PDA

Before I begin this post, let me just say that I KNOW my husband is going to hate this post.  It will embarrass him to no end.  But I think it is funny and sweet, and I want to document it.  

Jeff and I are affectionate people.  We try not to gross people out, so we don't do much PDA.  But we haven't worried much about our kids.  We kiss frequently in front of them and cuddle and what not.  Those days are quickly coming to an end, I think.  They used to just play around us and ignore all the kissy stuff.  But Andrew is getting more and more uncomfortable with it.  -sigh-

For example...

The kids and I discovered a CD that Jeff had burned.  Turns out, there were 4 new songs on it.  One was the pop song that Lily is performing to in her dance recital next month.  She was elated to be able to practice at home.  The second was a pop song that I always sing to when it comes on the radio.  The last was a song that Jeff likes that he thought the kids would enjoy dancing to.

But we didn't know the 3rd song.  It is a cheesy boy band song.  Odd.  So when Jeff came home from work and thanked him for the new songs and asked about the 3rd song.  He said it always made him think of me.  The kids turned it on, and then he proceeded to sing it to me while dancing me around.

The song is What Makes You Beautiful, by One Direction.  (and I'm linking to a video of boys singing that makes me feel very very old.  Yikes.)

Here's the refrain, to give you an idea...

Baby you light up my world like nobody else
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed
But when you smile at the ground it aint hard to tell
You don't know
Oh Oh
You don't know you're beautiful

If only you saw what I can see
You'll understand why I want you so desperately
Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe
You don't know
Oh oh
You don't know you're beautiful
Oh oh
That what makes you beautiful

Cheesy, right?  And also cute...his little performance had me grinning from ear to ear and laughing.  The children had very different responses.

Michael ignored us and continued building his block castle.

Lily looked bewildered and asked a million times, "Why is this song about Mommy?  What does it mean?  Why are you singing it to her?  What does it mean?"

Andrew looked...sheepish.  He was kind of grinning in an embarrassed way and almost rolling his eyes.  

I supposed we need to stop these public displays before our children are too horrified to even come out of their rooms.  -sigh- 

BTW...Now every time that song comes on the radio or in the grocery store or whatever, Lily lights up and says, "Mommy!  Mommy!  It's your song!"  And since I'm not 12 years old, it's a little embarrassing to have that announced to the world.

Just wait

A few years ago, I wrote this post.

If I could go back in time 3.5 years, I would sit myself down and have a heart to heart.

I'd say:  Don't feel bad about not doing anything with your kids.  Painting with them, baking with them, extra-curriculars like gym and swim lessons, going out to eat, getting enough exercise, eating better, cooking better, losing weight, going ANYWHERE is so hard right now.  Just wait.  In a few years these activities will be easier...enjoyable even.  And you will still be making memories...just a little later.  You know, when they may actually have a chance of remembering them.  So don't stress.  Don't feel guilty.  Just keep going...you're going to get there.

And that's what I will advise parents of toddlers.  Whatever you want to do, try it.  If it SUCKS, just wait.  Just wait and see...it'll get easier.  

***brought to you by me...who is blogging while her children paint in the next room.  PAINT.  With actual paint and there is no fighting or crying or too much mess.  Just children happily chatting as they create with colors.  Easy. 

Gratuitous bragging

It's my blog, and I'll brag if I want to.

Andrew is amazing.  Have I mentioned that?  There are so many moments where I just watch him in awe.  He's mine.  That funny, handsome, intelligent, kind kid is MINE.  Kind of crazy luck.

Parenting has been made so much easier because my first born is so naturally caring.  For example, Michael and Lily come home from birthday parties and happily share everything in their party bags.  Why?  Because Andrew's been doing it for years.

He teases them endlessly and knows how to push every one of Lily's buttons.  Twice.  But he also comforts her during movies, explaining what is happening and hugging her close.  He doesn't protest when Michael gets extra help during a game...in fact giving him hints that I wouldn't give.  He cheers on Lily when she is stumbling through a reading book.  He loves them.

When I go to his school to volunteer, I am always approached by other parents and teachers.

