In celebration of the holiday season and as 2012 comes to a close, it's great to reflect on the past year and be thankful for all that we have been blessed with. I can't tell you enough how grateful I am that my family has been healthy all year and the babies are growing at an alarming rate! I already cherish the rare moments when my children fall asleep in my arms.
My new year resolution was to start this blog. I haven't written weekly like I had hoped (Whoops!), but I have at least written throughout the year. I needed a place to share my thoughts and fun, child-rearing stories. But the babies are still too young and needy for me to devote that kind of time to writing every week. I take notes here and there for future blogs, so maybe 2013 will be the year for Life: Blessed & Crazy?! As a side hobby, I took to ebay as well. That has been a lot of fun and a huge learning experience. From ballet slippers to RV camping supplies, I've been selling quite nicely and made enough to pay our way through a wedding as the MOH, Flower Girl and Ring Bearer. After taking inventory of my storage and closets, I have plenty to sell but need plenty of time to get it all listed. Another "maybe next year" task...
My husband has been wonderful. He patrols his City to the best of his abilities and takes great care of his family. He works hard and enjoys the rewards of time spent wrestling with the kids, smothering them with hugs and kisses, telling stories, snuggling on cold nights and being a big ol' softy! I love when he's so exhausted from working but still comes downstairs to sleep on the couch while the kids bounce all over him. He just needs to be near them and dream of their giggles.
It's been a year of many more firsts for my daughter. She started a new K-4 program in September, which is Preschool for 4 year olds. She loves it! She can write her own name and recites the Pledge of Allegiance on cue. She knows her vowels and teaches her baby brother how to pronounce big words by syllable, like "Ra-pun-zel." It's really too cute. She's gotten into the homework routine also. I was surprised to see that preschoolers get homework, but she knocks her assignments out of the park. She easily makes me a proud mama!
My son turned 2 over the summer. He is the typical boy in every sense of the word. He is proud of his boogies, farts, poops and mealtime messes. He will wake you up with a bop on the nose followed by hysterical laughter. His favorite toys are dinosaurs, cars and animals. He loves his sister, even when he's tormenting her. He's full of kisses for you...if you tell him NOT to do it. My boy is very contrary like that. He goes with me every day to take his sister to school and can't wait to go himself. Eager to learn. Eager to play. Eager to eat!
This summer was a blast. The kids and I went on a 4 day mini-vacay with my dad, drove up the coast to San Francisco and had lots of fun stops in between. Dad is retired and enjoyed the open road with his grandkids more than words can say. My family of four spent some time in Pismo Beach having some fun in the sun. If you haven't been there, I recommend it for some quiet R&R. 'Twas the middle of August and the beaches were empty! Perfect for us! Over the Thanksgiving holiday we went to Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico to visit friends and family.The comforts of 6 Cracker Barrel Restaurants eased the pain of fast food on the road. My kids were amazing in the car! Our trip spanned over 3,000 miles and I think they cried across 3 of them.
As you can see, we really have so much to be thankful for. We have been blessed with another great year, healthy children, the ability to travel and enjoy life, and a wonderful network of family and friends that support us through thick and thin. I've learned a lot in 2012 and I always appreciate the strong lessons that life teaches me. I am forever grateful to you for being my friend and just for being YOU in my life. Merry Christmas and countless blessings to you and your loved ones into the New Year. Mahalo.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Why I Voted
With the recent Presidential election, the past few months have been hotbeds of political conversation among friends and family, and more pointedly, among spouses on opposite ends of the winged spectrum. Politics is a sensitive topic, so is religion, and it is one of those things I try not to bring up. So much so that I don't even know where all my associates rest on that spectrum. Regardless, I felt the need to share why I voted for Obama, especially since someone recently wanted to know why. My upbringing and life events created my reasons for the vote. I don't have many readers, but if you do choose to comment, please be gentle, as opposed to condescending and rude. I'm not one for confrontation or debates.
