No, my sweet Lily isn't grouchy. She just LOVES trash. Is obsessed with it. We sing "I Love Trash" all day long to her. Newspaper, plastic bottles, empty boxes, full boxes, old Popsicle wrappers, you name it. I can just smell disaster coming when she starts to crawl and discovers she can tip the trash cans. Forget toys...give this girl an envelope and she's good for 15 minutes. She has an incredible attention span already...if you give her the correct kind of object...namely, garbage. Strange little girl.
And her hair is getting weird too. She still has a ton of it. It is growing and growing on top, so it is never spiky anymore. But it isn't growing at all underneath. So she kind of looks like she has a bad toupee. The long part just kind of spills over all the baldness underneath. Weird.
I love the Ba-ba-ba's. She just happily sings that syllable over and over. Today I thought I heard a Ga-ga-ga...but when I tried to get her to repeat it back to me, she just smiled at me. I've started doing signs with her for "All done" and "More" and "Eat"...she just laughs at that too. So different...
Speaking of different...this girl has got a crazy strong grip. Yesterday she was playing with a half empty water bottle (see trash lover above). She literally palmed it in her right hand and lifted it up and down, shaking it. One-handed, people. If she gets her mama's long legs, perhaps we'll have a basketball player on our hands. As long as they get to shoot trash into the baskets, that is.
And to be fair, here's an Andrew story. My favorite new quirk of his. He LOVES talking on the phone...to anyone anytime. And people always ask, "What are you doing, Andrew?" To which he answers, "I'm talking to you on the phone!" with a tone of impatience and amazement. Gotta love the literalness of this kid!
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Crazy mommy
Being a crazy mom has its disadvantages.
Today, to make Andrew laugh, I put on two different flip-flops. He thought it was hilarious and crazy.
Fast forward to an hour later as I'm waiting in line at the post office. Yup, still wearing mis-matched flip-flops. Guess I forgot to switch one after I was done teasing the 3 year old. I hope people were distracted by the cute baby strapped to my chest...if not, they probably figured I was functioning on way too little sleep...which isn't true, but I'll use it as an excuse anyway.
Oops.
Today, to make Andrew laugh, I put on two different flip-flops. He thought it was hilarious and crazy.
Fast forward to an hour later as I'm waiting in line at the post office. Yup, still wearing mis-matched flip-flops. Guess I forgot to switch one after I was done teasing the 3 year old. I hope people were distracted by the cute baby strapped to my chest...if not, they probably figured I was functioning on way too little sleep...which isn't true, but I'll use it as an excuse anyway.
Oops.
Too bad police
Around Easter time, Andrew debuted his "Too bad" comment. As in, "Andrew, I need you to clean up that toy." "Too bad, Mom." Yes, charming.
Now I have the opposite type of monster on my hands. I may have talked to him too much about the evils of the phrase "Too bad". Because, see, it's not always bad. Sometimes it is said nicely, as in, "It's too bad we didn't bring Shadow to the park today."
Andrew is still learning the difference. So every time we say/hear the phrase "too bad", Andrew points it out and we must dissect the usage and decide if it is okay.
He is also the police for the words "stupid" and "shut up". He will announce loudly if someone says one of these phrases. Loudly.
And sometimes he says them on purpose just to see what my reaction will be. Because he's 3.
Oh, and he polices the crosswalks (as in: Mommy, the hand is showing. That man should not be walking across the street) and the streets (as in: Mommy, that car is going too fast. Where is the policeman to catch him).
For the record...it's tough to teach your child rules when every other person is breaking them. What IS the point of the crosswalk signs if half the people disregard them?
Boy, this is really rambling today. I've got to stretch my blogging muscle. Bear with me.
Now I have the opposite type of monster on my hands. I may have talked to him too much about the evils of the phrase "Too bad". Because, see, it's not always bad. Sometimes it is said nicely, as in, "It's too bad we didn't bring Shadow to the park today."
Andrew is still learning the difference. So every time we say/hear the phrase "too bad", Andrew points it out and we must dissect the usage and decide if it is okay.
He is also the police for the words "stupid" and "shut up". He will announce loudly if someone says one of these phrases. Loudly.
And sometimes he says them on purpose just to see what my reaction will be. Because he's 3.
Oh, and he polices the crosswalks (as in: Mommy, the hand is showing. That man should not be walking across the street) and the streets (as in: Mommy, that car is going too fast. Where is the policeman to catch him).
For the record...it's tough to teach your child rules when every other person is breaking them. What IS the point of the crosswalk signs if half the people disregard them?
Boy, this is really rambling today. I've got to stretch my blogging muscle. Bear with me.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Highlights
No, I'm not getting highlights in my hair. Maybe I should, but not today. These are highlights from our fabulous trip to Texas. That's right...I said fabulous. 3rd time's a charm, right? (to review...1st time was with cruise from hell, 2nd time I was preggers and intolerant to the heat).
Weather was gorgeous, children were unbelievably good, we were spoiled ROTTEN by the in-laws. Here are some other highlights...
***Andrew was ON as the entertainer of the week. He paraded happily around meeting all kinds of new people. And he eagerly discussed his football teams, weather maps, counting, and any other trick that he could pull out of his hat. It was such a pleasure to be able to share that part of him...as opposed to the sullen tantruming part (which we saw a little bit of, but not as much as you would expect).
***Andrew got to meet some significant others. He was seriously crushing on Chad's girlfriend, Monica. She is very pretty, with long silky hair (you know Andrew's obsession with hair), and she is very attentive to pre-schoolers. All that equals love at first sight for Andrew. The only problem? Monica admitted to living all by herself...a concept that is practically inconceivable to a 3 year old. Andrew was very concerned, and spent much of the time trying to solve this "problem" for her. It led to many awkward conversations about marriage and moving back in with her parents. But probably not as awkward as one point in the restaurant when Andrew pointed out Monica's breasts and told her she could have a baby and feed it. Nice. Andrew also initiated Sara's boyfriend Colum. Initiated him to "Andrew-rules" soccer. Poor guy had to sit on the floor and be pelted with soccer balls as Andrew's goalie. And heaven forbid he actually block a shot. Yikes! Thank heavens we had a nerf-like ball, or else Colum would have been headed to the ER.
***Potty training is interesting at the beach. The first day we were there, every time his swim trunks got wet, Andrew would think he had wet his pants. He'd waddle around like a duck and insist on walking all the way back up to the bathrooms. He got over this eventually...but he's back to wetting his diapers at night.
***Andrew had us in stitches...as usual. We went searching for ghost crabs...which Andrew insisted on calling "goose" crabs. He would say, "Raise your hand if..." for some ridiculous things. As an example, Grandma was trying to get him to go to the beach at night to look for goose crabs. Andrew didn't want to go, so I told him that Grandma was scared and needed him to keep her company. Andrew said, "Raise your hand if you are brave." Grandma was the only one who raised her hand. Andrew said happily, "Great! You can go by yourself, then!"
***Lily was UNBELIEVABLE. INCREDIBLE. ASTONISHING. She slept like a champ, went to restaurants way past her bedtime every night...just a flexible fun little girl. She was smiley and slept well and happy and slept well and easily entertained and slept well and just about as good as you could dream a child to be. She also said her first consonant "Ba ba ba", which she is now repeating every 10 minutes or so. (I know she was supposed to meet this milestone months ago...but we're still thrilled with it!). Oh, and she HATED the ocean. Put her feet in and she would shake her fists and scream. But she loved the beach. She even napped on the beach. Did I mention that she slept well? She was cute as a button in her little sundresses. Love her love her love her.
So those are the highlights. I'm missing things, I know. But most of all we had fun hanging out with all the family. My heart just melts watching Uncle Chad and Aunt Sara ooze love all over their niece and nephew. Kind of makes me wish we all lived in the same town. Thanks again to Grandma and Grandpa for a wonderful trip!
Weather was gorgeous, children were unbelievably good, we were spoiled ROTTEN by the in-laws. Here are some other highlights...
***Andrew was ON as the entertainer of the week. He paraded happily around meeting all kinds of new people. And he eagerly discussed his football teams, weather maps, counting, and any other trick that he could pull out of his hat. It was such a pleasure to be able to share that part of him...as opposed to the sullen tantruming part (which we saw a little bit of, but not as much as you would expect).