"I just love Andrew."

"Andrew is a natural born leader. He doesn't get frustrated with others and enjoys bringing them along on his mental journeys."

"Andrew is one of my favorites to work with.  He comes up with the best stuff.  I was helping him with his writing and he wanted to know whether to spell it Brasil like they do in Brasil or Brazil like we do in the US.  What 2nd grader asks that?"

"Are you Andrew's mom?  My child always tells me how much he helps her in class.  What a wonderful boy."

"Is Andrew your son?  I was helping in the cafeteria and a lot of the boys know me from baseball.  Andrew came right up and introduced himself to find out who I was.  He is so polite and speaks so well."

"I wish my son's friends were more like Andrew."

It's overwhelming.  Because I don't know who their children are, so I have no equal compliments to send back their way.  All I can do is murmur my thanks and agree with them. He is so wonderful.

I know that all this adoration from parents will be his downfall someday soon.  No kid wants to be friends with the kid that his PARENTS like.  Right?

But for now, Andrew is in a delightful middle ground.  Other kids respect his intelligence and enjoy his sense of humor.  The parents and teachers admire his calm respectful demeanor and willingness to help.

Despite his popularity, Andrew is hungry for praise.  Despite being this fantastic human being, he craves acknowledgement and reassurance.  He still needs lots of hugs and cuddles and stories of how wonderful he is.

I take no credit for this person.  He was born special and continues to grow into a person you'd like to meet, know, and work with.  I think my job is mostly to just love him and cheer him on and believe in him.  And to let him know that no matter what happens, I'm just the luckiest mother alive to get to be here for all of it.

Gum chewing...Michael style

One of the big deals about turning 4 around here is that you are allowed to chew gum.  Michael has been so envious of Lily (gum enthusiast) and Andrew (occasional gum chewer).  A few months before his birthday, if you asked him how old he was going to be he would say, "I is4andicanchewgum!" all in one breath.  Which was very confusing for the hapless grocery store clerk who had NO IDEA what he just said.

One of his presents was a huge stack of gum packages.  I'd say we got him about 10 different flavors.  We warned him of the 3 big rules with gum chewing. #1- Don't swallow it  #2--When you are finished, throw it away into the trash.  #3--Don't play with it with your fingers.

Every once in a while, there is an experience with your children that makes you SO GLAD that instead of buying a yacht and a yacht crew and sailing the world you decided to spend all your money and time on little humans instead.  I have to say that watching Michael chew gum is the most hilarious and satisfying activities we've had at this house for quite a while.  It makes me glad we had children.

At first, I think he was really terrified of swallowing it.  So nervous that he couldn't even swallow his spit.  So he would put a piece in his mouth and chew it about five times with his mouth wide open.  The second a bit of drool started to collect in his mouth, he would run to the trash and spit it out.  The gum was hardly wet or chewed at this point.  And then he would happily open his pack of gum and get a new piece.  Chew for 2 seconds, spit in trash.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Part of the problem was the flavor of gum...he really wanted to try them all.  When you open a pack of Skittles, you get to try each flavor instantly.  That is how Michael tried the gum.

I indulged him in this concentrated chew chew spit get another piece pattern for a few days.  But we were going through gum like water.  So I actually sat down with him and showed him how to chew gum.  What a strange parenting experience.  I put a piece in my mouth and showed him how I swallowed my spit without swallowing the gum.  He studied my mouth and my piece of gum with such concern and thoughtfulness.  Adorable.

Yesterday he chewed the same piece of gum for about 10 minutes.  A new record.  It is just so so cute how much concentration it takes him to chew gum.  He is actively thinking about NOT swallowing it the whole time.  He smacks his lips really loudly and opens his mouth SO WIDE for each chew.  It is hilarious.  And endearing.  And oh-so-Michael.

Who knew that gum would keep me from quitting this gig!?!  It's the little things, I guess.

Too far behind

I am too far behind to even know where to begin writing in this thing.  If I had been good about blogging, here are the blog posts that would have been...