We have to pay taxes. Americans always have. Obama wants to increase taxes on those who make over $250K annually. He does not believe in increasing the taxes of the elderly, students or the middle class. I believe in this game plan. He also thinks that government finances should be run like a family’s finances. Essentially, if you don’t have the money to buy it, then you can’t afford it. For the bigger ticket items like homes, cars and education, you borrow responsibly. I believe that Corporate America and its stockholders care about the bottom line profits, and lay-offs are the first and easiest way to do so, followed by outsourcing. Therefore, that unemployment line gets longer and longer.
I believe that government programs are necessary. I have
been a recipient of Unemployment, Disability and Maternity Leave with Family
Medical Leave of Absence. I don’t know what I would have done without them. I do not collect on any of the programs anymore because my needs were met for the situation in which it was intended. But they were certainly useful!
I
have interned at DCFS, Department of Children and Family Services. Though my time there was brief, I have seen how families
succeed with these programs. I have seen how these programs help children and
put smiles on their broken-hearted faces. It’s a system with good intentions
that is overworked. The social workers had heavy case loads back then, and they
still do now.
I don’t believe in NOT helping others. I know that many
people take advantage of the system and it makes taxpayers angry. It makes me
angry. I believe there should be drug testing for qualification of such programs, including
Unemployment, Welfare, food stamps, etc. I also think that they should
implement some sort of program where they give back to society in some way,
like volunteering, or clean-up, or something beneficial. I don’t have all the
answers, but I don’t believe in something for nothing for whoever can trick
the system into free help. One of
the million dollar questions is how to fix it/prevent it from happening.
I support law enforcement. I
believe in the death penalty. I believe in the 3 strikes law. I believe that jail
overcrowding is a serious issue. I support the Propositions and/or taxes in
favor of police-related activity, in favor of what benefits my husband in his workplace. I believe in deporting criminals back to their
native countries. I believe that there are ways to improve Border Patrol
policies but there are too many illegals coming in to be measurably efficient. Some
are trying to make a better life for themselves and their families. Most of
them are here related to the drug trade and gang activity. I don’t condone this
kind of behavior. It’s frightening and could potentially get my husband or his
co-workers killed. Instead of fighting all of them off at every turn, which is
an impossible feat given their numbers, we have to find a way to make it work.
Imprison and deport the criminals. Beyond that is the next million dollar question. Again, I don't have all the answers.
I use Mexicans as an example, but I do realize there are immigrants of all races coming to this country for opportunity. I was having dinner with a Republican that has strong feelings on the Mexican immigration issue, which we were just discussing. One of the waiters at the restaurant my friend frequents came to our table with greetings. The waiter was very happy to see him and they spent a few moments catching up on work and family statuses. As he walked away, my friend commented that he was such a nice guy and a hard worker with two jobs, morning and evening, to support his family. I pointed out that he probably came to the United States of America to provide for his family, to make a better life for himself and his loved ones. I then asked if he was Mexican. The begrudging reply was a Yes. Well here is proof of my point of view to my Republican comrade, who knows an immigrant personally, that not all immigrants, illegal or not, are bad people. They come here for opportunity. The other side of the table quickly changed the topic. :)
Help the students, all students, of any
citizenship status. With the right skill sets and tools, they will become
educated, need jobs, start businesses and contribute positively to the economy.
The enormity of the situation is mind-boggling and one president won’t fix it.