***Andrew got to meet some significant others. He was seriously crushing on Chad's girlfriend, Monica. She is very pretty, with long silky hair (you know Andrew's obsession with hair), and she is very attentive to pre-schoolers. All that equals love at first sight for Andrew. The only problem? Monica admitted to living all by herself...a concept that is practically inconceivable to a 3 year old. Andrew was very concerned, and spent much of the time trying to solve this "problem" for her. It led to many awkward conversations about marriage and moving back in with her parents. But probably not as awkward as one point in the restaurant when Andrew pointed out Monica's breasts and told her she could have a baby and feed it. Nice. Andrew also initiated Sara's boyfriend Colum. Initiated him to "Andrew-rules" soccer. Poor guy had to sit on the floor and be pelted with soccer balls as Andrew's goalie. And heaven forbid he actually block a shot. Yikes! Thank heavens we had a nerf-like ball, or else Colum would have been headed to the ER.
***Potty training is interesting at the beach. The first day we were there, every time his swim trunks got wet, Andrew would think he had wet his pants. He'd waddle around like a duck and insist on walking all the way back up to the bathrooms. He got over this eventually...but he's back to wetting his diapers at night.
***Andrew had us in stitches...as usual. We went searching for ghost crabs...which Andrew insisted on calling "goose" crabs. He would say, "Raise your hand if..." for some ridiculous things. As an example, Grandma was trying to get him to go to the beach at night to look for goose crabs. Andrew didn't want to go, so I told him that Grandma was scared and needed him to keep her company. Andrew said, "Raise your hand if you are brave." Grandma was the only one who raised her hand. Andrew said happily, "Great! You can go by yourself, then!"
***Lily was UNBELIEVABLE. INCREDIBLE. ASTONISHING. She slept like a champ, went to restaurants way past her bedtime every night...just a flexible fun little girl. She was smiley and slept well and happy and slept well and easily entertained and slept well and just about as good as you could dream a child to be. She also said her first consonant "Ba ba ba", which she is now repeating every 10 minutes or so. (I know she was supposed to meet this milestone months ago...but we're still thrilled with it!). Oh, and she HATED the ocean. Put her feet in and she would shake her fists and scream. But she loved the beach. She even napped on the beach. Did I mention that she slept well? She was cute as a button in her little sundresses. Love her love her love her.
So those are the highlights. I'm missing things, I know. But most of all we had fun hanging out with all the family. My heart just melts watching Uncle Chad and Aunt Sara ooze love all over their niece and nephew. Kind of makes me wish we all lived in the same town. Thanks again to Grandma and Grandpa for a wonderful trip!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
To the beach, to the beach!
Well, we're off to the beach in Texas tomorrow. Oh, and my brother-in-law's graduation. Not that the graduation isn't the most important thing. But there just happens to be a condo reserved at the beach for the following week. ;) I am in the process of trying to compress all the crap that kids need into the fewest number of suitcases. Thank heavens the condo has a washer/dryer. I remember when I was psyched if my vacation destination had free drinks. Oh, how life changes. ;)
So be prepared for a nice long hiatus from "Moments of Sanity--Take 2". I'm sure I'll come back with no pictures and very few stories. No, seriously. I'm notoriously bad about documenting actual exciting trips. Mundane daily life, I could write about all week (oh, wait, I do). But fun trips. Not so much. Trust me. I've been printing out my blog history. Not much.
I'll be missing you and thinking of you often! Not really, but feel special anyway.
So be prepared for a nice long hiatus from "Moments of Sanity--Take 2". I'm sure I'll come back with no pictures and very few stories. No, seriously. I'm notoriously bad about documenting actual exciting trips. Mundane daily life, I could write about all week (oh, wait, I do). But fun trips. Not so much. Trust me. I've been printing out my blog history. Not much.
I'll be missing you and thinking of you often! Not really, but feel special anyway.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
King
Jeff wonders why I'm tired at the end of the day. Mentally tired. Here's an example of a car ride with Andrew. I'm not exaggerating or deleting much...just trying to write down a typical conversation in the car.
The scene: Andrew, Lily, and Giselle are going to the library for their normal Tuesday morning excursion. Thrilling, I know. Giselle takes a slight detour to hit an ATM in case she hears Burger King calling later. The bank/ATM is across the street from the athletic center, where we had soccer starters, where we haven't visited in 3 weeks.
Andrew- Mommy, I thought we were going to the library. Are we going to soccer instead?
Giselle- You remember where we played soccer? Amazing. No, we are still going to the library. I have to go to the bank real quick.
A- Why?
G- To get money.
A- Why?
G- Because I don't have any left in my wallet.
A- Why not?
G- Because Daddy stole it from me.
A- Daddy is a nasty Daddy for stealing.
G- No, it's okay. Daddy and I share money and he needed it to pay the man who cut our lawn. He's not bad, we share.
A- Not like in Robin Hood. Why does that guy always suck his thumb and say 'Ma Ma'?
G- He acts like a baby when he gets scared or upset.
A- Why?
G- I don't know. He just does.
A- He steals, right?
G- Yes. From the poor.
A- Why?
G- Because he's greedy.
A- What's greedy?
G- It means you want more of something even if you don't need it. Especially if it means you can have more than everybody else.
A- Why does he want more money?
G- Because he's greedy.
A- Why doesn't he go to jail?
G- Because he's the king, so he can take whatever he wants.
A- Why?
G- Because kings are in charge. They are supposed to be nice, but that king in Robin Hood was bad.
A- How come he's a king?
G- Because his dad was a king. That's how you get to be king...your dad has to be one.
Short pause
A- Is my dad a king?
And on and on and on we went. I thought the asking if his dad was a king was really cute, hence I decided to write it down. But the journey to get to that comment was equally amusing, so there you go. THAT'S why I'm mentally exhausted at the end of the day.
The scene: Andrew, Lily, and Giselle are going to the library for their normal Tuesday morning excursion. Thrilling, I know. Giselle takes a slight detour to hit an ATM in case she hears Burger King calling later. The bank/ATM is across the street from the athletic center, where we had soccer starters, where we haven't visited in 3 weeks.
Andrew- Mommy, I thought we were going to the library. Are we going to soccer instead?
Giselle- You remember where we played soccer? Amazing. No, we are still going to the library. I have to go to the bank real quick.
A- Why?
G- To get money.
A- Why?
G- Because I don't have any left in my wallet.
A- Why not?
G- Because Daddy stole it from me.
A- Daddy is a nasty Daddy for stealing.
G- No, it's okay. Daddy and I share money and he needed it to pay the man who cut our lawn. He's not bad, we share.
A- Not like in Robin Hood. Why does that guy always suck his thumb and say 'Ma Ma'?
G- He acts like a baby when he gets scared or upset.
A- Why?
G- I don't know. He just does.
A- He steals, right?
G- Yes. From the poor.
A- Why?
G- Because he's greedy.
A- What's greedy?
G- It means you want more of something even if you don't need it. Especially if it means you can have more than everybody else.
A- Why does he want more money?
G- Because he's greedy.
A- Why doesn't he go to jail?
G- Because he's the king, so he can take whatever he wants.
A- Why?
G- Because kings are in charge. They are supposed to be nice, but that king in Robin Hood was bad.
A- How come he's a king?
G- Because his dad was a king. That's how you get to be king...your dad has to be one.
Short pause
A- Is my dad a king?
And on and on and on we went. I thought the asking if his dad was a king was really cute, hence I decided to write it down. But the journey to get to that comment was equally amusing, so there you go. THAT'S why I'm mentally exhausted at the end of the day.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Breaking up is hard to do...and a funny kid too
It's official. Lily is breaking up with me...well, my boob anyway. I'm trying not to take it personally. I know it's not me, it's her. We just want different things. She's found someone else that makes her heart go pitter patter...or rather, her tummy. So much so, that I can't even put away the clean bottles out of the dishwasher without her having a conniption fit. So I'm trying to let go...we are officially weaning. Much slower than my cold turkey with Andrew. But still headed down that road. And I'm sad. But I figure I'll be like this for every milestone Lily reaches, from weaning to graduating high school. My baby.
