I have no time or energy to care about sentence structure or paragraph flow today (or ever, for that matter) so this is a Randoms post.
We went to Michigan in August. We drove 18 hours straight through, over night, with two children under three. It was an eye-opening experience. I would rather not repeat it. A small snapshot of the drive up: 11:30 pm, 75 mph on the highway, somewhere in Kentucky (an awful state)-- Carter wakes up screaming with a night terror, which in turn wakes up Owen who starts crying. Carter then becomes "aware" and while still screaming and crying hysterically says "Pleeeease, let me out (of carseat)!! I don't want to go to my birthday party! Mooommmmmmyyyy!". Both kids screaming and crying. Officially all hell broke loose and we stopped at a rest area and let the kids out of the car. Everyone got a refresher then it was back in the van, dvd player on, snacks and sleep (for them, at least).
It was a great trip and I really miss my family.
The day after we got back from vacation Carter started 3 year-old preschool. Woohoo! Time away from each other two mornings a week! We both needed it and he also gets to learn stuff from other people. He's a little sponge for new info.
*****
All about Carter:
Every commercial he sees now he says "I want that thing!". Little Capitalist.
He creates "Scenes", as he calls them. They are random collections of things that he places just so and then creates some bizarre story around them.
He trashes my house.
He still calls himself Toh-Toh but is working hard at saying Carter. He's gotten to where he says "Taaar-Ter!" He is proud. We are proud. He shall overcome....and if not, then people will just think we are bizarre parents who named him after the dog in the Wizard of Oz.
He and I fight pirates (imaginary) together with pointy objects (swords). He is the Captain and I am the First Mate. Obviously.
He says he wants to be a Teacher and a Doctor and he is regularly giving us Check-ups with his doctor kit.
For Halloween this year he says he wants to be the Big Bad Wolf, or a Pirate, or Spiderman, or a Doctor.....or a Doctor-Pirate......or Tinkerbell. Hmmmm.
Spongebob Squarepants is the Make-everything-better-okay-I'll-stop-crying-or-hitting-my-brother Solution. I hate spongebob but I get desperate.
He pretends that he is a Mommy and has two baby dolls that he cares for. Many of his sentences start with "When I am a mommy...." and "Mommy, I am a mommy and you are a Toh-Toh"
A couple of weeks ago he walked into the kitchen, crinkled up his nose and very vehemently stated, "Mommy. I am a mommy and I pee-pee out my 'gina." I had a hard time keeping my face straight.
He is the Pantsless Wonder.
He has 3 freckles on his nose.
He knows his ABC's and likes to sing songs to himself.
He tries my patience, presses my buttons, and drives me crazy but he is absolutely marvelous and fascinating.
*****
Our weeks fly by now since we have such a routine. Our current weekly schedule is as follows:
Monday- Hell day. This day of the week we are barely dressed, usually crying and the house is disgusting. Dinner is a free-for-all. I call my sister and harass friends via text and voicemails. I try to go running.
Tuesday- A.M., Preschool for Carter. Owen naps so then it's Mommy Time. P.M., ransack the house. Feeling more put-together today I usually cook something decent. I call my sister.
Wednesday- Countdown til the weekend. Wednesdays are generally the Pay Day and the grocery/chore day. I get to look forward to an evening show and.......I call my sister. Running maybe.
Thursday- Yeah! School again! Tomorrow's Friday! The afternoon seems really long but hey, I usually get to watch another show this evening. :) My sister calls me.
Friday - Yippeee! An American slacker day for no other reason than because we've been raised to worship Fridays as the day we can relax, dress-down and get ready for the Weekend. For us this means Kevin is gonna be home for two days and things are "different" around the house. I may or may not talk to my sister.
Weekend - Too short. Football. Laundry. Errands. Big breakfasts. A possible hour "Sleep-in" for the Director of Development. Family outings. Yard work. Very rarely talk to sister or anybody. Run?
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Friday, September 25, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
I'm starting to dislike titles
What's wrong with me? I've really lost that Blogging Feeling. I'm not sure why but I'm hoping it will come back again. I suppose it may have something to do with my anxiety/panic issues the last 3 months or so. Most of the time at night I am trying to deal with all sorts of physical symptoms and I try not to go to bed too late because they just get worse the later I stay up. Make sense? No? I know. I'm a mess. Anyhow, one day I will be back to normal. I am trying to just have patience. Until that time....I may be a bit sporadic and flighty when it comes to the blog. I am trying not to drown myself in guilt because I'm not writing down all the amazingly funny things that my kids are doing or the mundane things that fill our days.
Here is a recap of the last couple of weeks:
Ahem.
Dad came down for a visit and we mostly just hung around the house. Everytime he comes down we talk about going to visit an Antebellum mansion or doing something culturally significant and then we just can't get our shit together. Really, it's because I'm either pregnant or caring for little ones, though. He got to really bond with Carter though and this was priceless. Carter ran him ragged for 11 days straight and I barely heard a complaint from the old man. It was great to see them playing so much. My dad is great because he is creative and just a big kid himself, so he makes up games from virtually nothing and he always gives 100% of himself to them. Seeing him play with Carter made me remember why I thought my dad was so great when I was a little girl. He makes the perfect playmate for a child! In fact, at family reunions or family gatherings my dad is like the Pied Piper. You will most likely see him being trailed by all the little cousins, nieces and nephews. It's always been like that.
I really miss my family. Like I've said before, it becomes kind of like a physical ache.
Anyway, hopefully we will see them all this summer. If all goes well we will be driving up to Michigan for a week's vacay. I can't wait. I'm already planning my itinerary....it mostly revolves around food....and stores. :) Lawd, help me! That drive is gonna be awful but I just can't imagine flying with all our crap. Plus, I hate flying since I became a parent.
So my dad left on Tuesday. Kevin was working out of town all week so that was a drag. I had a doctor appointment, went to the zoo, attempted storytime at the library (not so good this week), hung out with a pal and plotted my casino/hotel getaway. Man! I am lame. I was pretty damned excited to get out of town. Even though we still had to bring the baby with us (Grammy & Papa are just not up to that yet), it still feels like a vacation. Even though I am not attending the wedding we are down here for, I still feel like I'm "doing" something. Even though I'm not wearing a cute dress and heels and having cocktails, I still feel like I'm footloose and fancy free. Weird. I need to get out more.
What I am actually doing is: sitting in the dark in our hotel room with the baby asleep in the pack-n-play, listening to Beethoven, eating cheesecake and playing on the computer. My big plans for the morning include getting up at the crack-o-ass (Owen's favorite time of day), having a breakfast buffet at the casino downstairs (casino hotels are totally strange, btw), then gonna take Owie-Bo for his first pool experience. We'll check out, drive home, I'll scoop up my two year old little whiz kid and I'll squeeze him like we've been apart for weeks. Just a little night away is amazing.
P.S. Owen has discovered his hands. He kinda waves to himself and then squawks with glee. He says DaDaDaDaDadadada, BaababaMaaMaMaMa, *raspberry*, HaabababaEEEEK, YaaayayyayayYAYAYAYA, *screech*, *hysterical laughter*. He smiles at everybody (especially the ladies) and when he dissolves into baby giggles I see grown, hardened men turn all googly and speak in high-pitched voices. He has such a personality and is one of the happiest, sweetest babies I've ever known. Honestly, all he does is laugh. He totally cracks me up. Kevin and I always discuss how different our boys have been so far. Carter had a lot more frustration, impatience and drama as an infant....well, even now he is a little more high maintenance. It's like night and day sometimes. I can't wait to see how their personalities differ as they grow older.
Anyway, off to take more lame quizzes on facebook and maybe shower before I watch tv on mute. :) Ahhh, living it up. Ha
Here is a recap of the last couple of weeks:
Ahem.
Dad came down for a visit and we mostly just hung around the house. Everytime he comes down we talk about going to visit an Antebellum mansion or doing something culturally significant and then we just can't get our shit together. Really, it's because I'm either pregnant or caring for little ones, though. He got to really bond with Carter though and this was priceless. Carter ran him ragged for 11 days straight and I barely heard a complaint from the old man. It was great to see them playing so much. My dad is great because he is creative and just a big kid himself, so he makes up games from virtually nothing and he always gives 100% of himself to them. Seeing him play with Carter made me remember why I thought my dad was so great when I was a little girl. He makes the perfect playmate for a child! In fact, at family reunions or family gatherings my dad is like the Pied Piper. You will most likely see him being trailed by all the little cousins, nieces and nephews. It's always been like that.
I really miss my family. Like I've said before, it becomes kind of like a physical ache.
Anyway, hopefully we will see them all this summer. If all goes well we will be driving up to Michigan for a week's vacay. I can't wait. I'm already planning my itinerary....it mostly revolves around food....and stores. :) Lawd, help me! That drive is gonna be awful but I just can't imagine flying with all our crap. Plus, I hate flying since I became a parent.
So my dad left on Tuesday. Kevin was working out of town all week so that was a drag. I had a doctor appointment, went to the zoo, attempted storytime at the library (not so good this week), hung out with a pal and plotted my casino/hotel getaway. Man! I am lame. I was pretty damned excited to get out of town. Even though we still had to bring the baby with us (Grammy & Papa are just not up to that yet), it still feels like a vacation. Even though I am not attending the wedding we are down here for, I still feel like I'm "doing" something. Even though I'm not wearing a cute dress and heels and having cocktails, I still feel like I'm footloose and fancy free. Weird. I need to get out more.
What I am actually doing is: sitting in the dark in our hotel room with the baby asleep in the pack-n-play, listening to Beethoven, eating cheesecake and playing on the computer. My big plans for the morning include getting up at the crack-o-ass (Owen's favorite time of day), having a breakfast buffet at the casino downstairs (casino hotels are totally strange, btw), then gonna take Owie-Bo for his first pool experience. We'll check out, drive home, I'll scoop up my two year old little whiz kid and I'll squeeze him like we've been apart for weeks. Just a little night away is amazing.
P.S. Owen has discovered his hands. He kinda waves to himself and then squawks with glee. He says DaDaDaDaDadadada, BaababaMaaMaMaMa, *raspberry*, HaabababaEEEEK, YaaayayyayayYAYAYAYA, *screech*, *hysterical laughter*. He smiles at everybody (especially the ladies) and when he dissolves into baby giggles I see grown, hardened men turn all googly and speak in high-pitched voices. He has such a personality and is one of the happiest, sweetest babies I've ever known. Honestly, all he does is laugh. He totally cracks me up. Kevin and I always discuss how different our boys have been so far. Carter had a lot more frustration, impatience and drama as an infant....well, even now he is a little more high maintenance. It's like night and day sometimes. I can't wait to see how their personalities differ as they grow older.
Anyway, off to take more lame quizzes on facebook and maybe shower before I watch tv on mute. :) Ahhh, living it up. Ha
Friday, April 17, 2009
A week in review
Busy, busy, busy. My dad's been in town the last week and we have been keeping busier than usual...so no time or energy to blog. In fact, I'm falling quite behind. I still need to update the pictures on here. As Owen gets older, it just gets harder to have any free time and with a houseguest...well, you know.
