Been dealing with general business

Getting moved and settled takes SOOO long when you have two young children! I just cannot believe how difficult it is to get anything done! I find that I can either unpack a box OR cook dinner and do one cleaning item (vaccuuming, bathroom cleaning, fold laundry, etc). If my children didn't need to be so entertained. If they would just sleep by themselves, instead of on my boob (eh-hem, ELYAS!). Oy. A good friend, Catherine, says this is a hard time, when they are so little and still needing a lot of supervision and interaction. Really, if during Elyas' nap I could set Leila up with a project and get a box or 2 put away, I would be done in a few days. Of course, then the mommy guilt sets in - am I spending enough QUALITY time with my children? (I must say, I am doing great without a tv around. I'm on the internet less, and we're getting out and about now that we have things to walk too). So, I feel like if I could just do one fun thing for the kids each day, and one thing for me, it'd be a good balance, but the little humans just don't think that way! Anyway, I must say that Leila is a great cook and an excellent help in the kitchen and it has really worked well for me to have her help prepare meals. She loves it, it takes longer, but I enjoy the company. And she's learning, which is the point, right? This is unschooling in action, right?

Elyas... he's SUCH a sweet little guy, but dammit if it wouldn't make life easier if the boy would just learn to crawl! He has no apparent interest in crawling, but he's quite determined to walk. If he's sitting and I walk by him he lunges for my leg and tries to pull himself up. When he pulls up to a stand (with assistance), he tries to push your hands away and step off. He's sure he can do it. But he'd be soo much happier if he was mobile, and like it or not, he's still a few months away from walking, his body is just not ready yet. And I don't know what's been up with him, but he has been waking at 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 every night! I'm just freakin exhausted.

Ali is quite busy too. This is a crunch time for him; he's got to get a draft of his dissertation in, he's got to do his CV, has a conference next week... But if I hear "if I don't do this I'm not going to go on the job market..." one more time, I'm going to explode. I know it is hard. I know he needs the time, and I am trying so hard to give him the time he needs and be understanding about it, but I also need some domestic help from him. I'm trying not to ask for too much, but I'm tired and it's HARD to be alone with a 2.5 year old and an almost 7 month old! They are DRAINING! And the statement, it gets to me. He knows I want and need him to go on the job market, and I know he doesn't mean it this way, but it just makes me feel like if I don't give him all the time in the world, then it will be MY fault he doesn't go on the job market. Which is very unfair and I feel like I shouldn't have to feel that way.

Oy, anyway, I've been MIA from the blogs a bit lately. I've been crocheting in the evenings instead of sitting on here which is quite pleasant and cathartic. I'll post some pics of what I've done, I'm off to upload one now.