Andrew is so darn cute. We were sitting outside looking at the clouds a few days ago. I used to say what shape I saw, and he'd agree, or make up something really ridiculous that was nothing like the cloud. He just didn't get it. He gets it now. He was seeing some really cool things in these big fluffy clouds. And yet, he still doesn't get humor just right. Here's an excerpt of our conversation:
A- Hey Mom! That cloud looks like Kentucky! (and it really did...so smart).
G- Wow! It really is shaped like Kentucky. Let's wave and say hi to our friends, 'Hi guys! We miss you!'
A- (a disgusted look on his face, accompanied by a condescending tone) It's just tender Kentucky, Mom.
Today we were pirates. We made a trail of arrows on the ground heading to our treasure (x marks the spot), we rowed our boat here and their (our porch swing served as our vessel), we fought pirates with our stick swords, and just generally ran around like crazy people (Lily was napping). I was making up names of the pirates we had to fight and what terrible things they did to deserve a severe butt kicking. Really original ones like Davy Jones and Black Jack and Captain Hook. Andrew began contributing names when I started running out...like Crayonie Drayonie (he bites cheeks off) and Color Droller (he melts houses). But after about 45 minutes...let's be honest...15 minutes, I began really wishing he had a friend his own age to play with. Of course, at 3, they would be fighting and tantrums because each wanted to do things their own way. But someday, right? For now, I'm just dreaming of some playground equipment for our backyard. It's pathetic that he just plays with this rinky dink slide we have. I know I'm dreaming to think that play equipment will deter him from wanting to play with me. What's a swing when your mom is willing to be a swashbuckling pirate?
Which brings me to my number one lesson that my brain refuses to learn. Before you do something fun with your 3 year old, think about how fun it will be after the 100th repetition, and then decide whether to introduce it or not. Imagining cloud shapes? Fun, relaxing, not difficult. Running around the yard as a pirate? Maybe not something I'm going to want to do every spare second for the next week.
Andrew is so darn cute. We were sitting outside looking at the clouds a few days ago. I used to say what shape I saw, and he'd agree, or make up something really ridiculous that was nothing like the cloud. He just didn't get it. He gets it now. He was seeing some really cool things in these big fluffy clouds. And yet, he still doesn't get humor just right. Here's an excerpt of our conversation:
A- Hey Mom! That cloud looks like Kentucky! (and it really did...so smart).
G- Wow! It really is shaped like Kentucky. Let's wave and say hi to our friends, 'Hi guys! We miss you!'
A- (a disgusted look on his face, accompanied by a condescending tone) It's just tender Kentucky, Mom.
Today we were pirates. We made a trail of arrows on the ground heading to our treasure (x marks the spot), we rowed our boat here and their (our porch swing served as our vessel), we fought pirates with our stick swords, and just generally ran around like crazy people (Lily was napping). I was making up names of the pirates we had to fight and what terrible things they did to deserve a severe butt kicking. Really original ones like Davy Jones and Black Jack and Captain Hook. Andrew began contributing names when I started running out...like Crayonie Drayonie (he bites cheeks off) and Color Droller (he melts houses). But after about 45 minutes...let's be honest...15 minutes, I began really wishing he had a friend his own age to play with. Of course, at 3, they would be fighting and tantrums because each wanted to do things their own way. But someday, right? For now, I'm just dreaming of some playground equipment for our backyard. It's pathetic that he just plays with this rinky dink slide we have. I know I'm dreaming to think that play equipment will deter him from wanting to play with me. What's a swing when your mom is willing to be a swashbuckling pirate?
Which brings me to my number one lesson that my brain refuses to learn. Before you do something fun with your 3 year old, think about how fun it will be after the 100th repetition, and then decide whether to introduce it or not. Imagining cloud shapes? Fun, relaxing, not difficult. Running around the yard as a pirate? Maybe not something I'm going to want to do every spare second for the next week.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Happy Mother's Day!
Even though Mother's Day seems like another Hallmark generated holiday, I'll take the opportunity to say thanks to all the mothers I know.
Thanks to all the mothers who also blog, so I can get a glimpse of life at your house. It is reassuring to read your stories and hear your frustrations and joys. It is also great to laugh at someone else's life. Makes me feel better every day!
Thanks to all the mothers who are my friends...even if you don't allow me to be nosy and read about your day to day life. ;) Mothering can be a lonely job without much feedback. Other mothers are as close as I get to a help line...and you all speak English very well, so it's actually better than most help lines.
And the biggest thank you to my two moms. My own mom for more reasons than I can list. First, for giving birth to my huge 9lb5oz butt. Second, for not drowning me at a young age. Third, for not trading me in for a cuter model during the "awkward years" (am I out of those yet?). Last, for continuing to mother me, even though I am now an adult and supposed to be self-sufficient. I still need my mommy.
And a thank you to my mother-in-law. First, for raising such a compassionate, caring, loving man (and cute to boot!). Second, for putting up with my crazies without a blink of an eye. Third, for loving your grandchildren so much it drives ME crazy sometimes ;) Last, for just being an incredibly generous, kind, wonderful woman. I honestly couldn't have custom ordered a better mother for my husband. Seriously, my only complaint is that you want to buy us too much stuff. How lame is that complaint? Doesn't fly during playgroup, I'll tell you that. ;)
So happy Mother's Day all!
Thanks to all the mothers who also blog, so I can get a glimpse of life at your house. It is reassuring to read your stories and hear your frustrations and joys. It is also great to laugh at someone else's life. Makes me feel better every day!
Thanks to all the mothers who are my friends...even if you don't allow me to be nosy and read about your day to day life. ;) Mothering can be a lonely job without much feedback. Other mothers are as close as I get to a help line...and you all speak English very well, so it's actually better than most help lines.
And the biggest thank you to my two moms. My own mom for more reasons than I can list. First, for giving birth to my huge 9lb5oz butt. Second, for not drowning me at a young age. Third, for not trading me in for a cuter model during the "awkward years" (am I out of those yet?). Last, for continuing to mother me, even though I am now an adult and supposed to be self-sufficient. I still need my mommy.
And a thank you to my mother-in-law. First, for raising such a compassionate, caring, loving man (and cute to boot!). Second, for putting up with my crazies without a blink of an eye. Third, for loving your grandchildren so much it drives ME crazy sometimes ;) Last, for just being an incredibly generous, kind, wonderful woman. I honestly couldn't have custom ordered a better mother for my husband. Seriously, my only complaint is that you want to buy us too much stuff. How lame is that complaint? Doesn't fly during playgroup, I'll tell you that. ;)
So happy Mother's Day all!
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Having kids is fun!
It is easy as a mother to get bogged down with meal making, clothes washing, reprimanding, correcting, cleaning up after, and entertaining our children. I enjoy my children...I love them and laugh at them/with them a lot. But usually all the other things are also going on. Today I got to just have fun.
Sure, there was the packing the diaper bag full of changes of clothes, snacks, extra diapers, toys for Lily, drinks for Andrew, Purell, extra suntan lotion, etc. And the cajoling the 3 year old to get dressed, timing the baby's nap just right, and packing them into the car. But then we got to Sesame Place.
Jeff, let's call him "Pack Horse" for the purposes of this story, came with me for our first trip to the amusement park. Before I braved it with 2 by myself, I wanted to visit with some backup.
Andrew didn't really understand where we were going...neither did we, for that matter. My in-laws graciously gave us a season's pass for Christmas, but we didn't really know if the park was something Andrew would enjoy. In the past he was always a timid child. We walked through the admission gates, and Andrew saw the big roller coaster. It's not huge, but I was very surprised that a 3 year old could ride it. He could. But I wasn't sure how he would react to rides, and I certainly didn't want to test it out on the biggest ride in the park.
We weaved back to the "Elmo's World" part. We passed tons of really fun water play areas. I can't wait to cool off there this summer...I hope it isn't too crazy crowded. Today was great. We got in line for a ride...and Andrew LOVED it. Heck, I loved it too. He was laughing and we were talking about our crazy hair. Ride after ride, he was just such a riot. Poor Pack Horse was watching from the sidelines carrying the Bjorn with Lily and our bag. Andrew and I just ran from ride to ride.