Some things that we've done this week: Easter baskets, Egg hunt (very funny), visiting German Baptist relatives in Hot Coffee, MS for work on old rocker (grrr, more on this later), refinishing another old chair and most likely coating my children in lead paint dust, calls to pediatric clinic regarding possible lead exposure, online research of lead poisoning, lost sleep over lead exposure, near mental breakdown because of horrible mothering skills, disastrous (and very short) Mommy & Me class where Carter trampled two babies and pushed two little girls down for no reason, lots of cooking, news that Kevins' father has some sort of lung growth, one exhausting trip to the zoo, repainting of now cleaned (former possible lead) chair, re-examination of household hazards and antique furniture, realization that I live in unstable biohazard.
Fun, huh?
Ah, more to come.
Some things that we've done this week: Easter baskets, Egg hunt (very funny), visiting German Baptist relatives in Hot Coffee, MS for work on old rocker (grrr, more on this later), refinishing another old chair and most likely coating my children in lead paint dust, calls to pediatric clinic regarding possible lead exposure, online research of lead poisoning, lost sleep over lead exposure, near mental breakdown because of horrible mothering skills, disastrous (and very short) Mommy & Me class where Carter trampled two babies and pushed two little girls down for no reason, lots of cooking, news that Kevins' father has some sort of lung growth, one exhausting trip to the zoo, repainting of now cleaned (former possible lead) chair, re-examination of household hazards and antique furniture, realization that I live in unstable biohazard.
Fun, huh?
Ah, more to come.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
The things we do and the things he says
Last Friday I took the boys to our Tiny Little Zoo and we had an awesome time. It had rained a whole bunch so no one else was out...I'm not sure why. We basically had the whole place to ourselves. The alligators were right up next to the railing (which was actually kinda disturbing) because their "lake" was so swollen with water, the zebras were running around and making zebra noises, the peacocks were in full display and we had an exclusively private choo-choo train ride. Now I know why celebrities have places closed down so that they can enjoy them. It's nice when the plebians aren't around ;)
On Sunday we took the boys to their very first baseball game. (Kevin's cousin is the coach at a community college in the area.) Neither of the boys paid much attention to the game but the experience was fun, anyway. I had a moment when I realized that my little "baby" was growing up and I teared up a bit. Let me paint the picture. We are set up in the shade under a tree with our snacks, chairs and toys to occupy the kids. There is a big grassy area and children running all over the place; big girls, little boys, big boys, etc... At first Carter didn't pay much attention to them but then after a while their antics caught his eye and he started edging closer and closer to them, kind of shuffling his feet. You could practically see him bristling with curiousity. Pretty soon he was running little circles close to the "big boys" and another little guy his age. I sat and watched him venture away from our little family unit and go off on his own. I watched him with fear that he would be shunned, I watched him with pride because it takes guts to go mingle with the big unknown kids out there, and I watched him with a mother bears' tension (just in case I needed to spring into action to save my baby bear). This was my moment. I realized that he is getting older now and I'm so amazed and proud.
He played with some of the kids for a little while and when we gathered all of our stuff up and finally made to leave I could hear him arguing with one of his new friends:
New Friend- That's my mom (pointing to nearby lady)
Carter- Mommy! (as I walk near) That's my mommy! (pointing past the lady to me)
New Friend- No. That's MY mom! (pointing to the lady)
Carter- Noo! That's MY mommy! (getting up and pointing angrily)
Nearby Lady/Mom- Are you his mommy? He told us his name was Toh-Toh.
Me-Hahahahahahaha. (I love him.)
*****
I now have a very picky eater on my hands.
Me- Do you want a rice cake?
Carter- Nooo, too ricey.
Me- Do you want a strawberry?
Carter- Nooo, too strawberry-y.
*****
Outside at his new picnic table, coloring with markers:
Me- Hmmm, I think I'll use.......Pink!
Carter- Yes, very good choice. I use......Gway.
*****
Sitting outside on the patio while Carter eats some mac & cheese at his table:
Me- I like your new table, man. You look like such a big boy.
Carter- Yeah, me growing so big. I such a big boy, you can't hear me.
Me- Ohhhhhkay (what?).
*****
Carter was playing in his sandbox which we moved to the back of the yard near the bushes for the shade. I was in the kitchen making a grocery list and I hear him yell for me so I poke my head out of the door to see what's wrong. He starts shouting that there is a "Bug in the bushes!!!" and it is bothering him so I told him to roar at it like a dinosaur if it bothers him again. I go back to making my list and a few minutes later I hear these faint, slightly offended "rooooaaar!!" 's. Funny little guy.
On Sunday we took the boys to their very first baseball game. (Kevin's cousin is the coach at a community college in the area.) Neither of the boys paid much attention to the game but the experience was fun, anyway. I had a moment when I realized that my little "baby" was growing up and I teared up a bit. Let me paint the picture. We are set up in the shade under a tree with our snacks, chairs and toys to occupy the kids. There is a big grassy area and children running all over the place; big girls, little boys, big boys, etc... At first Carter didn't pay much attention to them but then after a while their antics caught his eye and he started edging closer and closer to them, kind of shuffling his feet. You could practically see him bristling with curiousity. Pretty soon he was running little circles close to the "big boys" and another little guy his age. I sat and watched him venture away from our little family unit and go off on his own. I watched him with fear that he would be shunned, I watched him with pride because it takes guts to go mingle with the big unknown kids out there, and I watched him with a mother bears' tension (just in case I needed to spring into action to save my baby bear). This was my moment. I realized that he is getting older now and I'm so amazed and proud.
He played with some of the kids for a little while and when we gathered all of our stuff up and finally made to leave I could hear him arguing with one of his new friends:
New Friend- That's my mom (pointing to nearby lady)
Carter- Mommy! (as I walk near) That's my mommy! (pointing past the lady to me)
New Friend- No. That's MY mom! (pointing to the lady)
Carter- Noo! That's MY mommy! (getting up and pointing angrily)
Nearby Lady/Mom- Are you his mommy? He told us his name was Toh-Toh.
Me-Hahahahahahaha. (I love him.)
*****
I now have a very picky eater on my hands.
Me- Do you want a rice cake?
Carter- Nooo, too ricey.
Me- Do you want a strawberry?
Carter- Nooo, too strawberry-y.
*****
Outside at his new picnic table, coloring with markers:
Me- Hmmm, I think I'll use.......Pink!
Carter- Yes, very good choice. I use......Gway.
*****
Sitting outside on the patio while Carter eats some mac & cheese at his table:
Me- I like your new table, man. You look like such a big boy.
Carter- Yeah, me growing so big. I such a big boy, you can't hear me.
Me- Ohhhhhkay (what?).
*****
Carter was playing in his sandbox which we moved to the back of the yard near the bushes for the shade. I was in the kitchen making a grocery list and I hear him yell for me so I poke my head out of the door to see what's wrong. He starts shouting that there is a "Bug in the bushes!!!" and it is bothering him so I told him to roar at it like a dinosaur if it bothers him again. I go back to making my list and a few minutes later I hear these faint, slightly offended "rooooaaar!!" 's. Funny little guy.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Our weekend
For a weekend away with 2 sick kids, and one with teeth trying to break through his gums, it was surprisingly relaxing. We went up to Kevin's dad and step-mom's house and had a great time. No internet, minimal sports viewing, minimal cooking for ourselves (grammy is an awesome cook and I look forward to her meals every time we go), no lawn/yard work to keep the husband busy, no dishes to do or toys to pick up and the added benefit of more hands to hold the baby and entertain the toddler (Papa and Grammy are very popular with the kids). Plus, I got to eat some Indian food on Saturday before we went to a friends St. Patrick's Day Party/crawfish boil. Yuck to the crawfish. I don't eat them. It's not my thing. They basically creep me out. As kids we would pry them out of riverbanks .... not boil them up and eat them. I cringe while my husband sucks the spice out of their heads. Uggghhh.
But good grief, I crave Indian food all the time. Why doesn't our town have any good restaurants!? Argh. We had a yummy buffet lunch but I wish I didn't fill up so quick! It was so damn good I wanted to keep going back for more. Alas, I am a glutton. So basically my weekend revolved around food.
Today Owen's First Tooth made it's appearance with #2 running close behind. Why do I feel so proud? It's just a tooth. He is a wee bit fussy but not nearly as bad as Carter when he was teething. Carter was a teething maniac....for months. Owen just had a few crappy days and Voila! Here they are! Just another way they differ, I suppose.
I forgot to mention last week that I started running again. Aiiiyeeee. I am in the worst shape of my life. Seriously. I'm not just saying that. I can feel everything jiggling when I'm jogging and I'm tired after about ohhhhhhh 10 steps or so. God, what's happened? The first day I ran 1/4 of a mile, came home gasping for breath and proceeded to have a coughing fit for the next 30 minutes. I felt like I had just smoked 3 packs of Newports. Like I hadn't taken a deep breath in a decade. What the hell? Have I used my lungs in the past year or two? Anyway, the 2nd time I ran 1/2 mile and felt much better afterwards. Slowly but surely....
I will always hate running. I'll do it though.
But good grief, I crave Indian food all the time. Why doesn't our town have any good restaurants!? Argh. We had a yummy buffet lunch but I wish I didn't fill up so quick! It was so damn good I wanted to keep going back for more. Alas, I am a glutton. So basically my weekend revolved around food.
Today Owen's First Tooth made it's appearance with #2 running close behind. Why do I feel so proud? It's just a tooth. He is a wee bit fussy but not nearly as bad as Carter when he was teething. Carter was a teething maniac....for months. Owen just had a few crappy days and Voila! Here they are! Just another way they differ, I suppose.
I forgot to mention last week that I started running again. Aiiiyeeee. I am in the worst shape of my life. Seriously. I'm not just saying that. I can feel everything jiggling when I'm jogging and I'm tired after about ohhhhhhh 10 steps or so. God, what's happened? The first day I ran 1/4 of a mile, came home gasping for breath and proceeded to have a coughing fit for the next 30 minutes. I felt like I had just smoked 3 packs of Newports. Like I hadn't taken a deep breath in a decade. What the hell? Have I used my lungs in the past year or two? Anyway, the 2nd time I ran 1/2 mile and felt much better afterwards. Slowly but surely....
I will always hate running. I'll do it though.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Spring forward?
Was our weekend even a weekend? I was totally thrown off with the time shift (stupid, stupid daylight savings) and the fact that I barely saw my husband inside of our home, because he spent most of the daylight hours slaving away in our Amazon jungle--I mean our yard. (Please tell me why, oh why, we still have the ancient and moronic fall back-spring forward crap. Honestly, it messes with my head now that I have kids with bedtimes, nap schedules, feedings and am trying to keep a basic sanity level. I hear some states don't even do it....how the hell does that work?)
Anyway, we did get to hang out with some friends over take out Chinese for a while, which was a nice break (even though our kids fight like two WWF contenders). So the weekend wasn't totally about yard work. Carter got to roast some marshmallows and Owen jumped around in his exersaucer like a wildman. He is definitely gonna be my camping child. He was in the best mood that I've ever seen him at Crabby Time (5-7pm); all smiles and laughs. Woodsmoke should be the new scent for baby care products...so much better than baby powder scent. Haha. ;)
This morning I woke up, got my smiley bug out of the crib, got a running hug from my crazy-haired toddler and started getting ready for Mommy & Me. I couldn't believe it was Tuesday already! I had to reschedule an appointment with the preschool I'm sending Carter to in the fall since I forgot to go on Monday.... hmmmm, wait. Oh crap. Today is Monday, I realize. I'm an idiot. Now I have to call people back at preschool and tell them I'm coming today after all. Geez. Way to make an impression. Also, I realize I don't have Mommy & Me....so what the hell do I do now?
