true. You can’t tell us that yogurt doesn’t make everything better, especially when it comes in a cup that we can chew, too. C'est magnifique!

Now, let's take a moment to discuss the weather. Ahem. It is still French Bulldog weather, and for us, that means one thing: WALKS. Where are our walks, huh? Our parents have been so busy now that they’re back to work, and we—shh—must admit, it’s been a bit froid (that’s French for chilly, in case you didn’t know). And not just a little chilly, either, oh no. It's been downright vortex-y. We’re getting those freezing winds that make even us French bulldogs reconsider our life choices. But still... Where are our walks?

But let’s rewind a bit to last week. We went to the Royal Botanical Gardens, and guess what? It was all snow! Boujee and I had so much fun exploring, running through the white fluff like proper adventurers. Of course, our dear Kat didn’t have as much fun because... Ooh la la, she took the wrong stroller for snow exploration. What was she thinking? The poor thing was struggling to push that thing through the snow, but we had the time of our lives! We were hopping, sniffing, and discovering new paths like little snow-covered explorers.

Family time is always the best time, even if Kat and our dad are too busy to take us on walks. We will survive, though, as long as there’s a cup of yogurt (and a plastic thing or two) to chew on. We’ll just keep our paws crossed that the weather gets a little friendlier for our daily adventures.

Until then, bisous from us, Boujee and Dapper, your favorite French bulldogs, living the good life, one chew at a time!