We finally made it back to the front of the park (it's actually not that big). We'd only planned to be there for an hour (this was our test expedition after all), and we'd already been there about 2. Our last ride was the "big" roller coaster. Andrew hopped on, excited as could be. He told me to scream if I got scared, because that's what he was going to do. As we plummeted down 5 stories or so, my heart skipped several beats and I screamed loudly. Not because of the hill...because I envisioned Andrew slipping out of the restraining bar. I had to calm my hyperventilating by repeating to myself, "they allow 3 year olds, it was made for 3 year olds". It also helped that Andrew was sitting next to me LAUGHING LIKE A CRAZY MAN. I think he would get kind of nervous and then he'd look up at me screaming and crack up. Amazing. This is the same kid who won't climb up play equipment at Burger King.
We left the park hot and happy. At least Andrew and I were happy. I couldn't tell how good old Pack Horse felt. Sore, I think. He's a good sport. Did I take pictures? No. I was too busy having fun. Taking pictures would have cut into it...and I was just enjoying myself. So too bad. ;)
AsI drove us all home, I couldn't help but think, "Having kids is fun!" And I think we're just at the start of the really fun stuff. Goody goody...now I just have to block out that tantrum that Andrew had as we were leaving. ;)
Sure, there was the packing the diaper bag full of changes of clothes, snacks, extra diapers, toys for Lily, drinks for Andrew, Purell, extra suntan lotion, etc. And the cajoling the 3 year old to get dressed, timing the baby's nap just right, and packing them into the car. But then we got to Sesame Place.
Jeff, let's call him "Pack Horse" for the purposes of this story, came with me for our first trip to the amusement park. Before I braved it with 2 by myself, I wanted to visit with some backup.
Andrew didn't really understand where we were going...neither did we, for that matter. My in-laws graciously gave us a season's pass for Christmas, but we didn't really know if the park was something Andrew would enjoy. In the past he was always a timid child. We walked through the admission gates, and Andrew saw the big roller coaster. It's not huge, but I was very surprised that a 3 year old could ride it. He could. But I wasn't sure how he would react to rides, and I certainly didn't want to test it out on the biggest ride in the park.
We weaved back to the "Elmo's World" part. We passed tons of really fun water play areas. I can't wait to cool off there this summer...I hope it isn't too crazy crowded. Today was great. We got in line for a ride...and Andrew LOVED it. Heck, I loved it too. He was laughing and we were talking about our crazy hair. Ride after ride, he was just such a riot. Poor Pack Horse was watching from the sidelines carrying the Bjorn with Lily and our bag. Andrew and I just ran from ride to ride.
We finally made it back to the front of the park (it's actually not that big). We'd only planned to be there for an hour (this was our test expedition after all), and we'd already been there about 2. Our last ride was the "big" roller coaster. Andrew hopped on, excited as could be. He told me to scream if I got scared, because that's what he was going to do. As we plummeted down 5 stories or so, my heart skipped several beats and I screamed loudly. Not because of the hill...because I envisioned Andrew slipping out of the restraining bar. I had to calm my hyperventilating by repeating to myself, "they allow 3 year olds, it was made for 3 year olds". It also helped that Andrew was sitting next to me LAUGHING LIKE A CRAZY MAN. I think he would get kind of nervous and then he'd look up at me screaming and crack up. Amazing. This is the same kid who won't climb up play equipment at Burger King.
We left the park hot and happy. At least Andrew and I were happy. I couldn't tell how good old Pack Horse felt. Sore, I think. He's a good sport. Did I take pictures? No. I was too busy having fun. Taking pictures would have cut into it...and I was just enjoying myself. So too bad. ;)
AsI drove us all home, I couldn't help but think, "Having kids is fun!" And I think we're just at the start of the really fun stuff. Goody goody...now I just have to block out that tantrum that Andrew had as we were leaving. ;)
Friday, May 11, 2007
I LOVE this age...
Guess which child is at the perfect age right now. I'll give you a hint. It's not Andrew.
Actually, Andrew's not at a terrible age. He is an emotional basket case some of the time, but I do love listening to him figure out the world around him. And being amazed at his little brain...like this morning when he pointed to an advertisement and said, "Look, it's 67 percent." Uh, when did we learn the percent sign?
No, it's my Lillian who is at the perfect age. I've always said that human beings are their most perfect between 6 and 9 months. Playful but not mobile, sleeping a lot still but in a schedule, just happy to be sitting up and interacting. Oh, and so stinking cute, you just want to squeeze and kiss them all the time. Honestly, sometimes newborns are not cute...but I've met very few 8 month-olds who aren't squeezably cute.
There are many moments during the day when I just fall head over heels in love with my little girl. She sits in her high chair after eating, happily watching me clean up the kitchen and playing with her toys. Every time I look over at her, she gives me this big silly grin. Sometimes even a squeal. I build towers of blocks for her, and she grins as she knocks them over, anticipating my mock exclamation of horror that she knocked over my tower. I adore the anticipation of tickles...she sees me creeping towards her and she just wriggles with excitement. I love the furrow of her brow when she is studying a new object or if she hears a new sound. Just figuring everything out. When we try to encourage her to babble with consonants, she just laughs and sticks her tongue out. Always with the tongue hanging out. Not destined to be a socialite with that endearing habit. There's no way you're going to get this girl to do anything she doesn't want to. A mind of her own.
Seriously, Jeff and I have it bad. She'll be sitting somewhere while we get dinner ready and we'll just have to go hug her or touch her or kiss her. We are overwhelmed by her cuteness. We may be prejudiced. I don't care. I enjoy the view from these rose colored glasses.
And Andrew is not excluded from this adoration of Lily. He adores her too...most of the time. Nothing melts my heart like watching him mimic me while playing with Lily. He's seen me creep up and tickle/kiss/eat her up a million times...and now he does it too. She, of course, encourages this behavior from her brother. And he likes nothing better than to make her laugh. So much, that he has a hard time not getting involved if I'm playing with her. HE wants to make her laugh, not me. It's his special thing. So much so that he tells strangers that we meet that Lily loves him and he makes her laugh.
I wish you could all come and hang out with my Lillian. She really is a perfect doll-baby. With attitude. Any doubt that it is impossible to love a 2nd child as much as the 1st has been wiped from my mind. The only thing I wonder now is how my rib cage is going to manage to contain my heart. It just keeps getting bigger and bigger to accommodate these little people.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
No mother of the year...again.
Damn it! I've taken myself out of the running for Mother of the Year...AGAIN. At this rate I'll never even be nominated.
So Andrew has been wearing my every last nerve the last several days. Here's a short synopsis of yesterday to give you the flavor:
7:30- Andrew wakes up. Hooray! He should be in a great mood since he slept in, right?
8:30- Andrew is taken up to his room for timeout...he bit me hard enough through jeans to leave a mark. And we were just playing...he wasn't even mad.
8:33- I go upstairs to get the requisite "Sorry, Mom." Andrew says, "I'm not sorry. I'm going to stay in my room forever."
8:45- Andrew knocks on the door, says, "Sorry. I was just tendering you were food." (remember...tendering means pretending...he wasn't tenderizing me to eat me or anything)
9:00- When Andrew won't share toys with Lily, I tell him if he can't share his toys, then he can't play with her toys. He says, "Fine, I don't want to play with her toys."
9:30- Lily goes down for a nap. I read books with Andrew and cuddle him and color with him. During all these activities I repeat about 50 times that when Lily wakes up, we're going to go to the library.
10:30- Lily wakes up. I feed her while Andrew watches TV. Andrew refuses to put on shoes. I start counting to three to get him to come to me to put on shoes. He counts back at me. Sarcastically. Snidely. I haul his ass upstairs trying my hardest not to throttle his snotty little butt (oh, how attitude rubs me the wrong way).
Need I go on? We never made it to the library...at least not then. After 2 more time outs and "quiet time" in his room for an hour that consisted mostly of him knocking on his door and trying to make a break for it, I just HAD to leave the house, lest I strangle him. When I finally dragged him into the car he refused to say "please" for a fruit roll-up, instead using this delightful phrase, "When I say I want it, you have to GIVE IT TO ME. You HAVE to. GIVE IT TO ME." When I of course denied him the fruit roll up, he screamed and kicked the seat of the car and yelled, "MOMMY, YOU ARE GOING INTO TIMEOUT. I'M GOING TO THROW YOU OUT THE WINDOW." I did not react to any of it, other than turning the car music on to drown him out. He eventually stopped screaming because he got hoarse. Then we got to the library and he was a little angel, quietly playing computer games and leaving just when I told him to.