Yeah, it was a longish day.
The Big News: my little man got into the preschool I wanted. Woohoo! I was so worried about getting him a spot in the fall 3 year old class that I didn't have any time to think about what it really meant. So after I hung up the phone I stood there a minute and let it sink in. These are my thoughts:
Ahhhh! He's just a baby. He'll be scared. No one understands him like I do. He's sensitive, they won't realize it. They won't like him. He's too rowdy for school. What if they call me and tell me to come pick him up because he's not getting along with the other students? What if he feels like I abandoned him? What if he won't behave and listen to the teacher? What if he hits other kids? What if he has one of his tantrums and no one else can deal with it like I do? What if he doesn't learn at the same pace? What if he isn't potty trained by then? What if he has an accident? Maybe I'll just homeschool......yeah right.
Yes, immediately my brain sets off on it's Worry Train. *sigh* How do I even get through a normal day...really.
We headed up to the preschool this morning and Carter was very excited to see all the kids doing "school stuff". A nice lady even read him a book from the library cart. He was all cute toddler smiles.
*****
Carter and I play this game where we think of how big we love each other. When Owen is big enough, he'll play too but for now he just coos and gurgles. My sweetie pie. Anyway, tonight it went kinda like this:
Me- I love you as big as the ocean.
Carter- I love you as big as....my Wonder Pets book! (it's a really big book)
Me- I love you as big as the sky.
Carter- I love you as big as.....Daddy's belly! (he thought this one was a good one)
Me- I love you as big as the tallest tree in the world.
Carter- I love you as big as my house!
*****
Owen has been taking a mid day bottle the last few days. One step closer to the end of a very reluctant, although necessary, weaning process (for mommy and baby). I'm proud of him that he is finally taking a bottle but terribly sad at the same time to have had to make this decision in the first place.
Anyway, that's all for now. I do have to say that I am finding it harder to blog nowadays since my oldest doesn't nap and the youngest is now awake a lot more. The only time I get to do it is at night and if I go to bed early or try to clean up my monstrously, messy house, I'm out of blogging luck.
Anyway, we did get to hang out with some friends over take out Chinese for a while, which was a nice break (even though our kids fight like two WWF contenders). So the weekend wasn't totally about yard work. Carter got to roast some marshmallows and Owen jumped around in his exersaucer like a wildman. He is definitely gonna be my camping child. He was in the best mood that I've ever seen him at Crabby Time (5-7pm); all smiles and laughs. Woodsmoke should be the new scent for baby care products...so much better than baby powder scent. Haha. ;)
This morning I woke up, got my smiley bug out of the crib, got a running hug from my crazy-haired toddler and started getting ready for Mommy & Me. I couldn't believe it was Tuesday already! I had to reschedule an appointment with the preschool I'm sending Carter to in the fall since I forgot to go on Monday.... hmmmm, wait. Oh crap. Today is Monday, I realize. I'm an idiot. Now I have to call people back at preschool and tell them I'm coming today after all. Geez. Way to make an impression. Also, I realize I don't have Mommy & Me....so what the hell do I do now?
Yeah, it was a longish day.
The Big News: my little man got into the preschool I wanted. Woohoo! I was so worried about getting him a spot in the fall 3 year old class that I didn't have any time to think about what it really meant. So after I hung up the phone I stood there a minute and let it sink in. These are my thoughts:
Ahhhh! He's just a baby. He'll be scared. No one understands him like I do. He's sensitive, they won't realize it. They won't like him. He's too rowdy for school. What if they call me and tell me to come pick him up because he's not getting along with the other students? What if he feels like I abandoned him? What if he won't behave and listen to the teacher? What if he hits other kids? What if he has one of his tantrums and no one else can deal with it like I do? What if he doesn't learn at the same pace? What if he isn't potty trained by then? What if he has an accident? Maybe I'll just homeschool......yeah right.
Yes, immediately my brain sets off on it's Worry Train. *sigh* How do I even get through a normal day...really.
We headed up to the preschool this morning and Carter was very excited to see all the kids doing "school stuff". A nice lady even read him a book from the library cart. He was all cute toddler smiles.
*****
Carter and I play this game where we think of how big we love each other. When Owen is big enough, he'll play too but for now he just coos and gurgles. My sweetie pie. Anyway, tonight it went kinda like this:
Me- I love you as big as the ocean.
Carter- I love you as big as....my Wonder Pets book! (it's a really big book)
Me- I love you as big as the sky.
Carter- I love you as big as.....Daddy's belly! (he thought this one was a good one)
Me- I love you as big as the tallest tree in the world.
Carter- I love you as big as my house!
*****
Owen has been taking a mid day bottle the last few days. One step closer to the end of a very reluctant, although necessary, weaning process (for mommy and baby). I'm proud of him that he is finally taking a bottle but terribly sad at the same time to have had to make this decision in the first place.
Anyway, that's all for now. I do have to say that I am finding it harder to blog nowadays since my oldest doesn't nap and the youngest is now awake a lot more. The only time I get to do it is at night and if I go to bed early or try to clean up my monstrously, messy house, I'm out of blogging luck.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Birthday festivities
I know I planned on it but we didn't really vacuum because we wanted to..... It was an accident.
You know that cupboard that you never go into that has all of your wine glasses that you got for your wedding that you never use anymore because if you have any vino you opt for a short, squat juice glass? This happens mostly because life these days is no longer an elegant sip from the rim of a delicate glass bowl but more of a lippy guzzle from the thick, cheap edges of machined blue glass. Ha. (Also, our toddler must never ever be around these top-heavy hazards.)
Anyway, after a wonderful birthday day where we went to the zoo (with new stroller glistening in the sunlight), went and got a free birthday car wash :), had family over for a visit, and I made an extraordinary crockpot concoction (mmmmm, see recipe below), we had some mommy/daddy time.
As we are chatting and putting the dishes away Kevin reaches up to open the infamous cupboard door, for god only knows what reason; I forgot to ask. In slow motion the shattering began; even before the door was fully open and before the first glass even touched the ground. The sound of a train barreling through a thousand glass window panes is the only way I can describe the noise.
We just stood there, dumbfounded, with our eyes scrunched up while glass rained down and shot around the kitchen like shrapnel. Awww well. I think I may have dropped the F-Bomb to break the shocked silence. Appropriate, I think in this case.
Amazingly both children slept through it and the following Haz Mat clean-up. Good grief. I felt like an FBI agent collecting minute samples at a crime scene. Splinters of glass were freakin' everywhere, people! You know when you have kids that it is imperative that you get every damn piece, right? Or else you risk the glass-in-the-foot scream and the hold-him-down-while-I-get-the-tweezers game.
Somehow after all that I went to sleep and I did not---I repeat, I did not--- have an anxiety attack or insomnia. Yeah! First time in almost 3 weeks! It was a birthday present to myself, from my subconscious, I guess.
Musing.....you know this is the first birthday that I did not blow out any candles on a cake. Weird. We just didn't get around to doing anything typically birthday-ish.
My weekend was lovely and I don't want it to end. Today I put a roast in the crockpot in the early a.m., visited with family again and left Carter at home for a while so me, the hubband and babes could go shopping and spend one of my giftcards. :) He had to keep reminding me to slow down and take my time because I am used to being on high-speed at a store. I usually only have a limited amount of time before Mt. Cartersuvius blows and buries us all in his liquid hot tears so I'm not used to ....taking...it.....sloooooow.
I tried on a bunch of crap, made unhappy girlie noises about my body shape and the problems of clingy fabric, and finally decided a two new things. I never shop for clothes for myself. This is kinda major.
What a good weekend. *sigh* Oh. Except for the fact that my little brother got car jacked at gunpoint on Friday.....that wasn't so great. Effing Detroit. I miss it but only because it's my Home. However, it's a really shitty place to be sometimes and now I remember why I wanted to move away. Crime and winter. Thank All that is right and good in this world that he is okay.
Here is yummy crockpot recipe that takes 5 minutes to put together:
Bluberry Crumble Cake
1 21oz can blueberry pie filling
1/2 cup butter
box of yellow cake mix
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Place pie filling in crockpot. Combine dry mix and melted butter, sprinkle over filling. Sprinkle walnuts on top of that. Cover and cook on low 2-2 1/2 hours. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream (or whipped cream).
You know that cupboard that you never go into that has all of your wine glasses that you got for your wedding that you never use anymore because if you have any vino you opt for a short, squat juice glass? This happens mostly because life these days is no longer an elegant sip from the rim of a delicate glass bowl but more of a lippy guzzle from the thick, cheap edges of machined blue glass. Ha. (Also, our toddler must never ever be around these top-heavy hazards.)
Anyway, after a wonderful birthday day where we went to the zoo (with new stroller glistening in the sunlight), went and got a free birthday car wash :), had family over for a visit, and I made an extraordinary crockpot concoction (mmmmm, see recipe below), we had some mommy/daddy time.
As we are chatting and putting the dishes away Kevin reaches up to open the infamous cupboard door, for god only knows what reason; I forgot to ask. In slow motion the shattering began; even before the door was fully open and before the first glass even touched the ground. The sound of a train barreling through a thousand glass window panes is the only way I can describe the noise.
We just stood there, dumbfounded, with our eyes scrunched up while glass rained down and shot around the kitchen like shrapnel. Awww well. I think I may have dropped the F-Bomb to break the shocked silence. Appropriate, I think in this case.
Amazingly both children slept through it and the following Haz Mat clean-up. Good grief. I felt like an FBI agent collecting minute samples at a crime scene. Splinters of glass were freakin' everywhere, people! You know when you have kids that it is imperative that you get every damn piece, right? Or else you risk the glass-in-the-foot scream and the hold-him-down-while-I-get-the-tweezers game.
Somehow after all that I went to sleep and I did not---I repeat, I did not--- have an anxiety attack or insomnia. Yeah! First time in almost 3 weeks! It was a birthday present to myself, from my subconscious, I guess.
Musing.....you know this is the first birthday that I did not blow out any candles on a cake. Weird. We just didn't get around to doing anything typically birthday-ish.
My weekend was lovely and I don't want it to end. Today I put a roast in the crockpot in the early a.m., visited with family again and left Carter at home for a while so me, the hubband and babes could go shopping and spend one of my giftcards. :) He had to keep reminding me to slow down and take my time because I am used to being on high-speed at a store. I usually only have a limited amount of time before Mt. Cartersuvius blows and buries us all in his liquid hot tears so I'm not used to ....taking...it.....sloooooow.
I tried on a bunch of crap, made unhappy girlie noises about my body shape and the problems of clingy fabric, and finally decided a two new things. I never shop for clothes for myself. This is kinda major.
What a good weekend. *sigh* Oh. Except for the fact that my little brother got car jacked at gunpoint on Friday.....that wasn't so great. Effing Detroit. I miss it but only because it's my Home. However, it's a really shitty place to be sometimes and now I remember why I wanted to move away. Crime and winter. Thank All that is right and good in this world that he is okay.
Here is yummy crockpot recipe that takes 5 minutes to put together:
Bluberry Crumble Cake
1 21oz can blueberry pie filling
1/2 cup butter
box of yellow cake mix
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Place pie filling in crockpot. Combine dry mix and melted butter, sprinkle over filling. Sprinkle walnuts on top of that. Cover and cook on low 2-2 1/2 hours. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream (or whipped cream).