There are too many aspects to address. If it were up to me, which it isn’t,
help the good, well-intentioned and ship out the drug dealers and gang members. Many
illegals are bad people. I don’t deny that at all. But for me to say that
people aren’t allowed in America even though there are better opportunities
here than in their own country, it would not be me. Here’s another reason why…
When the Japanese and Chinese were coming to America’s
western coast, they were hated because they looked different, had strange
customs and behaviors, did the dirty, menial low class jobs, took up space, and
they were prevented from buying property and homes in the land they came to for
opportunity. Yes, they were illegal. My paternal grandmother was born here and moved to
Japan when she was very young. Came back to America years later and they would not
honor her citizenship. She was branded as an alien. This was only two
generations ago. My paternal grandfather came here for work, as did thousands of other
Japanese men. They were lonely and wanted to marry. That’s how the Japanese
Picture Bride generation started. After Pearl Harbor, my grandparents, aunts and uncles were placed in concentration camps. Solely because they were Japanese,
they were ostracized, considered enemies of the state and stripped of all
property and any possessions they couldn’t carry in a suitcase, and forced to
live in tents in the desert. They were born here: American citizens. My two
uncles were in the military and fought for this country. This was one
generation ago. I note the generation because it demonstrates that it was in recent US history, not ages ago where some deem it becomes irrelevant to today's Immigration issues. The Japanese DID bomb Pearl Harbor. American soil. The Japanese Americans were punished for it. American citizens. It
was Muslim Al Qaeda that bombed innocents on American soil in New York, DC, and Pennsylvania. Given history, does this also mean that all Muslims in America should be rounded up and forced in the modern day concentration camp? Though at different
times in America’s history, both incidents have produced the same reaction in Americans
when it comes to the punishment of the race involved.
If you haven’t experienced the need for government assistance
and your family has no traceable documentation of their arrival to this country, some of this may be hard to grasp. What if your ancestors came over on the Mayflower, a
slave ship from Africa, or an immigrant boat from Europe to Ellis Island? Regardless of which boat brought them here, that kind of heritage
is something to be proud of. You’re All American. And I’m All-American. America is a melting pot!
For a struggling family with an uninsured child who is very
sick and a long hospitalization is required, the parents will have to scrape
together thousands of dollars (potentially losing their home or claiming
bankruptcy in the process) or pray that the hospital has charity funds
available. We can help an immigrant learn English and a marketable skill, but
if the government doesn’t offer him a reasonable avenue toward legal work
status, how can he get a job that will support a family? We can provide baby
supplies to a young unwed mother, but if she is unable to afford groceries, decent housing,
quality daycare, and an education for herself, they will likely end up in
unsafe housing, poorly nourished, un- or underemployed, and stuck in a cycle of
poverty. Without government safety nets such as subsidized housing and daycare,
food stamps, education grants, health insurance, and support for immigrants, the
only other option, private charity, can only do so much to ease the burden of
poverty.
I believe in gay marriage. If two people love each other and
want to spend the rest of their lives together in a legal union, create a
family, become a breadwinner and homemaker, and support one another as do a
husband and wife, then so be it. A government should not prevent them from
doing so.
I did not vote for Romney because I believe in the hope and
change that Obama promised 4 years ago. I do believe that the Republicans
stonewalled his efforts whenever they could. I believe that if both parties
worked together, things could finally get done around here. It’s about the
people, as it should be, and not about political party control. In Oct 2010,
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was asked what the job of Republicans in
Congress was. McConnell answered, “The single most important thing we want to
achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.” *sigh* Their main goal is to make the president fail, right in the middle of an economic crisis. What happened to "All for one and one for all"? Only in storybooks apparently. It also saddened me to see a presidential candidate so far removed from the
American people as evident in his speech when he told us to borrow money from our
parents to start our own business. In the America I grew up in, the 99%, everyone was struggling to make ends meet and it wasn't that easy.
I believe in women’s rights, her right to choose. I don’t
believe that some one or some entity can tell her what to do with her body,
or if she can/can’t have an abortion. It is her choice. Religion and government
should stay out of it.
I don’t know if there is one person or party to blame for
the state of education in California today. (Apologizing in advance to my numerous family and friends who are teachers...) I honestly never gave it much
attention because I didn’t have kids at the time, or they weren’t school age
yet, or I always thought they would attend private school. Now, my daughter will start a public school (private tuition is sky high) next year and I need to get more
informed. The fact that teachers in this state have to buy their own supplies
to teach in their overcrowded classrooms is wrong. Where did the education
dollars go? They have very important
jobs and they get paid so little. I've got some homework to do.