-sigh- I love the 3's.
But yesterday isn't even the reason I'm not getting Mother of the Year. On the contrary, I think I handled yesterday pretty well. No, here's the real reason.
Andrew goes to school for 90 minutes on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. I was informed that moms needed to get to school 10 minutes early today so the kids could perform a little Mother's Day treat. I told Andrew this morning that I would be coming into his classroom today.
Apparently, I dropped him off and he CRIED HYSTERICALLY the whole day. The teachers were bewildered. But Andrew thought I was going to spend the entire day with him...not just the last 10 minutes. I feel awful. My poor kid. I totally misled him. He was HEARTBROKEN that I had just dropped him off and not stayed. He wouldn't sing the song or give me a hug. He stood during the performance with his arms crossed over his chest, frowning, and trying his hardest not to cry.
How can a child make you want to pull your hair out one day and totally break your heart with love and tenderness the next? Heck, it goes minute to minute not day to day. Such is motherhood. At least motherhood for a LOSER like me. I think I'll be more specific next time. And I sure as heck ain't going to be missing any school events, that's for sure!
So Andrew has been wearing my every last nerve the last several days. Here's a short synopsis of yesterday to give you the flavor:
7:30- Andrew wakes up. Hooray! He should be in a great mood since he slept in, right?
8:30- Andrew is taken up to his room for timeout...he bit me hard enough through jeans to leave a mark. And we were just playing...he wasn't even mad.
8:33- I go upstairs to get the requisite "Sorry, Mom." Andrew says, "I'm not sorry. I'm going to stay in my room forever."
8:45- Andrew knocks on the door, says, "Sorry. I was just tendering you were food." (remember...tendering means pretending...he wasn't tenderizing me to eat me or anything)
9:00- When Andrew won't share toys with Lily, I tell him if he can't share his toys, then he can't play with her toys. He says, "Fine, I don't want to play with her toys."
9:30- Lily goes down for a nap. I read books with Andrew and cuddle him and color with him. During all these activities I repeat about 50 times that when Lily wakes up, we're going to go to the library.
10:30- Lily wakes up. I feed her while Andrew watches TV. Andrew refuses to put on shoes. I start counting to three to get him to come to me to put on shoes. He counts back at me. Sarcastically. Snidely. I haul his ass upstairs trying my hardest not to throttle his snotty little butt (oh, how attitude rubs me the wrong way).
Need I go on? We never made it to the library...at least not then. After 2 more time outs and "quiet time" in his room for an hour that consisted mostly of him knocking on his door and trying to make a break for it, I just HAD to leave the house, lest I strangle him. When I finally dragged him into the car he refused to say "please" for a fruit roll-up, instead using this delightful phrase, "When I say I want it, you have to GIVE IT TO ME. You HAVE to. GIVE IT TO ME." When I of course denied him the fruit roll up, he screamed and kicked the seat of the car and yelled, "MOMMY, YOU ARE GOING INTO TIMEOUT. I'M GOING TO THROW YOU OUT THE WINDOW." I did not react to any of it, other than turning the car music on to drown him out. He eventually stopped screaming because he got hoarse. Then we got to the library and he was a little angel, quietly playing computer games and leaving just when I told him to.
-sigh- I love the 3's.
But yesterday isn't even the reason I'm not getting Mother of the Year. On the contrary, I think I handled yesterday pretty well. No, here's the real reason.
Andrew goes to school for 90 minutes on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. I was informed that moms needed to get to school 10 minutes early today so the kids could perform a little Mother's Day treat. I told Andrew this morning that I would be coming into his classroom today.
Apparently, I dropped him off and he CRIED HYSTERICALLY the whole day. The teachers were bewildered. But Andrew thought I was going to spend the entire day with him...not just the last 10 minutes. I feel awful. My poor kid. I totally misled him. He was HEARTBROKEN that I had just dropped him off and not stayed. He wouldn't sing the song or give me a hug. He stood during the performance with his arms crossed over his chest, frowning, and trying his hardest not to cry.
How can a child make you want to pull your hair out one day and totally break your heart with love and tenderness the next? Heck, it goes minute to minute not day to day. Such is motherhood. At least motherhood for a LOSER like me. I think I'll be more specific next time. And I sure as heck ain't going to be missing any school events, that's for sure!
Some pictures
I told you Lily could sit! Isn't she cute!
Mr. Pizza face...just not as cute as his sister in pictures. But I promise he's just as cute in person. Kind of.
Okay, gotta share this picture. Andrew had spilled water on his shirt so he was going around topless. Jeff came home from work and Andrew was watching tv. Andrew said, "Hey Dad! Take off your shirt and watch tv with me!" I, of course, RAN to get the camera. Oh, and I don't beat Jeff...all those bruises on his arm are from fencing. I swear.
Mr. Pizza face...just not as cute as his sister in pictures. But I promise he's just as cute in person. Kind of.
Okay, gotta share this picture. Andrew had spilled water on his shirt so he was going around topless. Jeff came home from work and Andrew was watching tv. Andrew said, "Hey Dad! Take off your shirt and watch tv with me!" I, of course, RAN to get the camera. Oh, and I don't beat Jeff...all those bruises on his arm are from fencing. I swear.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Are you having a third?
Okay, here's another disgruntled venting post. Geesh..you'd think with all this beautiful weather I'd be in a better mood.
So the minute you start dating someone, the nosy questions start. The progression goes something like this:
(dating for 3 months) Oh, you've been dating a while, when are you going to get engaged?
(2 seconds after getting engaged) Oh! When are you getting married?
(3 weeks after getting married) Oh! When are you going to have a baby?
(6 months after having baby #1) Oh! Are you going to have a second?
Now, I thought that having achieved all these expectations, I would now be off the hook. I even had a boy and a girl, so I could avoid the inevitable, "Are you going to try for a girl/boy?" question that plagues same sex sibling families.
But, no, it seems that John Q. Public expects an endless stream of offspring to come from my loins. Granted, I get asked a lot less frequently than I did after Andrew, but, Dude, Lily is only 7 months old. Take a glance at how far apart my 2 kids are spaced...even if we WERE going to have a third, we certainly wouldn't be doing anything about it now.
I know it is just meaningless small talk. I am just as guilty of asking people these nosy questions. Although I try to stop myself most of the time. After taking a while to get pregnant, I can't imagine how annoying these questions are to people who are genuinely having fertility problems (I can't ever claim to understand these people...it felt like it took FOREVER for me to get pregnant, but I have managed it 3 times in the 8 years I've been married...so I can't be too pouty about it.) Anyhoo, despite my very minor trip in "I have no kids, even though I want them desperately"-land, I have new respect for how painful these nosy questions can be.
I wish I were really clever. I'd love to tell the checkout lady, "Oh, gosh, yes we're having more. My husband and I would like 12 or 15." Or, "Heck, I've got to figure out who these two kids' daddies are before I start down that road again."
I am a little flattered that people ask. I feel totally inept at handling my 2...it strokes my ego that people would even think I should have a 3rd as I struggle to pen in my pre-schooler and non-mobile 2nd child. It helps to balance out my own mother's opinion, "You should stop at 2." She says it's because I'm so sick during pregnancy, but she has spent a lot of time observing me mothering two...so you be the judge.
In a nutshell...I can't believe I have to field this question again...and so soon. I've got to get something else as a conversation starter...like a bolt through my nose or a really big tattoo on my neck.
So the minute you start dating someone, the nosy questions start. The progression goes something like this:
(dating for 3 months) Oh, you've been dating a while, when are you going to get engaged?
(2 seconds after getting engaged) Oh! When are you getting married?
(3 weeks after getting married) Oh! When are you going to have a baby?
(6 months after having baby #1) Oh! Are you going to have a second?
Now, I thought that having achieved all these expectations, I would now be off the hook. I even had a boy and a girl, so I could avoid the inevitable, "Are you going to try for a girl/boy?" question that plagues same sex sibling families.
But, no, it seems that John Q. Public expects an endless stream of offspring to come from my loins. Granted, I get asked a lot less frequently than I did after Andrew, but, Dude, Lily is only 7 months old. Take a glance at how far apart my 2 kids are spaced...even if we WERE going to have a third, we certainly wouldn't be doing anything about it now.