Monday, December 15, 2008
The holiday season and weekend getaways
The last few days have been such fun! Well, at least Saturday and Sunday have been.... Friday was just bad. Very bad. Mental patient bad. I could have used a Whiskey I.V.
Buuuuuut, Saturday I woke up excited because Kevin and I were going to the Coast for his work Christmas party. I was viewing it as a Romantic Getaway of sorts (with our 2 month old). Hey! At least I didn't have to argue, barter and finangle my way through another weekend with my 2 year old; he was staying at home with Grammy & Papa. Oh joy!
(note: I missed the hell out of my youngster despite all the hoops he makes me jump through on a daily basis)
We had a hotel room at The Grand so we loaded up our mini van and a Uhaul for one night away with ourselves and our 2month old baby. Just kidding, of course, about the Uhaul but our mini van was packed full of crap. Why do kids require so much stuff when traveling?? I guess it's more me than anything. I like to be prepared for any situation.
Anyway, we checked in and got situated and it was so......quiet. I mean we were staying in a casino hotel but I mean it was quiet; in a way only a mother of two who left the older chatterbox at home, could understand. :) I could actually hear my baby coo gently and Kevin and I could hold a conversation from beginning to end. It was weird.
We got ready to go to the party and headed out. I had bought a pair of larger dress pants on the way down because I was unwilling to wear maternity clothes but I opted not to get a new shirt. I figured my red sweater would be stretchy enough to fit, and it was....but it fit a little too well, if ya know what I mean. Unfortunately I spent most of the evening self consciously tugging at the form fitting waist of the shirt trying to pull it down over my odd shaped belly and camel humps. Ah well. I got through it.
So we are dressed nicely (Kevin was quiet dapper) and we are toting our 2 month old along. He was so amazingly good. I nursed him at 6:30 or 7:00 and put him in the stroller with a little blanket tent and he was good to go. (note: he ended up sleeping until 3:30 that morning, even with being transferred to carseat and then to bassinet in hotel room) During the Christmas party I got the mix of looks and comments from people ranging from Why would she bring her baby to a party?! to Ahhh, I wish I brought my little one along.... I can't please everybody but survival is key and I neeeeeed to be able to hang out at social functions now and again. I just do what I have to do.
Mommy got to have a couple of cocktails (yum) and didn't even need to use the back-up breast milk. Yeah!
After a lovely night sleeping in the most comfortable bed in the world and not getting kicked in the head, we went to the breakfast buffet. It was relaxed and fun and it totally recharged me. Mother's guilt set in sometime between the walk from the room and my made-to-order omelette. Sigh. So we stopped off at the overpriced gift shop for a Pwesent for Carter. I knew since I said I'd bring him one that he would remember. The days of him forgetting things like that are long gone. He has a memory like an elephant and he'll call you out on things you tell/promise him. It was an agonizing decision, "Hmmm, 20 dollar penguin or 20 dollar alligator....". :) The alligator won out and has since never left his side. He was pleased. I live to serve.
After we got home and attacked our youngster with kisses like we had been gone for weeks, we lazed about all day until dusk when we all loaded in the car again and headed out to see some awesome Christmas lights.
For all of you non-locals, the Lewis Lights are THE place to get some Christmas cheer. This family out in bfe starts decorating in October and by December 1st they are on from 5:30 until 9:00pm every night until New Years. They are amazing. You walk along a path that is strung back and forth across their property and covered with some 15,000 lights (I think that is what they said...is that alot? I dunno). Plus, it's free. Free fits our budget very well, I might add. They take donations to cover the exorbitant electric bill, though.
I'm so glad there is something like this for the little ones especially. Carter absolutely loves it and we try to go a few times each season. This time he grabbed the camera and took a picture of every display. I will have to post some of them because I was pretty surprised how well he did lining them up in the frame and all....maybe he will be a famous photographer. Look out Ansel Adams!
Check some of these out, and keep in mind, he's two...... and we are obnoxiously proud parents... and this is my blog and I can post whatever I want. :)
Buuuuuut, Saturday I woke up excited because Kevin and I were going to the Coast for his work Christmas party. I was viewing it as a Romantic Getaway of sorts (with our 2 month old). Hey! At least I didn't have to argue, barter and finangle my way through another weekend with my 2 year old; he was staying at home with Grammy & Papa. Oh joy!
(note: I missed the hell out of my youngster despite all the hoops he makes me jump through on a daily basis)
We had a hotel room at The Grand so we loaded up our mini van and a Uhaul for one night away with ourselves and our 2month old baby. Just kidding, of course, about the Uhaul but our mini van was packed full of crap. Why do kids require so much stuff when traveling?? I guess it's more me than anything. I like to be prepared for any situation.
Anyway, we checked in and got situated and it was so......quiet. I mean we were staying in a casino hotel but I mean it was quiet; in a way only a mother of two who left the older chatterbox at home, could understand. :) I could actually hear my baby coo gently and Kevin and I could hold a conversation from beginning to end. It was weird.
We got ready to go to the party and headed out. I had bought a pair of larger dress pants on the way down because I was unwilling to wear maternity clothes but I opted not to get a new shirt. I figured my red sweater would be stretchy enough to fit, and it was....but it fit a little too well, if ya know what I mean. Unfortunately I spent most of the evening self consciously tugging at the form fitting waist of the shirt trying to pull it down over my odd shaped belly and camel humps. Ah well. I got through it.
So we are dressed nicely (Kevin was quiet dapper) and we are toting our 2 month old along. He was so amazingly good. I nursed him at 6:30 or 7:00 and put him in the stroller with a little blanket tent and he was good to go. (note: he ended up sleeping until 3:30 that morning, even with being transferred to carseat and then to bassinet in hotel room) During the Christmas party I got the mix of looks and comments from people ranging from Why would she bring her baby to a party?! to Ahhh, I wish I brought my little one along.... I can't please everybody but survival is key and I neeeeeed to be able to hang out at social functions now and again. I just do what I have to do.
Mommy got to have a couple of cocktails (yum) and didn't even need to use the back-up breast milk. Yeah!
After a lovely night sleeping in the most comfortable bed in the world and not getting kicked in the head, we went to the breakfast buffet. It was relaxed and fun and it totally recharged me. Mother's guilt set in sometime between the walk from the room and my made-to-order omelette. Sigh. So we stopped off at the overpriced gift shop for a Pwesent for Carter. I knew since I said I'd bring him one that he would remember. The days of him forgetting things like that are long gone. He has a memory like an elephant and he'll call you out on things you tell/promise him. It was an agonizing decision, "Hmmm, 20 dollar penguin or 20 dollar alligator....". :) The alligator won out and has since never left his side. He was pleased. I live to serve.
After we got home and attacked our youngster with kisses like we had been gone for weeks, we lazed about all day until dusk when we all loaded in the car again and headed out to see some awesome Christmas lights.
For all of you non-locals, the Lewis Lights are THE place to get some Christmas cheer. This family out in bfe starts decorating in October and by December 1st they are on from 5:30 until 9:00pm every night until New Years. They are amazing. You walk along a path that is strung back and forth across their property and covered with some 15,000 lights (I think that is what they said...is that alot? I dunno). Plus, it's free. Free fits our budget very well, I might add. They take donations to cover the exorbitant electric bill, though.
I'm so glad there is something like this for the little ones especially. Carter absolutely loves it and we try to go a few times each season. This time he grabbed the camera and took a picture of every display. I will have to post some of them because I was pretty surprised how well he did lining them up in the frame and all....maybe he will be a famous photographer. Look out Ansel Adams!
Check some of these out, and keep in mind, he's two...... and we are obnoxiously proud parents... and this is my blog and I can post whatever I want. :)
Well that was our weekend.
Last night I got to the Wrapping of the Presents. *sigh* I never thought I would get sick of seeing the same wrapping paper. Remind me next year to buy more of a variety....and to organize all of my wrapping supplies. Egads! It's a mess.
Christmas is fast approaching! What happened to December being soooooo long that it was actually painful. I remember thinking that Christmas would never come. Haha. Time flies when you get old.
Christmas is fast approaching! What happened to December being soooooo long that it was actually painful. I remember thinking that Christmas would never come. Haha. Time flies when you get old.
(I have no idea why blogger won't let me alter this last paragraph so it's not right on top of those pictures but whatever....looks sloppy. stupid.)
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Family visits and Battleground Everything
So Sunday my stepfather and his lady came for a visit. They brought Michigan treats (Vernors, Sanders hot fudge and Better Made chips), christmas presents from da sista and baby gifts. I love visits that start like this! haha. This was only the second time Carter got to meet his grandpa Rick.
How awful does that sound? That my son has only met such important people in his life once or twice... weird. I miss my family even more when I see familiar faces, however briefly. It tears my heart in two when I see how much my little niece has grown and I realize that I've only seen her once when she was 3 months old....and now she is an 18 month old terror. Sniffle.
Anyway, homesickness and depression aside.... We had a whirlwind visit with them. We did the zoo, lunch downtown and I made some bread pudding as a treat. Carter giggled happily on the carousel with his grandpa and basically was a sweetheart the whole time
I feel bad when they say stuff like"He's so sweet! I thought you said he was a terror!", because I find myself arguing that Yes, he is a terror....but wait, that's not right! The mother is supposed to be telling everyone all of her child's Good qualities and even making up a few and here I am arguing people out of thinking the best of him??? What? Who am I?
Of course, he is a sweetheart and a charmer and smart and ambitious and his motor skills are highly developed and blah blah blah..........pause.......pause......pause......BUT, he is still two. He is a two year old rascal with immature reasoning skills and he is highly frustrated most of the time. I must remember that this is his age not his personality that makes me so crazy.
My rambunctious two year old boy makes everything a Battleground. I can't "pick my battles" as they say because everything is a battle around here. We fight to get clothes on. We fight to get them off. We fight to get in the bath. We fight to get out of the bath. We fight, argue, reason, yell, threaten, walk away, storm off, cry and put our head in our hands all day and night. And I wonder to myself; my crazy, drained self, is it always going to be like this? And the answer, of course, is NO. But damn it, it's exhausting. He is pushing us to our very limits because he can and why would he act out in front of other people when he has 2 wonderful whipping posts at home to practice on? Yep, mommy and daddy make excellent guinea pigs and since we love him so much he can really crank up the action.
I am basically a No Conflict type of person. I don't like loud noises so much or yelling or those crappy feelings you get after an arguement. I don't like drama. But here I am, firmly stuck in dramatic conflicts everyday. I'm No Good at this people! Either my oldest son will grow out of his most recent behavior or I will be visiting him in his dressing room after a smash hit Broadway show.
Therefore, THIS is why I tell people he is "high maintenance" or a "terror" or a "pistol", because at home with us, he is. I swear I'm not making it up. :) But damn! if he ain't just the sweetest thing when ya'll are around....
How awful does that sound? That my son has only met such important people in his life once or twice... weird. I miss my family even more when I see familiar faces, however briefly. It tears my heart in two when I see how much my little niece has grown and I realize that I've only seen her once when she was 3 months old....and now she is an 18 month old terror. Sniffle.
Anyway, homesickness and depression aside.... We had a whirlwind visit with them. We did the zoo, lunch downtown and I made some bread pudding as a treat. Carter giggled happily on the carousel with his grandpa and basically was a sweetheart the whole time
I feel bad when they say stuff like"He's so sweet! I thought you said he was a terror!", because I find myself arguing that Yes, he is a terror....but wait, that's not right! The mother is supposed to be telling everyone all of her child's Good qualities and even making up a few and here I am arguing people out of thinking the best of him??? What? Who am I?