Not all of my beliefs are strict to Democratic code, nor are
they in line with the Catholic doctrine of which I was born and raised. I do believe in Jesus Christ and I
believe that he wanted to help the poor and suffering, not make the rich get
richer. There are so many aspects to the great divide, and it's an impossible feat to address all of my opinions. I have a big
heart and a caring personality. I have worked my entire life starting at 16. I complained about paying taxes when I got my first
paycheck because I didn’t know anything about them. I made enough to make ends meet, but not enough to fund a charity, though I made donations when I could. But I didn’t complain about
paying taxes either because I always felt they were necessary.
I am not well-versed politically, nor am I
persuasive with my beliefs. But they are mine and they are part of who I am. Part of what makes America great is our personal freedoms, free speech, our rights to choose for ourselves, and vote for who we deem to be the best for our country.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
I Will Never Forget
11 years ago today, I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when the Towers were hit. I was at home in my very first apartment, sleeping and snoozing my alarm, putting off rolling out of bed as long as possible before I had to get ready for work. My phone rang unexpectedly and it was my sister, urging me to turn the TV on. It didn't matter what channel. Begrudgingly following her instructions, I shot straight up when I saw the spectacle before me. It was shock and disbelief, then fear, and then so much sadness. I called my boyfriend (now husband) to wake him up because he, too, needed to see this. It was certainly a morning I will never forget.
Our nation was struck by a force so powerful and life-changing, that we didn't know it could happen. The tragedy awoke a personal pride in America...Everyone I know is proud to be an American, but the results of 9/11 spawned a new patriotism that I hadn't experienced in my lifetime. The Memorials are necessary for remembrance and reflection, for humbling ourselves and recognizing there are things bigger than our daily lives. Blood, sweat and tears were put into all of the 9/11 Memorials, and rightfully so.
Today, I drove my daughter to school, I saw my husband off to work, and my son fell asleep peacefully in my arms. I am thankful for the safety of my family and the many luxuries we are afforded: the ability to freely go about my day running errands, buying fresh produce, having utilities in my home to live comfortably and stay cool, and buying fuel to get us where we need to be. I can never take for granted the freedoms we as Americans have. Flying the friendly skies will never be the way it used to be. Entering an airport or a government building has changed drastically as well. The nation has changed. Our awareness has changed. Is it for the better? Yes. We are a vigilant and watchful nation now. I believe we took it for granted before..."Invasion could never happen on our soil." That is the case no longer.
I will never forget those military men and women who have lost their lives in this war, nor the innocents who lost their lives when the planes crashed and when the towers fell. The brave rescue heroes who have suffered from injuries, emotionally and medically after toxic building meltdowns, even a decade later, are always remembered. I cannot forget the families and children of those lost who still struggle to recover and move on. My home prays for the soldiers and military families everyday. We pray for my husband as he works to protect his city and his family, and we pray for his safe return every day. Police officers, fire men and women, military soldiers and the countless volunteers who protect our great nation every day are to be applauded and thanked for their selfless service.
Our nation was struck by a force so powerful and life-changing, that we didn't know it could happen. The tragedy awoke a personal pride in America...Everyone I know is proud to be an American, but the results of 9/11 spawned a new patriotism that I hadn't experienced in my lifetime. The Memorials are necessary for remembrance and reflection, for humbling ourselves and recognizing there are things bigger than our daily lives. Blood, sweat and tears were put into all of the 9/11 Memorials, and rightfully so.
Today, I drove my daughter to school, I saw my husband off to work, and my son fell asleep peacefully in my arms. I am thankful for the safety of my family and the many luxuries we are afforded: the ability to freely go about my day running errands, buying fresh produce, having utilities in my home to live comfortably and stay cool, and buying fuel to get us where we need to be. I can never take for granted the freedoms we as Americans have. Flying the friendly skies will never be the way it used to be. Entering an airport or a government building has changed drastically as well. The nation has changed. Our awareness has changed. Is it for the better? Yes. We are a vigilant and watchful nation now. I believe we took it for granted before..."Invasion could never happen on our soil." That is the case no longer.