I know it is just meaningless small talk. I am just as guilty of asking people these nosy questions. Although I try to stop myself most of the time. After taking a while to get pregnant, I can't imagine how annoying these questions are to people who are genuinely having fertility problems (I can't ever claim to understand these people...it felt like it took FOREVER for me to get pregnant, but I have managed it 3 times in the 8 years I've been married...so I can't be too pouty about it.) Anyhoo, despite my very minor trip in "I have no kids, even though I want them desperately"-land, I have new respect for how painful these nosy questions can be.
I wish I were really clever. I'd love to tell the checkout lady, "Oh, gosh, yes we're having more. My husband and I would like 12 or 15." Or, "Heck, I've got to figure out who these two kids' daddies are before I start down that road again."
I am a little flattered that people ask. I feel totally inept at handling my 2...it strokes my ego that people would even think I should have a 3rd as I struggle to pen in my pre-schooler and non-mobile 2nd child. It helps to balance out my own mother's opinion, "You should stop at 2." She says it's because I'm so sick during pregnancy, but she has spent a lot of time observing me mothering two...so you be the judge.
In a nutshell...I can't believe I have to field this question again...and so soon. I've got to get something else as a conversation starter...like a bolt through my nose or a really big tattoo on my neck.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Baby farm
Andrew is back. In full force.
Before I start this story, let me explain something. We have a dog...we used to have 2 dogs. We gave Ginger away before moving to KY because she was mean and bit Andrew. I frequently stop Andrew from tormenting Shadow and then remind him that I don't want Shadow to get mean so we have to send her to a farm.
Okay, you are up to speed.
While he was gone this weekend, I got out a box of baby toys for Lily. Now that she is sitting up, I have a whole new bunch of things for her to play with.
Which, of course, Andrew wants for himself. He will be playing with something, and if I sit her down to watch him, he'll turn around with his back to her. Stinker. He won't share...he won't even let her play at all. It's like the moment she puts her attention on something, it becomes irresistible to him.
This is really starting already? So even though Lily could care less, I am fighting the fight for her. Teaching him to respect that she gets to play too. And all the while I'm struggling with him, I think...this is why I had two...this is why I had two...I'm teaching him the world doesn't revolve around him...
Today he had a particularly huge breakdown (in part because he's so out of whack from his big weekend). After he hoarded all the toys from Lily except for one pathetically boring plastic star, I raided HIS toys and found some for Lily to play with. He was NOT happy with me.
So I picked up his hysterically crying self and while cuddling him I explained that Lily lives with us and these are her toys too, so he has to share with her. To which he says, "Can't we give her to a farm?"
At this, we both crack up in hysterical giggles. Tantrum over.
-sigh- Only 20 more years of breaking up fights, right? I should start buying referee shirts now...
Before I start this story, let me explain something. We have a dog...we used to have 2 dogs. We gave Ginger away before moving to KY because she was mean and bit Andrew. I frequently stop Andrew from tormenting Shadow and then remind him that I don't want Shadow to get mean so we have to send her to a farm.
Okay, you are up to speed.
While he was gone this weekend, I got out a box of baby toys for Lily. Now that she is sitting up, I have a whole new bunch of things for her to play with.
Which, of course, Andrew wants for himself. He will be playing with something, and if I sit her down to watch him, he'll turn around with his back to her. Stinker. He won't share...he won't even let her play at all. It's like the moment she puts her attention on something, it becomes irresistible to him.
This is really starting already? So even though Lily could care less, I am fighting the fight for her. Teaching him to respect that she gets to play too. And all the while I'm struggling with him, I think...this is why I had two...this is why I had two...I'm teaching him the world doesn't revolve around him...
Today he had a particularly huge breakdown (in part because he's so out of whack from his big weekend). After he hoarded all the toys from Lily except for one pathetically boring plastic star, I raided HIS toys and found some for Lily to play with. He was NOT happy with me.
So I picked up his hysterically crying self and while cuddling him I explained that Lily lives with us and these are her toys too, so he has to share with her. To which he says, "Can't we give her to a farm?"
At this, we both crack up in hysterical giggles. Tantrum over.
-sigh- Only 20 more years of breaking up fights, right? I should start buying referee shirts now...
To nurse or not to nurse...
I am in a dilemma. And my few male readers may want to just skip this episode of "Moments of Sanity Part Duex"
I know a lot of moms who never breastfed their babies.
I know a lot of moms who effortlessly breastfed until their babies were a year old (or beyond!).
What I want to know is...those moms who made it to a year...was it really effortless? Did you ever have a moment of doubt that your baby wasn't eating enough? Did you ever have to fight with your little one as they refused to wait for your ridiculously slow let down? Did you ever feed your 6 months old every 90 minutes some afternoons and still not seem to satisfy them?
Breastfeeding has not been instinctual for me. I struggled A LOT when I started with Andrew...and only succeeded because of an angel of a lactation consultant. I do not/ can not pump, I have no engorgement, I have no leaking, I basically have no indication that I even produce milk except that my children are not starving.
At least, I was sure of that with Andrew. Dude, the kid was Buddha. But this little peanut I have now fills me with doubt.
So Lily is 7 months old. My afternoon feedings with her are rarely relaxing, because she is so frustrated with me. I don't know if it is because I supplemented with formula a few times so my milk supply didn't keep up with her need. I don't know if it's because I supplemented, and she now knows how stinkin' easy it is to eat out of a bottle. I don't know if it is because I don't drink enough water, or there are too many distractions, or she's just grouchy at the end of the day. I don't know.
She will nurse for 15 minutes and still be fussy. I give her a bottle and she drinks 4-6 ounces. Um...does that mean she's not getting enough breast milk? I don't know. After she nurses, she is usually happy, but often looking for more to eat soon after. After a bottle, she is "milk drunk".
So I'm thinking of formula feeding. I don't want to because 1) I nursed Andrew until he was 9 months, so it doesn't seem fair that Lily doesn't get the benefits until then (see, always comparing) 2) I LOVE breastfeeding, and Lily could very well be my last baby. I don't know if I'm ready to give it up FOREVER. 3) I like being the only one that can feed her. I selfishly don't want to give up my special time with her.
But I'm starting to watch Lily and feel like maybe breastfeeding her is selfish of me. It's starting to look like I'm nursing her because I like it, and not because it's the best thing for her.
-sigh- I wish I knew what to do. I wish babies could talk. I wish Lily could tell me if she was getting enough milk or what the problem is.
Our status right now...? I nurse her. In the afternoon when she is the most resistant to nursing, she gets a bottle. She LOVES the bottle. Literally grabs it out of my hand.
-sigh- Is this really it? My baby?
I know a lot of moms who never breastfed their babies.
I know a lot of moms who effortlessly breastfed until their babies were a year old (or beyond!).
What I want to know is...those moms who made it to a year...was it really effortless? Did you ever have a moment of doubt that your baby wasn't eating enough? Did you ever have to fight with your little one as they refused to wait for your ridiculously slow let down? Did you ever feed your 6 months old every 90 minutes some afternoons and still not seem to satisfy them?
Breastfeeding has not been instinctual for me. I struggled A LOT when I started with Andrew...and only succeeded because of an angel of a lactation consultant. I do not/ can not pump, I have no engorgement, I have no leaking, I basically have no indication that I even produce milk except that my children are not starving.
At least, I was sure of that with Andrew. Dude, the kid was Buddha. But this little peanut I have now fills me with doubt.
So Lily is 7 months old. My afternoon feedings with her are rarely relaxing, because she is so frustrated with me. I don't know if it is because I supplemented with formula a few times so my milk supply didn't keep up with her need. I don't know if it's because I supplemented, and she now knows how stinkin' easy it is to eat out of a bottle. I don't know if it is because I don't drink enough water, or there are too many distractions, or she's just grouchy at the end of the day. I don't know.
She will nurse for 15 minutes and still be fussy. I give her a bottle and she drinks 4-6 ounces. Um...does that mean she's not getting enough breast milk? I don't know. After she nurses, she is usually happy, but often looking for more to eat soon after. After a bottle, she is "milk drunk".
So I'm thinking of formula feeding. I don't want to because 1) I nursed Andrew until he was 9 months, so it doesn't seem fair that Lily doesn't get the benefits until then (see, always comparing) 2) I LOVE breastfeeding, and Lily could very well be my last baby. I don't know if I'm ready to give it up FOREVER. 3) I like being the only one that can feed her. I selfishly don't want to give up my special time with her.