Of course, he is a sweetheart and a charmer and smart and ambitious and his motor skills are highly developed and blah blah blah..........pause.......pause......pause......BUT, he is still two. He is a two year old rascal with immature reasoning skills and he is highly frustrated most of the time. I must remember that this is his age not his personality that makes me so crazy.
My rambunctious two year old boy makes everything a Battleground. I can't "pick my battles" as they say because everything is a battle around here. We fight to get clothes on. We fight to get them off. We fight to get in the bath. We fight to get out of the bath. We fight, argue, reason, yell, threaten, walk away, storm off, cry and put our head in our hands all day and night. And I wonder to myself; my crazy, drained self, is it always going to be like this? And the answer, of course, is NO. But damn it, it's exhausting. He is pushing us to our very limits because he can and why would he act out in front of other people when he has 2 wonderful whipping posts at home to practice on? Yep, mommy and daddy make excellent guinea pigs and since we love him so much he can really crank up the action.
I am basically a No Conflict type of person. I don't like loud noises so much or yelling or those crappy feelings you get after an arguement. I don't like drama. But here I am, firmly stuck in dramatic conflicts everyday. I'm No Good at this people! Either my oldest son will grow out of his most recent behavior or I will be visiting him in his dressing room after a smash hit Broadway show.
Therefore, THIS is why I tell people he is "high maintenance" or a "terror" or a "pistol", because at home with us, he is. I swear I'm not making it up. :) But damn! if he ain't just the sweetest thing when ya'll are around....
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Settling in with the boys
Carter loves to hold his baby brother. He hugs him (or rather squishes him) and he rubs his belly and says "Mine? Baby?". It's pretty funny. However, he is still showing his anger and frustration at other times of the day and night. The screaming fits must stop....eventually. Right? Grrrr.
He really gets a kick out of "helping" me change Owen's diaper and especiall when he goes "PooPoo!". I guess this is thrilling to a 2 year old boy.
Last night we went downtown to listen to some music in the park and Carter had a good time being a Big Boy hanging out with his daddy by the stage. He was slapping his knee to the music and clapping. Hilarious. I hung back with my wide-eyed 2 1/2 week old and self-consciously tried to suck in large Buddha Belly. I am still sportin' mostly maternity gear, folks. Already very impatient to just be back to normal! I actually tried to put on my maternity jeans....and they didn't fit. They were too tight. Yup. Too small. Maternity clothes were too small for a woman who isn't pregnant anymore. Oh my freakin lord. Hi, I'm Fatty McFattyfoo! How ya been? Anyone see a cheesecake around?
******
Maverick.
******
Owen has been a complete fussbuster the last two days. Maybe it's a growth spurt or maybe it's something in my diet. I can't expect a newbie to be consistent, can I? But damn, I was really liking the 2-3 hour sleep sessions I was getting. sigh. Now it's back to erratic "Feed me!!" cries at all hours. Oh well, I've gone without sleep before. It's all been done. I will one day sleep. Then my husband will really owe me big. :)
I will download the camera in the next couple of days (I'm a lazy ass) and post some pictures. Promise.
He really gets a kick out of "helping" me change Owen's diaper and especiall when he goes "PooPoo!". I guess this is thrilling to a 2 year old boy.
Last night we went downtown to listen to some music in the park and Carter had a good time being a Big Boy hanging out with his daddy by the stage. He was slapping his knee to the music and clapping. Hilarious. I hung back with my wide-eyed 2 1/2 week old and self-consciously tried to suck in large Buddha Belly. I am still sportin' mostly maternity gear, folks. Already very impatient to just be back to normal! I actually tried to put on my maternity jeans....and they didn't fit. They were too tight. Yup. Too small. Maternity clothes were too small for a woman who isn't pregnant anymore. Oh my freakin lord. Hi, I'm Fatty McFattyfoo! How ya been? Anyone see a cheesecake around?
******
Maverick.
******
Owen has been a complete fussbuster the last two days. Maybe it's a growth spurt or maybe it's something in my diet. I can't expect a newbie to be consistent, can I? But damn, I was really liking the 2-3 hour sleep sessions I was getting. sigh. Now it's back to erratic "Feed me!!" cries at all hours. Oh well, I've gone without sleep before. It's all been done. I will one day sleep. Then my husband will really owe me big. :)
I will download the camera in the next couple of days (I'm a lazy ass) and post some pictures. Promise.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Plot choices for kids flicks
Today I will not be discussing labor. I'm going to ignore the fact that I am still pregnant because it's starting to get annoying.
Anyway, I've purposely avoided the Bambi experience in our house for the reason that I have no interest in trying to explain death to a 2 year old. I hate that movie. What was Disney thinking? It seems there is this era in cartoon movie making when they felt that killing off the mama and having a deadbeat dad who is never quite in the picture was a good learning experience for children. Which brings me to Babar, King of the Elephants.
I thought this would be a good one. Carter looooves elephants ("Elefa's") and he is into the whole family structure thing; ie, Mama, Dada and Baby.
Well, we are enjoying the happy beginning and he is talking about the Baby elephant and his mama and chattering away about what's happening. Then all of a sudden, about 15 minutes in.....the mood shifts and a hunter blows away his mama. Great. Crap crap crap crap. As the gunshot rings out I am frantically thinking of how to explain this one.
So he gives it the standard "Uh oh!" and then pause..... pause.... confused expression as Baby Babar runs away from his fallen mama. Then the montage of Baby Babar wandering around the forest crying for his mama. Oh geez. Here it comes...
"Where da Mama, ma?", Carter asks.
I honestly have some trouble with this because I was so mad when I saw Bambi for the first time and I thought how mean it was for them to write the story that way. I still have that anger. Do I avoid "real life tragedy"? Um, yes. I guess I do. I think it is unnecessary, especially for small children. So my dumbass answer is "Well, his mama got sick and fell down and then Babar lost his mama..."
This answer didn't really fulfull his curiousity, I guess because he asked about Babar's mama for the next 30 minutes...then his attention span ran out and we went to play with something else. Phew.
Why does this stress me out so much?
It's like when my nephew asked my sister about Death and she wanted to be straightforward with him and told him that everybody dies some day. He flipped out and started crying that he didn't want to die and she had to tell him "Okay! You won't die!" just to calm him down. I'm totally not ready for any of that. I haven't gathered any of the "right" answers together, yet!
And even when she thought she had the right answer for one of his next big questions; nephew-"Where do babies come from?", sis-"God makes babies"....he threw her for a loop and came up with "Well, how does he get them up there then?" and she scrambled and came up with "umm, Magic".
Good one.
So Babar was a bust.
I'm thinking I will be researching the next few animated flicks we sit down to watch together. I will be filtering out all death, evil character types, violence, politics and religion. At least until I can get my act together and research the best explanations for his future queries.
That sounds totally neurotic, doesn't it.
******
Quick note:
I must mention this because I thought it was so humorous but it is totally picking on my husband, which I hate to do. Yesterday he came home from the store and said "Look honey! I'm nesting, too." and I didn't get it...
"Huh?", then he motioned to the pack of Corona's he picked up. I still didn't get it. "Huh??"
"Ya know... I'm getting ready for when I have a week off when the baby comes", he says.
Ohhhhh. Hmmm, not sure if that falls under my Nesting definition (I also don't remember seeing stocking up on beer under the Webster's definitions, either). Apparently we will be a very relaxed family around here during that first week. ;)
Oh this makes me chuckle. Will we also be listening to Jimmy Buffett and hanging out in tye-dyed sarongs?
Anyway, I've purposely avoided the Bambi experience in our house for the reason that I have no interest in trying to explain death to a 2 year old. I hate that movie. What was Disney thinking? It seems there is this era in cartoon movie making when they felt that killing off the mama and having a deadbeat dad who is never quite in the picture was a good learning experience for children. Which brings me to Babar, King of the Elephants.
I thought this would be a good one. Carter looooves elephants ("Elefa's") and he is into the whole family structure thing; ie, Mama, Dada and Baby.
Well, we are enjoying the happy beginning and he is talking about the Baby elephant and his mama and chattering away about what's happening. Then all of a sudden, about 15 minutes in.....the mood shifts and a hunter blows away his mama. Great. Crap crap crap crap. As the gunshot rings out I am frantically thinking of how to explain this one.
So he gives it the standard "Uh oh!" and then pause..... pause.... confused expression as Baby Babar runs away from his fallen mama. Then the montage of Baby Babar wandering around the forest crying for his mama. Oh geez. Here it comes...
"Where da Mama, ma?", Carter asks.
I honestly have some trouble with this because I was so mad when I saw Bambi for the first time and I thought how mean it was for them to write the story that way. I still have that anger. Do I avoid "real life tragedy"? Um, yes. I guess I do. I think it is unnecessary, especially for small children. So my dumbass answer is "Well, his mama got sick and fell down and then Babar lost his mama..."
This answer didn't really fulfull his curiousity, I guess because he asked about Babar's mama for the next 30 minutes...then his attention span ran out and we went to play with something else. Phew.
Why does this stress me out so much?
It's like when my nephew asked my sister about Death and she wanted to be straightforward with him and told him that everybody dies some day. He flipped out and started crying that he didn't want to die and she had to tell him "Okay! You won't die!" just to calm him down. I'm totally not ready for any of that. I haven't gathered any of the "right" answers together, yet!
And even when she thought she had the right answer for one of his next big questions; nephew-"Where do babies come from?", sis-"God makes babies"....he threw her for a loop and came up with "Well, how does he get them up there then?" and she scrambled and came up with "umm, Magic".
Good one.
So Babar was a bust.
I'm thinking I will be researching the next few animated flicks we sit down to watch together. I will be filtering out all death, evil character types, violence, politics and religion. At least until I can get my act together and research the best explanations for his future queries.
That sounds totally neurotic, doesn't it.
******
Quick note:
I must mention this because I thought it was so humorous but it is totally picking on my husband, which I hate to do. Yesterday he came home from the store and said "Look honey! I'm nesting, too." and I didn't get it...
"Huh?", then he motioned to the pack of Corona's he picked up. I still didn't get it. "Huh??"
"Ya know... I'm getting ready for when I have a week off when the baby comes", he says.
Ohhhhh. Hmmm, not sure if that falls under my Nesting definition (I also don't remember seeing stocking up on beer under the Webster's definitions, either). Apparently we will be a very relaxed family around here during that first week. ;)
Oh this makes me chuckle. Will we also be listening to Jimmy Buffett and hanging out in tye-dyed sarongs?
Friday, September 12, 2008
Not exactly Indiana McMahon these days...
I'm feeling a bit panicky lately. Almost like a guy on the eve of his wedding ready to bolt :).... except I'm not going anywhere with this belly. I all of a sudden am overwhelmed with thoughts like "Will I be able to do anything ever again?" and mentally rehashing my past adventures as a Non-Mom. How can I have anymore adventures? Adventures are dangerous! Adventures involve being very uncomfortable and/or scared at times. Adventures are for people who only have to watch their own back...not the tender little backs of two young ones. Adventures aren't for my babies!!