I will never forget those military men and women who have lost their lives in this war, nor the innocents who lost their lives when the planes crashed and when the towers fell. The brave rescue heroes who have suffered from injuries, emotionally and medically after toxic building meltdowns, even a decade later, are always remembered. I cannot forget the families and children of those lost who still struggle to recover and move on. My home prays for the soldiers and military families everyday. We pray for my husband as he works to protect his city and his family, and we pray for his safe return every day. Police officers, fire men and women, military soldiers and the countless volunteers who protect our great nation every day are to be applauded and thanked for their selfless service.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Olympic Round-up
If you know me personally, you know I’m a bit of a sports
fan, so spending two whole weeks watching athletes on the flat screen was right
up my alley! There are some things I observed during the world’s focus on
London and things that I loved about the 2012 Olympics. I took notes here and
there and I’m piecing them together. Sorry for not having direct references or
links for you to see for yourself, but I’m lucky I remembered to write down
what has inspired me!
First of all, the Fierce Five were incredible! Those girls
knocked my socks off with their performances and camaraderie. Once I learned to
look past the “like” as every other word coming out of their mouths during
interviews, and the mousey pitched voices (just some pet peeves of mine), I saw
the amazing feat that is the US Women’s Gymnastics Team. They are all teens and
have dedicated their lives to the sport. I saw that they were appreciative of
their families and skills that enabled them to be in this position, confident
in their abilities, supportive of teammates, critical of themselves and as well-spoken as teens can be. Overall, the way they carried themselves on and off the floor was quite impressive.
My heart went out to Team Leader Jordyn Wieber when she didn’t
make it to one of two individual spots for the all around final. I could see the
pain and disappointment in herself. When she was finally composed enough for an
interview, she was as gracious as she could be in the eye of defeat, yet so
proud and supportive of her teammates who advanced. For such a
young woman to show so much poise and clarity after a loss on the world’s stage
is simply incredible.
I perused some articles briefly after hearing about Olympic
Gold Medalist Gabrielle Douglas’ criticism regarding her hair. This young woman
just made history being part of the gold medal team AND winning the coveted
all-around title! And people have nothing better to do than criticize the way
her hair looked?? That saddened me, but her response made it all just go away.
She ignored them. That kind of criticism is far below what this young black
female has accomplished and she knew it and stayed above it!
Some other Olympic moments that made me smile were when the
Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, played Olympic tennis together and earned
the gold medal. Track athlete Manteo Mitchell broke his leg in the 4x400 relay.
He broke his leg and finished his race so he wouldn’t let his team down!! Hotty
swimmer Michael Phelps holds the all-time record for most Olympic medals won.
These athletes are amazing!
Misty May-Treanor and her Beach Volleyball partner took the
gold for the third time!! When the cameras were on Misty in between sets, she
was shouting, “Go Dodgers!” because her husband, Matt Treanor, is on the team. In his pre/post-game interviews, he talked
about was his wife and how he wished he could be there with her, carrying her
bags, doing whatever he can to show his support. This couple and their goals of
winning their respective sports do not hinder the love they have for one
another. It was the sweetest thing to watch and still brings a smile to my face
when I think about it!
2012 was my daughter’s first time watching the Summer
Olympics. This girl was hooked on the gymnastics. She thought they were
beautiful and strong and she wants to be just like them. She even told her
Daddy and me that she wants to be in the Olympics when she grows up. As long as
she has role models like the Fierce Five to look up to and aspire to be, I have
no problem with that at all (I’m looking for some local gymnastics classes
now!). Now that the two weeks is over, I struggled with Olympic withdrawals,
but I’m back to my Nook or catching up on my DVR until Rio 2016…
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
It Takes A Village...
It takes a village. That’s what they
say and it’s what I firmly believe. I have several friends that we spend time
with who naturally feel that way. Our common path veers towards the village. If
my daughter is climbing the tree, it’s okay if ‘Mrs. A’ tells her to stop and
brings her down. If I have to go to the car to change a massive diaper, I feel
totally comfortable leaving my daughter under the watch of my mom friend for 5
minutes. I have bottle fed babies and hand fed toddlers that weren’t mine. I
have taken other preschoolers to the restroom for potty time. I have corrected
a bad situation that none of my children were involved in. Do my mom friends
care? Nope. Not one bit. In fact, while dreaming up this blog post, I found
that they encourage it. They appreciate it because they can’t do it alone. None
of us can. As proud as we try to be, we all need help and I like to get mine
from my village of friends, and especially my family.