But I'm starting to watch Lily and feel like maybe breastfeeding her is selfish of me. It's starting to look like I'm nursing her because I like it, and not because it's the best thing for her.
-sigh- I wish I knew what to do. I wish babies could talk. I wish Lily could tell me if she was getting enough milk or what the problem is.
Our status right now...? I nurse her. In the afternoon when she is the most resistant to nursing, she gets a bottle. She LOVES the bottle. Literally grabs it out of my hand.
-sigh- Is this really it? My baby?
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Okay, NOW I miss him...
It always takes me a day to miss Andrew. Is that terrible? The first day away from him is like a refreshing break. He probably feels the same way. Then after about 24 hours, I really miss him. I miss crawling into bed with him while we wait for the clock to say "7". And I miss the way he makes me laugh (like Friday when I crawled into bed and he said, "Hello Darlin'".). I miss answering "Why?" a thousand times every 10 minutes. Okay, I don't actually miss that. But I miss his little voice.
A few weeks ago, I was feeling bad that I never listen to music with Lily. With Andrew we used to sing to Elmo, etc, before he was even a year old. After this weekend, I realize why. I sit and talk to Lily, but she kind of just stares back at me and I run out of things to say. So I turned on some music to just fill the silence a bit. Which brings me to a realization I remember having when Andrew was a baby.
Babies are boring.
They are adorable and cute and fun in their own way. But they can only do a few limited activities, and they certainly can't hold up their end of the conversation. I've gotten used to talking about the paper with Andrew and discussing our day and arguing over whether to get dressed or not and singing, "Pop! Goes the waffle" to the toaster. Watching Matchbox cars have races and being ordered around to a million chores. We go to parks and places fun to run around. My house is usually filled with the chatter of a 3 year old. It is dreadfully quiet right now. Well, not dreadfully. I get to hear the coos and ahh's of my 7 months old, after all. But I can tell she's bored with me too. She's used to Mr. Action to watch all day. Boring old Mom just doesn't cut it.
So I'm ready for my boy to be back. Some of you with only children interpreted my last post as implying that having 2 children is hard. It's not. I'm one of the laziest people I know, and I manage to do it quite effortlessly...most days anyway. So it's not hard. Just hard-er than one kid. And it's way more fun.
A few weeks ago, I was feeling bad that I never listen to music with Lily. With Andrew we used to sing to Elmo, etc, before he was even a year old. After this weekend, I realize why. I sit and talk to Lily, but she kind of just stares back at me and I run out of things to say. So I turned on some music to just fill the silence a bit. Which brings me to a realization I remember having when Andrew was a baby.
Babies are boring.
They are adorable and cute and fun in their own way. But they can only do a few limited activities, and they certainly can't hold up their end of the conversation. I've gotten used to talking about the paper with Andrew and discussing our day and arguing over whether to get dressed or not and singing, "Pop! Goes the waffle" to the toaster. Watching Matchbox cars have races and being ordered around to a million chores. We go to parks and places fun to run around. My house is usually filled with the chatter of a 3 year old. It is dreadfully quiet right now. Well, not dreadfully. I get to hear the coos and ahh's of my 7 months old, after all. But I can tell she's bored with me too. She's used to Mr. Action to watch all day. Boring old Mom just doesn't cut it.
So I'm ready for my boy to be back. Some of you with only children interpreted my last post as implying that having 2 children is hard. It's not. I'm one of the laziest people I know, and I manage to do it quite effortlessly...most days anyway. So it's not hard. Just hard-er than one kid. And it's way more fun.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Hello? Where is everybody?
It is QUIET.
Andrew and Jeff drove to Warren, OH for a wedding this morning, leaving Lily and I behind for a girl's weekend.
And it is QUIET.
I forget how much Andrew talks until he is gone. I haven't had to answer a single "Why" today.
Funny, when I had just Andrew, and Jeff would go out of town, I'd have my mother fly in and help me out. Now that I have 2 kids, having just Lily feels like a vacation. Seriously...having one kid is frickin' easy! We had a delightful "girl's day"...I was able to cater all of my outings to one child's schedule...there was no waiting for one to wake up, only to have to cajole the other to get in the car, etc etc. Frickin' piece of cake.
So now I want to thank all the parents of two or more for not laughing at me or belittling me when I complained while having just the one child. It is hard to have just one child...because you don't know what it's like to have two. Just as I'm sure that those parents of 3 children are saying, "Dude, if I just had two kids it would be like living on easy street."
Anyhoo...Lily and I had a delightful day. She woke up at 5:30...God only knows why...and we played in our pajamas and ate a leisurely breakfast. She napped. I finally put up the wallpaper border in the kids' bathroom. Lily woke up. We went out to lunch and shopping. Came home and Lily napped (it's amazing how well this kid naps when I cater to HER schedule instead of trying to make her fit into Andrew's). I cleaned the toy room and kitchen and then played a computer game. Lily woke up and we went to an AMAZING state park and walked for an hour. Just walked...Lily staying in the stroller the whole time and never once whined. Came home and ate dinner and now she is happily playing on the floor beside me while I type.
Oh wait...she's having the 6:30 meltdown. Gotta go! But just think...when she's in bed, I'm all done for the night! Yippee!
Andrew and Jeff drove to Warren, OH for a wedding this morning, leaving Lily and I behind for a girl's weekend.
And it is QUIET.
I forget how much Andrew talks until he is gone. I haven't had to answer a single "Why" today.
Funny, when I had just Andrew, and Jeff would go out of town, I'd have my mother fly in and help me out. Now that I have 2 kids, having just Lily feels like a vacation. Seriously...having one kid is frickin' easy! We had a delightful "girl's day"...I was able to cater all of my outings to one child's schedule...there was no waiting for one to wake up, only to have to cajole the other to get in the car, etc etc. Frickin' piece of cake.
So now I want to thank all the parents of two or more for not laughing at me or belittling me when I complained while having just the one child. It is hard to have just one child...because you don't know what it's like to have two. Just as I'm sure that those parents of 3 children are saying, "Dude, if I just had two kids it would be like living on easy street."
Anyhoo...Lily and I had a delightful day. She woke up at 5:30...God only knows why...and we played in our pajamas and ate a leisurely breakfast. She napped. I finally put up the wallpaper border in the kids' bathroom. Lily woke up. We went out to lunch and shopping. Came home and Lily napped (it's amazing how well this kid naps when I cater to HER schedule instead of trying to make her fit into Andrew's). I cleaned the toy room and kitchen and then played a computer game. Lily woke up and we went to an AMAZING state park and walked for an hour. Just walked...Lily staying in the stroller the whole time and never once whined. Came home and ate dinner and now she is happily playing on the floor beside me while I type.
Oh wait...she's having the 6:30 meltdown. Gotta go! But just think...when she's in bed, I'm all done for the night! Yippee!
Friday, May 04, 2007
She sits!!!
Lily is officially sitting! Actually, if she was my first child, I probably would have written it in her baby book 3 weeks ago. But now that I know what sitting up actually means (not just balancing for a few seconds...actually able to sit for minutes on end playing, etc), poor Lily looks delayed. I'm not even going to tell you when Andrew sat up for the first time...because I'm trying not to compare. It is glorious and exciting that Lily can sit up! She is so daggone happy with herself and LOVES her new vantage point.
I'll post pictures as soon as I take some. I've been a real slacker-Mom lately. ;)
I'll post pictures as soon as I take some. I've been a real slacker-Mom lately. ;)
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Nose biter
My daughter is weird. I don't know where she gets it from...but she's weird.
She is a nose biter.
Lily still doesn't have teeth...and when she gets them, this strange obsession of hers will be nipped in the bud. But while she's still gummy, we indulge her desires.
If you get your face close to hers, she reaches out, grabs your ears and pulls you in. It looks like she's been watching too many soap operas and is going to plant a big dramatic French kiss on you. But instead she guides your nose into her mouth and proceeds to try and take the cartilage tip off. It can HURT, I tell you. And she LOVES to do it.