I love being a mom but there is this feeling of being restrained and now that I will have another one to care for I'm wondering if I have enough eyes in my head to watch out for all the dangers in this world. (Those umbilical cords shouldn't be made to come off so quick....they would make excellent leashes well into puberty. )
Don't get me wrong, I would never trade my chosen role for anything but I just don't see myself climbing any mountains in South America again (unless they're made of laundry) or chanting "Viva el Jefe" at a nieghborhood socialist meeting in Cuba while drinking out of a coconut some militant macheted open for me.
It's strange how the world changes when you add two frail little beings to it. Two little guys that you carried inside of you and cherish more than your own life. Now when I think of family vacations I think of a safe environment with air conditioning and potable water. :) I've become such a MOM.
The funny thing is my husband still insists that we can go trekking through the Yucatan jungle with the kids just as long as "they avoid the skin-eating plants". Hmmmm.
I'm glad he is the way he is, though. If we were both worrywarts then we wouldn't ever be able to show our children much of the world beyond the grounds of the hotel we were staying at.
As far as political systems go...I guess the only socialism my family will be exposed to in the near future will be in our own home as they chant Viva La Jefe! to The Momma.
That's right, I rule
I love being a mom but there is this feeling of being restrained and now that I will have another one to care for I'm wondering if I have enough eyes in my head to watch out for all the dangers in this world. (Those umbilical cords shouldn't be made to come off so quick....they would make excellent leashes well into puberty. )
Don't get me wrong, I would never trade my chosen role for anything but I just don't see myself climbing any mountains in South America again (unless they're made of laundry) or chanting "Viva el Jefe" at a nieghborhood socialist meeting in Cuba while drinking out of a coconut some militant macheted open for me.
It's strange how the world changes when you add two frail little beings to it. Two little guys that you carried inside of you and cherish more than your own life. Now when I think of family vacations I think of a safe environment with air conditioning and potable water. :) I've become such a MOM.
The funny thing is my husband still insists that we can go trekking through the Yucatan jungle with the kids just as long as "they avoid the skin-eating plants". Hmmmm.
I'm glad he is the way he is, though. If we were both worrywarts then we wouldn't ever be able to show our children much of the world beyond the grounds of the hotel we were staying at.
As far as political systems go...I guess the only socialism my family will be exposed to in the near future will be in our own home as they chant Viva La Jefe! to The Momma.
That's right, I rule
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
The difference between mommies & daddies
There are all these hormones surging through my body, essentially telling me how to behave at this stage in my pregnancy. I am not my own woman.
Throughout the world you see the females of virtually every species behave in a similar pattern when the time approaches for their young to be born. They flutter about nervously, they are agitated, they scurry around with bits of this and that for their "nest", they squawk or growl at their mates and sometimes they relocate to a secure spot somewhere; an optimal environment for their new babies to be born.
Well, you won't be seeing any expecting momma's flocking over to the McMahon's, lemme tell ya.
So according to dictionary.com, nesting is:
Nesting: v. to create and settle into a warm and secure refuge
According to this momma, nesting is:
Nesting: v. to get all your shit washed, folded, organized and installed. to make sure all toys have batteries and there is nothing broken that needs to be fixed. to make sure you have a surplus of necessary supplies and food. to sterilize, sanitize and clean the crap out of your home. to have your home peaceful and fully prepared for a fragile new life to begin there.
According to the daddy, nesting is:
Nesting: v. to take on a major nest improvement right before momma lays her eggs. to take momma's nest and totally shred a portion of it because you are thinking long term nest resale. to keep da momma on her toes and challenge her to a nesting duel.
Ah yes, Nesting....
Well, I was working on it.... until Friday, that is. Then came the demolition crew. Argh. Talk about going against every instinctual bone in my body. I am now 34 weeks pregnant and pretty darn ready to have this baby come out and my husband is ripping out our main bathroom. Gotta love him, though. He means well and I see his "grand plan" but now????
I have not washed my hair in 4 days and Carter and I have been taking sink and bucket baths. I sorta feel like I'm camping, except without the nature and bad cooking. My house is torn apart in the wake of the demo storm. Originally this was only gonna take the weekend (which made me laugh) now it should be done by this coming weekend (which still makes me smile a bit because I'm thinking of all the little things that my husband forgets).
Oh well, I'm trying to relax about it because we have been wanting to do the hall bathroom since the day we moved in and it just kept getting pushed behind. Now the fear is that we won't be doing much home improvement once our Little Guy comes along. It's been hard enough with just the one.
Hopefully by the time this upcoming weekend comes to a close we will have a bathroom we won't have to preface to our friends with "Um, sorry about the bathroom...." or "We haven't quite gotten to that part of the house yet..." or "Could you please hold it? We don't allow people to use our bathroom..."
And then I will be praising my husband's forethought. I know how this works...it's just nature that gets stressed about it all. :)
Throughout the world you see the females of virtually every species behave in a similar pattern when the time approaches for their young to be born. They flutter about nervously, they are agitated, they scurry around with bits of this and that for their "nest", they squawk or growl at their mates and sometimes they relocate to a secure spot somewhere; an optimal environment for their new babies to be born.
Well, you won't be seeing any expecting momma's flocking over to the McMahon's, lemme tell ya.
So according to dictionary.com, nesting is:
Nesting: v. to create and settle into a warm and secure refuge
According to this momma, nesting is:
Nesting: v. to get all your shit washed, folded, organized and installed. to make sure all toys have batteries and there is nothing broken that needs to be fixed. to make sure you have a surplus of necessary supplies and food. to sterilize, sanitize and clean the crap out of your home. to have your home peaceful and fully prepared for a fragile new life to begin there.
According to the daddy, nesting is:
Nesting: v. to take on a major nest improvement right before momma lays her eggs. to take momma's nest and totally shred a portion of it because you are thinking long term nest resale. to keep da momma on her toes and challenge her to a nesting duel.
Ah yes, Nesting....
Well, I was working on it.... until Friday, that is. Then came the demolition crew. Argh. Talk about going against every instinctual bone in my body. I am now 34 weeks pregnant and pretty darn ready to have this baby come out and my husband is ripping out our main bathroom. Gotta love him, though. He means well and I see his "grand plan" but now????
I have not washed my hair in 4 days and Carter and I have been taking sink and bucket baths. I sorta feel like I'm camping, except without the nature and bad cooking. My house is torn apart in the wake of the demo storm. Originally this was only gonna take the weekend (which made me laugh) now it should be done by this coming weekend (which still makes me smile a bit because I'm thinking of all the little things that my husband forgets).
Oh well, I'm trying to relax about it because we have been wanting to do the hall bathroom since the day we moved in and it just kept getting pushed behind. Now the fear is that we won't be doing much home improvement once our Little Guy comes along. It's been hard enough with just the one.
Hopefully by the time this upcoming weekend comes to a close we will have a bathroom we won't have to preface to our friends with "Um, sorry about the bathroom...." or "We haven't quite gotten to that part of the house yet..." or "Could you please hold it? We don't allow people to use our bathroom..."
And then I will be praising my husband's forethought. I know how this works...it's just nature that gets stressed about it all. :)
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Therapists and Linguists wanted
We have a very highly emotional child with an unhealthy obsession with the vacuum.
I mean, it's incredible. If we are at home I can expect to deal with at least 5 mental breakdowns a day about that stupid mother-effing "vroom vroom". I hate the vacuum.
But honestly, if it's not the vacuum then it's daddy's battery powered toothbrush or the lawnmower (not as accessible, thank gawd) or it's the broom, the mop....argh, anything that goes or moves. My son is like a T-Rex; if it doesn't move, maybe he won't see it....
Anyway, we are a House of Frustration lately. We are all trying to understand one another and prepare for the maelstrom that is a newborns arrival. This means a lot of tears and yelling. Our poor little guy just can't understand why he can't do some things or why his exhausted parents won't get off their rumps to "chase" him around the house.....for the 30th time; or why we don't understand him all the time. This boy is a ball of energy from the minute he leaps from his dreams in the morning to the bittersweet moment he finally succumbs to the Dreaded Sleep at night-night. I am but a slave, beaten and whipped. Ah, the drama.
I've decided I need a Toddler-Parent dictionary. I've looked on Amazon.com but no luck. Weird. You'd think there would be one out there by now. I mean there is one for practically every other language in the world but not for one of the most important. WTF. I mean who really speaks Narua or Icelandic these days? Isn't language the most important form of communication? Doesn't it shape relationships? Political systems?
Are mothers supposed to inherently speak toddler tongue? Hmmm. I didn't come with that particular Mama Program installed, I guess. I've spent almost 2 years listening to my little boy jibber jabber so how come I can't decipher "Maaamaaaa!!!! Schtock vroom vroom belha manna peeeeeese!!??? (flipping hand motion and jumping) WAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"
(Shrug)
Oh well. We will just have to communicate in the language of love...hugs and kisses. :)
End note: I really am so proud of his language skills thus far. Everyday he uses a new word or word combos to make himself understood. Our main problem is when frustration takes over the tongue. Just wanted to make clear that our Big Guy is coming along nicely in the verbal skills department. :) love, da mama
I mean, it's incredible. If we are at home I can expect to deal with at least 5 mental breakdowns a day about that stupid mother-effing "vroom vroom". I hate the vacuum.
But honestly, if it's not the vacuum then it's daddy's battery powered toothbrush or the lawnmower (not as accessible, thank gawd) or it's the broom, the mop....argh, anything that goes or moves. My son is like a T-Rex; if it doesn't move, maybe he won't see it....
Anyway, we are a House of Frustration lately. We are all trying to understand one another and prepare for the maelstrom that is a newborns arrival. This means a lot of tears and yelling. Our poor little guy just can't understand why he can't do some things or why his exhausted parents won't get off their rumps to "chase" him around the house.....for the 30th time; or why we don't understand him all the time. This boy is a ball of energy from the minute he leaps from his dreams in the morning to the bittersweet moment he finally succumbs to the Dreaded Sleep at night-night. I am but a slave, beaten and whipped. Ah, the drama.
I've decided I need a Toddler-Parent dictionary. I've looked on Amazon.com but no luck. Weird. You'd think there would be one out there by now. I mean there is one for practically every other language in the world but not for one of the most important. WTF. I mean who really speaks Narua or Icelandic these days? Isn't language the most important form of communication? Doesn't it shape relationships? Political systems?
Are mothers supposed to inherently speak toddler tongue? Hmmm. I didn't come with that particular Mama Program installed, I guess. I've spent almost 2 years listening to my little boy jibber jabber so how come I can't decipher "Maaamaaaa!!!! Schtock vroom vroom belha manna peeeeeese!!??? (flipping hand motion and jumping) WAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"
(Shrug)
Oh well. We will just have to communicate in the language of love...hugs and kisses. :)
End note: I really am so proud of his language skills thus far. Everyday he uses a new word or word combos to make himself understood. Our main problem is when frustration takes over the tongue. Just wanted to make clear that our Big Guy is coming along nicely in the verbal skills department. :) love, da mama
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Time never really takes away the pain
They tell you that it does, though. They say Time will heal All.
I'm sorry, but that's a bunch of milarkey. Death makes people uncomfortable and scared but they want to say something to make you feel better. I still think about my mom everyday and at the oddest moments, too. Like when I'm showering or driving. Sometimes when I'm bathing my little boy in the tub I think When she was bathing her children did she suspect she wouldn't make it to see them grow up and have babies or What were her future dreams like? of a leisurely old age playing with her grandkids? What a cruel joke I think it all is. I imagine her innocence while she cares for her family and makes plans for the future. It's like I want to reach back in time and whisper in her ear some sort of warning. Some sort of clue that things will not go as planned.