Spring Break Busy--My in-laws visited us the week before Easter and we celebrated Easter early, celebrated Michael's birthday early, had an Easter egg hunt with Jeff's cousin, visited The Franklin Institute, visited Longwood Gardens, and visited Crayola factory.  We had so much fun, and I have many many pictures...

Ideal Easter-- They woke up early, found eggs inside and out, ate candy all day, and went kite flying for the first time.  Oh, and we had 4 adults and 5 children come over for a relaxed enjoyable dinner as well.  I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.

Kite Flying--  This deserves its own post.  After giving the children a big lecture about how kite flying is not as easy as it seems on tv, we had the easiest time flying kites EVER.  We have an ideal park near us with steady wind and no trees.  I have many pictures of the kids LYING DOWN as they maneuvered their kites.  So easy.  So many pictures...

Bragging post about Andrew--  This post is actually already started somewhere in my blogger account.  I am just overwhelmed by how amazing this child is.  I think I'll post it later, because he'll need to read that someday.

Bragging post about Lily--  This post is started in my head.  Her transformation is the most incredible of all my children.  Andrew has always been wonderful.  Lily was so difficult and so daggone stubborn for SO LONG...that it is almost unbelievable how lovely she is now.  I'll have to post this for her also.

Post about Michael--  While I don't have as many brags...lordy is this child funny.  I must post some of the crazy things he's said and done lately.

Bragging post about Jeff--  I should probably include a post about how wonderful and exceptional and barf-inducingly sweet my Jeff is...especially since he reads this, and it would embarrass him royally.  Oh well!  Too bad I didn't get to it :)

Proud post of myself--  I am really so proud that I am still going to the gym regularly and eating relatively well.  I have never stuck to something for so long!  I am still losing an average of 1 pound a week, which brings me to 15 pounds.  My watch is ridiculously loose!  Still not moving down to a size 12, but I think I was really pushing a size 16 when I started this, so there's that.

A rant about Khloe Kardashian-  I watch bad daytime tv when I'm running at the gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  KK was guest hosting a talk show last week and talked about her weight.  How she should not be compared to her tiny sisters.  She is 5'10", but still a size 6.  To which I say, BULLSHIT.  I am 5'9" and a size 14, and I think we look about the same girth... When I was in high school and weighed 120 pounds, I barely fit into a size 6...mostly it was size 8s.  So I call bullshit on her and dream of doing a photo comparison between her and I and see if we can figure out how exactly she would be 4 sizes smaller than me.  BULLSHIT.

A rant about my on-line classes-- Does't the title just sum it all up?

The baby turns 4

Michael learned the date of his birthday this year.  So ever since the calendar turned to April, he would wake up and ask if it was his birthday yet.  One conversation went like this...

Michael- Is it April 9 today?
Jeff- No, today is April 6th.  So what is tomorrow?
M- April 9?
J- No, April 7th.  What comes after the 7th?
M- April 9?
J- No, April 8th.  THEN comes April 9th.

Perhaps we should make counting next year's goal ;)

Finally it was April 9th!  He woke up and was serenaded by his big brother and sister and cuddled fiercely by his mom and dad.  He was very cool about it all.  When it was time for breakfast, our conversation went like this:

Me- Michael, what would you like for breakfast?
Michael- You mean 'Birthday Boy'?
Me-  Okay, BIRTHDAY BOY, what would you like for breakfast?

Little prima donna.

He had a lovely day...Chick Filet for lunch, blanket forts built at home, pizza for dinner, nap in the car...all good stuff.  We were all excited for him to open his presents...but it was very anti-climatic.  Between Grandma and Grandpa bringing Easter baskets with gifts last Sunday, and then having birthday gifts and celebration with Grandma and Grandpa last Monday, and then Easter Bunny bringing gifts on Sunday...getting presents had become pretty standard fare.  I videotaped the whole unwrapping...and it lasted 4 minutes, 2 seconds.  I think that's a new record.

He kept asking when his party was.  The 3rd kids is so much more savvy than the older two.  Luckily for him, his next birthday he'll get a real kid party.  But not too soon.  He gets to be 4 for 363 days more.