Weirdo. Even weirder is Andrew telling people that she is a nose biter. You should see the looks I get. Oh, and Andrew was asking how many fingers Lily was in age. I explained that she hasn't reached a whole finger yet, so she's like half a finger. Now he introduces her like this, "This is my sister Lillian. She's half a finger."
Strangers look at us like we're a freak show. And with a nose biter...perhaps we are quickly becoming that.
She is a nose biter.
Lily still doesn't have teeth...and when she gets them, this strange obsession of hers will be nipped in the bud. But while she's still gummy, we indulge her desires.
If you get your face close to hers, she reaches out, grabs your ears and pulls you in. It looks like she's been watching too many soap operas and is going to plant a big dramatic French kiss on you. But instead she guides your nose into her mouth and proceeds to try and take the cartilage tip off. It can HURT, I tell you. And she LOVES to do it.
Weirdo. Even weirder is Andrew telling people that she is a nose biter. You should see the looks I get. Oh, and Andrew was asking how many fingers Lily was in age. I explained that she hasn't reached a whole finger yet, so she's like half a finger. Now he introduces her like this, "This is my sister Lillian. She's half a finger."
Strangers look at us like we're a freak show. And with a nose biter...perhaps we are quickly becoming that.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Creeping towards 200...
Ever since the day I was born, I've been creeping towards 200 pounds. The process has sped up a bit since I started college. The only time I've successfully lost weight was during the first 20 weeks of both my pregnancies. Well, I don't own a scale, so I may have only known about it because my doctor was weighing me. But judging on my ever increasing pants size, I'm pretty sure I haven't lost weight. I'm not sure how close to 200 hundred I am...but I'm guessing I'm probably around 170 right now. And since my husband is quickly approaching 200 also (from the other direction), I would really hate to pass him on his trip down the scale.
So here we go again. Pregnancy is such a great guilt free time! My doctor was instructing me to gain more weight. -sigh- If only I could keep that metabolism all the time.
I know the key to me losing weight is exersize...another feat I have never successfully accomplished. But more on that in a moment...
My first step was to curb snacking. I now make myself drink a full glass of water before indulging in any snacks. Result? A lot more peeing. So I needed to make myself more accountable for what I was eating between meals.
I decided that the best way to get an idea about how much I was eating was to keep a food log. I planned on writing everything that I ate for about a week and then I could access what to cut out, etc. Food log writing started last Monday.
It was so embarrassing that I immediately started to curb my snacking. So much for writing down for a week...it shamed me into cutting out snacks right away. Here's an example...I keep a supply of fruit roll-ups in my car as ready bribes for a reluctant 3 year old. I was driving to pick up Andrew from school, and I thought, "Hmmm, maybe I'll eat a couple of fruit roll-ups while I wait for him in the car." Immediately followed by the thought, "Dear Lord, how embarrassing to have to write '4 fruit roll-ups' on my list." Because I always have one of each flavor. So bad. So little self control. So I didn't eat them, because I didn't want to face the shame of it in writing. I am quite ashamed to have even written that example down here in this blog. But rest assured...it is just one example of my out-of-control eating during the day.
Now that I have a week written down I've conquered snacking...for the most part. Writing it down has really helped. I'm not even more hungry...how sad is that? Next step...EXERSIZE.
I have a million excuses. It just doesn't get done. -sigh- If only making an exersize log was a motivating as a food log. I really need an exersize buddy...someone to hold me accountable...like a walking buddy or a biking buddy. See, another excuse. How hard is it, really, to just go walk for a half hour a day?
Boy, this is a boring post. Lack of sugar must make me boring. I can't even think of a creative synonym for boring so you don't have to keep reading the same boring word in this most boring of boring posts.
So here we go again. Pregnancy is such a great guilt free time! My doctor was instructing me to gain more weight. -sigh- If only I could keep that metabolism all the time.
I know the key to me losing weight is exersize...another feat I have never successfully accomplished. But more on that in a moment...
My first step was to curb snacking. I now make myself drink a full glass of water before indulging in any snacks. Result? A lot more peeing. So I needed to make myself more accountable for what I was eating between meals.
I decided that the best way to get an idea about how much I was eating was to keep a food log. I planned on writing everything that I ate for about a week and then I could access what to cut out, etc. Food log writing started last Monday.
It was so embarrassing that I immediately started to curb my snacking. So much for writing down for a week...it shamed me into cutting out snacks right away. Here's an example...I keep a supply of fruit roll-ups in my car as ready bribes for a reluctant 3 year old. I was driving to pick up Andrew from school, and I thought, "Hmmm, maybe I'll eat a couple of fruit roll-ups while I wait for him in the car." Immediately followed by the thought, "Dear Lord, how embarrassing to have to write '4 fruit roll-ups' on my list." Because I always have one of each flavor. So bad. So little self control. So I didn't eat them, because I didn't want to face the shame of it in writing. I am quite ashamed to have even written that example down here in this blog. But rest assured...it is just one example of my out-of-control eating during the day.
Now that I have a week written down I've conquered snacking...for the most part. Writing it down has really helped. I'm not even more hungry...how sad is that? Next step...EXERSIZE.
I have a million excuses. It just doesn't get done. -sigh- If only making an exersize log was a motivating as a food log. I really need an exersize buddy...someone to hold me accountable...like a walking buddy or a biking buddy. See, another excuse. How hard is it, really, to just go walk for a half hour a day?
Boy, this is a boring post. Lack of sugar must make me boring. I can't even think of a creative synonym for boring so you don't have to keep reading the same boring word in this most boring of boring posts.
Gosh Darn Garcia
It's a good thing Jeff Garcia got traded to the Buccaneers. Because if he were still in Philadelphia, I'd have to kick his you know what.
I have mentioned that Garcia is Andrew's imaginary friend. Which is really cute. Except that now everything bad that Andrew does...Garcia has done. If I run to scold Andrew, "Garcia made me do it." If he drops something and makes a mess, "Garcia knocked it out of my hand." He refuses to put his shoes on to leave, "Garcia doesn't want to go." You get the idea? Cute...but kind of annoying.
Tonight Jeff and Andrew were playing cowboy. Cowboy consists of running around our first floor with strings from a lacing board. As they are running, they rope interesting animals...like caterpillars and hummingbirds. These are rough and tough cowboys, I tell you. Garcia is always a participant of the game. Lily and I love to watch our cowboys. This is a conversation I witnessed this evening:
Andrew-"Let's go, Cowboy Dad! I'll get a hummingbird and you get the caterpillar!"
Jeff- "Yippee-kay-aye, Mother Hubbard" (Okay, Jeff didn't say this...but wouldn't it have been funny if he did?)
Andrew trips on something (what? in my house? something on the floor to trip on?). He falls hard. Jeff comes over to help him up.
A-"Don't worry, Cowboy Garcia is helping me up. Let's go Cowboy Garcia." And off he gallops holding hands with his imaginary friend.
Instances like this make me feel better. I'm glad that Garcia has a hand and a body and a whole imaginary persona. Because half the time, I'm worried that it is Andrew's split personality coming out.
I have mentioned that Garcia is Andrew's imaginary friend. Which is really cute. Except that now everything bad that Andrew does...Garcia has done. If I run to scold Andrew, "Garcia made me do it." If he drops something and makes a mess, "Garcia knocked it out of my hand." He refuses to put his shoes on to leave, "Garcia doesn't want to go." You get the idea? Cute...but kind of annoying.
Tonight Jeff and Andrew were playing cowboy. Cowboy consists of running around our first floor with strings from a lacing board. As they are running, they rope interesting animals...like caterpillars and hummingbirds. These are rough and tough cowboys, I tell you. Garcia is always a participant of the game. Lily and I love to watch our cowboys. This is a conversation I witnessed this evening:
Andrew-"Let's go, Cowboy Dad! I'll get a hummingbird and you get the caterpillar!"
Jeff- "Yippee-kay-aye, Mother Hubbard" (Okay, Jeff didn't say this...but wouldn't it have been funny if he did?)
Andrew trips on something (what? in my house? something on the floor to trip on?). He falls hard. Jeff comes over to help him up.
A-"Don't worry, Cowboy Garcia is helping me up. Let's go Cowboy Garcia." And off he gallops holding hands with his imaginary friend.
Instances like this make me feel better. I'm glad that Garcia has a hand and a body and a whole imaginary persona. Because half the time, I'm worried that it is Andrew's split personality coming out.
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