The only thing I've found about Time is that as the years go by you don't emote as much. You've learned to compartamentalize your feelings because you need to be productive in your own life. When you lose someone you love it changes everything....forever. It is just plain awful.
I remember being a teenager and thinking of death as some remote, faraway thing that really didn't touch me. I figured sure, I'd die one day but I'm not gonna think of that now...and what's the big deal anyway, everyone dies.
Why are teenagers so dumb? :)
When my mother was diagnosed with ALS I cried everyday for a year. The second year was better....I cried every other day, or so. You get the picture. It soon became just an everyday thing I dealt with. After she died I didn't know what to feel. I honestly couldn't have cared less if I, myself, lived or died.
Luckily, I snapped out of it after about a year of hard drinking and self-abuse. By then some of my personal relationships had taken quite a beating. I made a drastic life change and soon met Kevin. There, at that point, everything in my life brightened.
Now as I consider my life and my children, I am scared beyond belief. What is around the corner for me? Am I dodging a bullet every time I hear of someone else dying or getting sick? Is that how it works statistically? It is the most debillitating fear I think a person can experience. It is not the running-in-fear-of-your-life-from-an-ax-murderer fear. No, it's much more subtle. It is the fear of what the future holds for you in the end.
I feel such a dire need to Be Here for my children and my family that I never experienced before becoming a mother. They are my everything and how could I expect them not to have their Momma there for them? I just can't imagine being struck down by a terminal illness or something, and in this day and age, they are everywhere. It is like there is some guy out there handing out cards to us that read stuff like Aggressive form of Cancer, Auto accident, Heart attack, Stroke, Rare Blood disease....etc...
I wanna say "Hey, what about the Old Age one? Ya got one of those left?", as I raise my hand from the back of the crowd.
Since when has my only true goal in life become to make it to the glorious Old Age. I just want to be one of the lucky ones that hobble around on rickety hips and play bingo. I want to go to bed at 7pm with my old, wrinkled husband lying next to me. I want to see my children grow into adulthood and I want to always be their Momma.
I'm sorry, but that's a bunch of milarkey. Death makes people uncomfortable and scared but they want to say something to make you feel better. I still think about my mom everyday and at the oddest moments, too. Like when I'm showering or driving. Sometimes when I'm bathing my little boy in the tub I think When she was bathing her children did she suspect she wouldn't make it to see them grow up and have babies or What were her future dreams like? of a leisurely old age playing with her grandkids? What a cruel joke I think it all is. I imagine her innocence while she cares for her family and makes plans for the future. It's like I want to reach back in time and whisper in her ear some sort of warning. Some sort of clue that things will not go as planned.
The only thing I've found about Time is that as the years go by you don't emote as much. You've learned to compartamentalize your feelings because you need to be productive in your own life. When you lose someone you love it changes everything....forever. It is just plain awful.
I remember being a teenager and thinking of death as some remote, faraway thing that really didn't touch me. I figured sure, I'd die one day but I'm not gonna think of that now...and what's the big deal anyway, everyone dies.
Why are teenagers so dumb? :)
When my mother was diagnosed with ALS I cried everyday for a year. The second year was better....I cried every other day, or so. You get the picture. It soon became just an everyday thing I dealt with. After she died I didn't know what to feel. I honestly couldn't have cared less if I, myself, lived or died.
Luckily, I snapped out of it after about a year of hard drinking and self-abuse. By then some of my personal relationships had taken quite a beating. I made a drastic life change and soon met Kevin. There, at that point, everything in my life brightened.
Now as I consider my life and my children, I am scared beyond belief. What is around the corner for me? Am I dodging a bullet every time I hear of someone else dying or getting sick? Is that how it works statistically? It is the most debillitating fear I think a person can experience. It is not the running-in-fear-of-your-life-from-an-ax-murderer fear. No, it's much more subtle. It is the fear of what the future holds for you in the end.
I feel such a dire need to Be Here for my children and my family that I never experienced before becoming a mother. They are my everything and how could I expect them not to have their Momma there for them? I just can't imagine being struck down by a terminal illness or something, and in this day and age, they are everywhere. It is like there is some guy out there handing out cards to us that read stuff like Aggressive form of Cancer, Auto accident, Heart attack, Stroke, Rare Blood disease....etc...
I wanna say "Hey, what about the Old Age one? Ya got one of those left?", as I raise my hand from the back of the crowd.
Since when has my only true goal in life become to make it to the glorious Old Age. I just want to be one of the lucky ones that hobble around on rickety hips and play bingo. I want to go to bed at 7pm with my old, wrinkled husband lying next to me. I want to see my children grow into adulthood and I want to always be their Momma.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Friday already?
What happened? It was just Monday. I think because I had scheduled a jam packed week it just flew by. However, I can no longer schedule like this anymore. I must chill out a bit. Can't....waddle.....any.....faster.....argh.
This week we went to the South Mississippi version of a beach, had swim lessons for my little water bug, had an icecream playdate, had more swim lessons, mommies 30 week doctor appointment (baby is measuring big...great, I am growing giant 11 pounder), dinner with out-of-towner friends, painting (this is taking forever) and now we are preparing for our Greek/Mediterranean Night with some friends tomorrow. Gasp.
I will attempt a spinach pie and tzatziki sauce. You would think growing up with greek friends and dating a couple of greek guys that I should be able to whip this up, right? We'll see. Cooking has begun to scare me. I think it's because of our 50 year old tempermental oven. The stupid thing is downright ornery. I really can't count how many batches of cookies and muffins I've charred in the last 2 years.
Sigh.
I must say that I was completely shocked last night when we went out to meet some peeps for dinner at a local steakhouse. Carter actually sat in his highchair 90 % of the time, ate 3 chicken tenders and fries, drank all of his milk, colored and played with his stickers and was generally a sweet and pleasant dinner companion. This floored me. Normally I am about as twitchy and jumpy as an epileptic when we "dine out". Hey maybe we are turning over a new leaf, huh? ya think? please? (pathetic plea to the cosmos)
I just realized I used the word "peeps". I must apologize for my extreme dorkiness in the use of dated urban slang.
This week we went to the South Mississippi version of a beach, had swim lessons for my little water bug, had an icecream playdate, had more swim lessons, mommies 30 week doctor appointment (baby is measuring big...great, I am growing giant 11 pounder), dinner with out-of-towner friends, painting (this is taking forever) and now we are preparing for our Greek/Mediterranean Night with some friends tomorrow. Gasp.
I will attempt a spinach pie and tzatziki sauce. You would think growing up with greek friends and dating a couple of greek guys that I should be able to whip this up, right? We'll see. Cooking has begun to scare me. I think it's because of our 50 year old tempermental oven. The stupid thing is downright ornery. I really can't count how many batches of cookies and muffins I've charred in the last 2 years.
Sigh.
I must say that I was completely shocked last night when we went out to meet some peeps for dinner at a local steakhouse. Carter actually sat in his highchair 90 % of the time, ate 3 chicken tenders and fries, drank all of his milk, colored and played with his stickers and was generally a sweet and pleasant dinner companion. This floored me. Normally I am about as twitchy and jumpy as an epileptic when we "dine out". Hey maybe we are turning over a new leaf, huh? ya think? please? (pathetic plea to the cosmos)
I just realized I used the word "peeps". I must apologize for my extreme dorkiness in the use of dated urban slang.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Morning Sunshine!
This morning I am lovingly awoken by my son screaming "Up!" in my face and crying....at 6:45, or as I like to say, Pre-Clifford time. (I measure everything in the a.m. by cartoon times) I do not like to get up before Clifford time....it makes me angry and I stomp a lot.
Our usual routine is simple: Carter rolls over sweetly and cuddles with me, gives me a kiss, asks about daddy or then climbs over to him if he's there, gets his cup for the Very Important morning juice, gets the remote so that we can turn on cartoons and then settles down either on daddy's bed or mommy's bed to watch at least 30 minutes of t.v. while mommy wakes up enough to pry her matted head off of the pillow.
I know this routine won't last once the new baby comes but Please, oh Please, not yet.....I need this time. I hate mornings. I hate stumbling out of bed at the crack o' ass. Grrrrrr.
As I sip my cold coffee and do my usual computer thing I look at the clock and realize I have a looooong morning ahead of me.
Sidenote or Endnote or Whatever:
I must explain our bed situation.... We have Mommy's bed (a queen), Daddy's bed (a twin rollaway) and Carter's bed (a toddler size) all crammed in our room. In fact I like to refer to our bedroom as The Hostel. It is just a room of mismatched beds. Abso freakin ridiculous. Carter will occasionally go lay in his bed now that we moved it to our room, but he definitely prefers mommy's...duh. I have no idea where the new baby will sleep.....maybe we will suspend him from the ceiling in some sort of Mayan hammock thing. I doubt the co-sleeper will fit in there at this point......it may be mommy and baby in the guest room, or mommy and baby in the living room with the bassinet. Who the hell knows. I used to be so Well Planned. Hah. Now I am just trying to keep my head above water.
Our usual routine is simple: Carter rolls over sweetly and cuddles with me, gives me a kiss, asks about daddy or then climbs over to him if he's there, gets his cup for the Very Important morning juice, gets the remote so that we can turn on cartoons and then settles down either on daddy's bed or mommy's bed to watch at least 30 minutes of t.v. while mommy wakes up enough to pry her matted head off of the pillow.
I know this routine won't last once the new baby comes but Please, oh Please, not yet.....I need this time. I hate mornings. I hate stumbling out of bed at the crack o' ass. Grrrrrr.
As I sip my cold coffee and do my usual computer thing I look at the clock and realize I have a looooong morning ahead of me.
Sidenote or Endnote or Whatever:
I must explain our bed situation.... We have Mommy's bed (a queen), Daddy's bed (a twin rollaway) and Carter's bed (a toddler size) all crammed in our room. In fact I like to refer to our bedroom as The Hostel. It is just a room of mismatched beds. Abso freakin ridiculous. Carter will occasionally go lay in his bed now that we moved it to our room, but he definitely prefers mommy's...duh. I have no idea where the new baby will sleep.....maybe we will suspend him from the ceiling in some sort of Mayan hammock thing. I doubt the co-sleeper will fit in there at this point......it may be mommy and baby in the guest room, or mommy and baby in the living room with the bassinet. Who the hell knows. I used to be so Well Planned. Hah. Now I am just trying to keep my head above water.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
The ABC's of love
Because I've been such a bad mother and haven't written much about my son's adorableness (this just can't be a word)....here are a few reasons why at the end of the day I am still helplessly in love with him.
A) He dances along with Dora and Boots, the Wiggles and the Backyardigans and he makes me join in. He looks so damn happy and lemme tell ya, he's got some sweet moves. He giggles to himself when he watches Caillou or Clifford.
B) Sometimes, for no reason at all, he runs over to me or his daddy with his arms spread wide and gives us ginormous hugs and kisses. At night time when he kisses daddy goodnight he then directs daddy to kiss mommy and then we have a group hug. I tell ya he is a dictator and we must obey. :)
C) He looks absolutely adorable in big boy undies. What a cute butt! Must have got it from his daddy. teehee.
