The Magic of Christmas....

Matteo's "No"

Bao is Matteo's giraffe. This is a game that my cousin Lucy played with him this past week, and I tried to get it on tape...as you can see he only played for a short time and then he snuggled again...you can see Bao in the last shot...

Chuc Mừng Giáng Sinh, Buon Natale, Joyeux Noël, Feliz Navidad, Kala Xpistoyena, Merry Christmas.....

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A very quiet Christmas eve...After a very fun morning of riding his new car and some play time Matteo went down for his nap at his usual time but woke up almost 3 hours later with a low fever. We were supposed to spend the latter part of the day and have dinner with one of my sisters and some friends. My sister made paella, as per the Italian tradition to eat seafood/fish only on Christmas eve.  She sent me a photo, it looked delicious. I didn't join them and instead Teo and I stayed in and snuggled and watched his favourite show, Thomas the Tank engine. I had planned to drop off a few gifts before heading to my sister's but none of that took place. I'm hoping that the rest he had helped. At one point in the early evening, his fever seemed to be gone and that's when he played with his car and then had some soup for dinner. But unfortunately when he went down for his nightly sleep, he was hot again. Checked in on him at 9:30 and again the fever seems to have lifted...Hope it stays away. So I'm very glad we didn't plan too much today and as it was so cold out, it turned out to be a good day/night to stay in. I think Christmas eve has always been more special for me, and quiet is exactly how I like it. So a perfect Christmas eve with my little boy, except for the fever part!...Buon Natale, Merry Christmas to everyone.

'Twas the day before Christmas and all through the house....

...a little boy was whirling, in every room in the house....I decided to surprise Matteo with one of his Santa presents today so that he could really have some fun. As I suspected he loved it.....his first car, which is also musical.  While he was playing I put it in the hallway and it took a while for him to notice it but when he did, he focused on it for some time. As I had hoped, he loved that it was musical and had lots of buttons to push and play with.  As you will see with the photos, there was some pushing of buttons, some riding, some making music, some pushing the cart, and even some dancing.  A very low key morning for us.  So very nice to just not have much to do other than entertain a little boy.

A present for mommy....

Tis the season to look for a new daycare....

It has been a very challenging year, being a mom for the first time, and trying to juggle work and parenting to a special little boy.  It is ending on a very challenging tone as well....Matteo and I have been forced to find a new day care for him. It has been very sad to feel and be told that your child's needs and your needs are "an inconvenience."

As a single parent I have tried to balance not working full time, with some work at home, and many shorter daycare stays, but unfortunately this has not worked out...  It has been a learning experience that even though you discussed certain things about your child's needs and your own, and signed a contract that stated certain things, and was told it was "no problem"  and tried to bring these up....it can all fall apart quite quickly.  Then to add further humiliation to the whole experience to be told you are "hurting your family" and "you are ruining your daycare providers' Christmas"....ummmm let's see daycare provider home still has two incomes, my home, no daycare, mommy doesn't work, no income??? and who is the one who has to find a new daycare??.....definitely "not a good fit"...for these few days Matteo is being cared for by a cousin who also runs a daycare.  Fortunately a couple of her children are already gone on vacation so she was able to take him.  Hard on Matteo, hard on his mommy but so grateful to my cousin. Hard also on my pocket book as I will still be paying for the remaining two weeks without having Matteo in the daycare. This was my choice, but what would you do if it was your child and you were told such things...would you continue to bring your child there? I think not!!

I am sure we will find another spot for Matteo that will take care of his needs as well as his mommy's, but for now all of this has left a very very very sour taste in my mouth as well as my heart.  Happening at this time of year is unfortunate but it will not ruin our Christmas. Matteo has the love of so many people in his life and they are the ones who we will share it with. Most especially he has my love and I will always continue to advocate for his needs and for what is best for him, as I am both mother and father to him and his parent.

Christmas Magic