So many things...

Do you ever feel like your life is running in fast forward?

This week seems particularly so for me. I'm not sure why, but the week seems to have flown by, every day seems like it's over just after it starts, and so many things have been running through my head.

First I'll start with our road trip. C and I set out on a five hour road trip last Friday morning, and really, I couldn't have asked for much better behaviour! She didn't nap in the car, but music, books, toys, and occasional rest stops kept her occupied for most of the trip. When I got lost (twice!) and we ended up on the road for an extra hour, a Raffi DVD did the trick of making it pleasant for her (and it hid the non-Mommy-like language I was muttering under my breath while I looked at the map again)! She had fun on the trip (besides some anxiety at bedtime in a new house), and enjoyed the beach, playing with the dogs, and especially my friend's Sesame Street apartment (remember that?).

The trip home went well too, and C even napped! Car trips with toddlers are tricky because they can't play with so many of the thing that older children can, or else they need help, which is impossible when you're driving 110kmph! C can't even reach the seat pocket in front of her car seat! I tied a canvas bag onto the backseat armrest next to her car seat so that she could reach some toys and books, and a cup holder was within reach. I also made sure to have non-messy snacks available, which I passed back to her at regular intervals (raisins, crackers, dried cereal, pretzels, animal crackers, etc.). The small things were in her snack cup so they wouldn't spill - I love that thing! Before we left, I made some new CDs with kids music and adult but kid-friendly music. I also interspersed the songs with stories (Kiddie Records Weekly is a great resource, as is author Robert Munsch's website, where you can download free stories). I also brought a portable DVD player and some DVDs, which were the last things to be pulled out on the trip. We have a DVD recorder at home, so I made a few DVDs with short video clips, and brought along some favourite DVDs as well (like Raffi and Where the Wild Things Are). A few new and borrowed toys passed back to C every now and then also kept things interesting for her. If an adult had been riding in the backseat with her, we could have brought crafts or art supplies, but C was by herself, so it would have just made her frustrated (or made a horrible mess).

There have been a lot of things going on at work this week, and a lot of deadlines, which has been eating up a lot of my free time (I work part-time from home), and we have a mountain of laundry that is thankfully shrinking. But the weather has been summer-like (32 degrees C yesterday!), and we spent the better part of the day outside with friends yesterday.

My mind has been wandering a bit, though. Sometimes I just sit back and watch C - my girl is growing up so fast! I'm loving this time with her so much, but regretting seeing it fly by. She gives me big hugs and tells me she loves me; I'm so grateful that she's a cuddly girl. I love her so much, and when I hear about violence towards children, it makes me feel ill. My heart breaks to hear about the Tori Stafford case (in which an 8 year old was abducted from her school and murder charges were laid this week). It makes me so scared to think that someone could hurt my little girl some day - just makes me want to hold and protect her forever, although she's growing up and I know I can't.

Those are morbid thoughts to end on, so I'll leave you with a picture of a 2-year old, blissfully happy on the beach. We should all enjoy each moment this much!