D) He waits for daddy to get home so he can go "play" in his car and "drive". If daddy doesn't pick him up first thing and take him out there he crosses his arms and thunderclouds cover his face. He has a serious frown. When we are out and about and he is frowning and pouting all the ladies stop to say "Aaaaahhhhhh, he's mad!" like it is the cutest thing they've ever seen.
E) He is shy and hides behind my legs but then will peek around them and smile like he is flirting.
F) He loves to cuddle.
G) He has learned On, Off and Mine....these are his favorite words, of course but now he says stuff like "Not Off!" and "Not Mine!". I don't know why this makes me laugh.
H) He is very proud that he knows some letters and numbers. He likes to tell me "Oooooo" and "Iiiiiii" and "Dooooo" (two) and "Nine".
I) Whenever we are getting ready to go out somewhere he makes sure he gets his "Dooosh" (shoes) and then he will bring you your shoes. Shoes are very important to him....as well as hats. He is an accessory man.
J) He needs to cuddle with one of my neckroll pillows to go to sleep at night....after wrestling with it for about 35 minutes.
K) He needs to play "Pat-a-cake" and sing the ABC song before he lays down for sleepy time.
L) His neck and his inner thighs are his major tickle spots and he giggles like a madman when you get them.
M) Sometimes he wants to wear socks on his hands. Not sure why but I don't argue.
N) He is a picky eater but he consistently loves broccoli and ears of corn and lentil soup with goldfish crackers floating on top.
O) He goes over to the jasmine everyday and picks me a little sprig.
P) He has just learned how to jump with both feet leaving the ground. This makes him extremely excited and sometimes he jumps and lands right on his butt.
Q) He loves to wear daddy's watch on his ankle or his upper arm.
R) He loves to buckle/unbuckle and latch/unlatch things. This will occupy him for at least 10 minutes.
S) He kisses my boo-boo's away just like I kiss his away....ya know what? it really works. :)
T) He silkies my chin, arm and chest when he is tired or falling asleep.
U) After he wakes up he crawls over to daddy (if he hasn't left for work already) and cuddles with him for a little bit....then hands him his sippy cup with water in it from the night before and orders him "Up!" to go replace it with juice....then he will hand me the remote control so I will turn on his morning cartoons, preferabley "Ruff ruff" which means Clifford.
V) He yells at the cat like I do, "Get! get!"
W) When I ask him if he wants this or that his first response is always "Nooo" but then if it is something he really wants or likes it will be "Noooooo-uh huh" while shaking his head and then nodding emphatically....little negative-nelly. He's like "Oh crap! Yeah! I want that Mom! Why didnt' ya say so?"
X) He likes to interact with his books. He does sound effects, answers questions and bites the pictures of food.
Y) The only time he really enjoys being naked is after his bath and before bed as long as he can wear his ducky towel or frog towel on his head the whole time like a cape.
Z) His favorite game is 'Gotch Your Nose'. Sometimes he will steal your nose and put it on his stuffed animals or if you take his nose, he will take your ear "off" and giggle and run away.
We love you bubba bear.
A) He dances along with Dora and Boots, the Wiggles and the Backyardigans and he makes me join in. He looks so damn happy and lemme tell ya, he's got some sweet moves. He giggles to himself when he watches Caillou or Clifford.
B) Sometimes, for no reason at all, he runs over to me or his daddy with his arms spread wide and gives us ginormous hugs and kisses. At night time when he kisses daddy goodnight he then directs daddy to kiss mommy and then we have a group hug. I tell ya he is a dictator and we must obey. :)
C) He looks absolutely adorable in big boy undies. What a cute butt! Must have got it from his daddy. teehee.
D) He waits for daddy to get home so he can go "play" in his car and "drive". If daddy doesn't pick him up first thing and take him out there he crosses his arms and thunderclouds cover his face. He has a serious frown. When we are out and about and he is frowning and pouting all the ladies stop to say "Aaaaahhhhhh, he's mad!" like it is the cutest thing they've ever seen.
E) He is shy and hides behind my legs but then will peek around them and smile like he is flirting.
F) He loves to cuddle.
G) He has learned On, Off and Mine....these are his favorite words, of course but now he says stuff like "Not Off!" and "Not Mine!". I don't know why this makes me laugh.
H) He is very proud that he knows some letters and numbers. He likes to tell me "Oooooo" and "Iiiiiii" and "Dooooo" (two) and "Nine".
I) Whenever we are getting ready to go out somewhere he makes sure he gets his "Dooosh" (shoes) and then he will bring you your shoes. Shoes are very important to him....as well as hats. He is an accessory man.
J) He needs to cuddle with one of my neckroll pillows to go to sleep at night....after wrestling with it for about 35 minutes.
K) He needs to play "Pat-a-cake" and sing the ABC song before he lays down for sleepy time.
L) His neck and his inner thighs are his major tickle spots and he giggles like a madman when you get them.
M) Sometimes he wants to wear socks on his hands. Not sure why but I don't argue.
N) He is a picky eater but he consistently loves broccoli and ears of corn and lentil soup with goldfish crackers floating on top.
O) He goes over to the jasmine everyday and picks me a little sprig.
P) He has just learned how to jump with both feet leaving the ground. This makes him extremely excited and sometimes he jumps and lands right on his butt.
Q) He loves to wear daddy's watch on his ankle or his upper arm.
R) He loves to buckle/unbuckle and latch/unlatch things. This will occupy him for at least 10 minutes.
S) He kisses my boo-boo's away just like I kiss his away....ya know what? it really works. :)
T) He silkies my chin, arm and chest when he is tired or falling asleep.
U) After he wakes up he crawls over to daddy (if he hasn't left for work already) and cuddles with him for a little bit....then hands him his sippy cup with water in it from the night before and orders him "Up!" to go replace it with juice....then he will hand me the remote control so I will turn on his morning cartoons, preferabley "Ruff ruff" which means Clifford.
V) He yells at the cat like I do, "Get! get!"
W) When I ask him if he wants this or that his first response is always "Nooo" but then if it is something he really wants or likes it will be "Noooooo-uh huh" while shaking his head and then nodding emphatically....little negative-nelly. He's like "Oh crap! Yeah! I want that Mom! Why didnt' ya say so?"
X) He likes to interact with his books. He does sound effects, answers questions and bites the pictures of food.
Y) The only time he really enjoys being naked is after his bath and before bed as long as he can wear his ducky towel or frog towel on his head the whole time like a cape.
Z) His favorite game is 'Gotch Your Nose'. Sometimes he will steal your nose and put it on his stuffed animals or if you take his nose, he will take your ear "off" and giggle and run away.
We love you bubba bear.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Sweet Relief!
So the husband is home. Hallelujah. There is no way I could ever be an army wife or a wife of the guy who travels a lot for business. Nope. Just not my thang.
We crammed a whole bunch of activities in the last couple of days. It felt like the weekend or something because he got in Tues afternoon and he took off of work Wed. We rented movies, grocery shopped, went to the library, got ice cream, celebrated Father's Day at Chuck E Cheese (Carter hit it big with the games and won a crapload of tickets which we cashed in for china-made plastic toys and cheap-ass stickers), did household chores and basically got caught up with everything.
Now I am looking forward to some Mommy time this weekend. I have a hair appointment (desperately needed, I look like bowling alley waitress) and I intend on running all the errands that I never get to do with toddler in tow. How exciting do you think it will be for me to wander aimlessly around Target or T.J. Maxx or even, gasp....the mall. You. Don't. Even. Know.
Anal retentive, list-maker little ol' me has actually been compiling a list of stores she wants to go to on her Mommy Day. If I didn't write them all down I would forget why I was out......not kidding, the brain doesn't work so well these days.
Also, I must share.... the darling husband has just called to inform me that he bought me a prenatal massage package at the spa that includes a pedicure (yes!yes!yes! gnarly feet will look pretty!). I think I will marry him all over again. I guess that overtime paid off, huh?
We crammed a whole bunch of activities in the last couple of days. It felt like the weekend or something because he got in Tues afternoon and he took off of work Wed. We rented movies, grocery shopped, went to the library, got ice cream, celebrated Father's Day at Chuck E Cheese (Carter hit it big with the games and won a crapload of tickets which we cashed in for china-made plastic toys and cheap-ass stickers), did household chores and basically got caught up with everything.
Now I am looking forward to some Mommy time this weekend. I have a hair appointment (desperately needed, I look like bowling alley waitress) and I intend on running all the errands that I never get to do with toddler in tow. How exciting do you think it will be for me to wander aimlessly around Target or T.J. Maxx or even, gasp....the mall. You. Don't. Even. Know.
Anal retentive, list-maker little ol' me has actually been compiling a list of stores she wants to go to on her Mommy Day. If I didn't write them all down I would forget why I was out......not kidding, the brain doesn't work so well these days.
Also, I must share.... the darling husband has just called to inform me that he bought me a prenatal massage package at the spa that includes a pedicure (yes!yes!yes! gnarly feet will look pretty!). I think I will marry him all over again. I guess that overtime paid off, huh?
Friday, June 6, 2008
Blessed be
I am truly blessed.
Blessed as in lucky, fortunate or charmed. It's a word I never used before living in the South, unless I said "Bless you" when someone sneezed. :) I think because it's part of the everyday vernacular here that it's entered my language just as "Ya'll" has snuck in.
It's also a word I barely ever used before I had a child. It's come to mean so much more to me now. Can you guess why?
Well, it's because I have a child with two bright eyes, two active, muscled legs, rosy and well-fed cheeks and shining, healthy hair. I have a child who eats nutritious food everyday and never goes to sleep hungry. I have a child that smiles all the time and doesn't know what it is to fear. My child doesn't know abuse or disability or sickness. He doesn't know pain beyond a skinned knee or a bump on the head. His mommy can still kiss all his boo-boo's away and his daddy has big shoulders for him to cry on. He is loved and cherished and he wants for nothing.
As much as I say that he needs this or that, in all reality, all he needs is love and care and a safe environment.
I need to remind myself that there are so many children in this world that know suffering and I am blessed that my child does not. I hope he never knows pain or sadness but I know that this is impossible. I can only hope that his father and I have helped give him strength to deal with all the world-weary things that will come his way.
I love my family and feel so grateful to have them and when our second son is born healthy and strong I will feel twice blessed and may just burst.
Blessed as in lucky, fortunate or charmed. It's a word I never used before living in the South, unless I said "Bless you" when someone sneezed. :) I think because it's part of the everyday vernacular here that it's entered my language just as "Ya'll" has snuck in.
It's also a word I barely ever used before I had a child. It's come to mean so much more to me now. Can you guess why?
Well, it's because I have a child with two bright eyes, two active, muscled legs, rosy and well-fed cheeks and shining, healthy hair. I have a child who eats nutritious food everyday and never goes to sleep hungry. I have a child that smiles all the time and doesn't know what it is to fear. My child doesn't know abuse or disability or sickness. He doesn't know pain beyond a skinned knee or a bump on the head. His mommy can still kiss all his boo-boo's away and his daddy has big shoulders for him to cry on. He is loved and cherished and he wants for nothing.
As much as I say that he needs this or that, in all reality, all he needs is love and care and a safe environment.
I need to remind myself that there are so many children in this world that know suffering and I am blessed that my child does not. I hope he never knows pain or sadness but I know that this is impossible. I can only hope that his father and I have helped give him strength to deal with all the world-weary things that will come his way.
I love my family and feel so grateful to have them and when our second son is born healthy and strong I will feel twice blessed and may just burst.
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