The age group of most of our play
dates is 2 to 4 years old. This is a very impressionable stage of development,
filled with numerous challenges and infinite decision-making. They test the
waters to see what they can get away with, learning right from wrong. At this
age, hitting is almost a given. It’s just what kids do. If my child were to hit
another and I missed it, I expect the parent who saw it to say something to my
child and then let me know. All children are sweet and innocent, and if they
were to strike another child, it’s not with malice, but rather, endless
curiosity or over-enthusiasm in a playtime environment. I don’t feel it is wise
to shelter a child from something like this as it is a major learning
experience at such a formative age. I am not saying that hitting is okay. A
correction is still in order, but such actions come with the territory of the
age group.
If my son or daughter does something
bad and I don’t see it, the other parent can immediately step in before things
get out of control. When s/he gets reprimanded by a villager, it teaches obedience
and to respect others. At the same time, s/he learns from others. S/he learns
trust. If my daughter ever gets lost (heaven forbid), she knows to approach a
mom with kids for help, as opposed to the random stranger. She is also very
observant, and watches and learns from the environment in our village.
I don’t judge other parents for
their style of doing things. In fact, I like to watch and observe how others
reprimand their children. Seeing a mom yell at her kids makes me feel good! It
makes me feel like I am not alone! And yes, sometimes, it makes me thankful
that my kids are not that bad! I’ve witnessed tantrums and admired the mom for
her finesse out in public. I’ve seen a potty emergency without a bathroom in
sight, but plenty of grass and bushes! I’ve seen a blowout diaper in all its
glory and a mom with the quick skill to make it go away in a snap. I witnessed
a child having a seizure and the mom didn’t skip a beat! I’ve attended a hosted
party with at least sixty parents and kids in and out of the house all day
long, and the hostess took it all in stride without a sweaty armpit. And I’m
not ashamed to admit that I have even gotten jealous over a friend’s double
stroller and another’s organized shelving system! These women are my heroes! I
learn from them and I appreciate them. They are my friends. They are fellow moms.
Many times, in fact daily, I wonder
to myself if I’m even doing the right things as a parent. I’m constantly
questioning whether this was the right move, the right thing to say, the
correct approach. This is one of many reasons I look forward to play dates…to
watch and learn, to ask questions, to share what little I know. Parenting is
not easy by any means. In fact, in my lifetime, it is by far the most difficult
thing I’ve ever done. If I can get help from a reliable, personable source, I
will do so because it takes a village…
Here is a link to a great article I read on using a village to raise your child(ren). Regardless of any political affiliations (Clinton haters), it’s an interesting read and quite insightful for my villagers.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Girls vs Boys
As a parent, it is impossible to choose one favorite kid over the other. Each brings to the table his or her own unique traits that make me love them to the moon and back, or make me wanna lock em in the closet until their Dad comes home. Today is one of those days where I wish they were both potty trained, obedient and clean… I know when they’re older I will miss them at this age and I should cherish every moment, blah blah blah. But come on…not everyday is sunshine and roses and some days we wish could be stricken from the record.
Both my son and daughter can be as sweet as pie. They are loving and very generous with the hugs and kisses. Both are great eaters. There are foods they don’t like, but they will try everything at least once. That being said, if they do not eat every 30 minutes, they get cranky. Mind you, it takes 20 minutes to eat a bowl of grapes. I feel like I’m constantly whipping up snacks for them. If my daughter doesn’t eat, she isn’t sweet. I’m convinced that’s where “sugar and spice and everything nice, that’s what little girls are made of” came from. Today was a culinary battle of wills with her and she’s been in time out more times than I can remember to count. All because she cranked out when I wouldn’t give her a piece of Easter candy, or the good strawberries (versus the bad ones??), or because I wouldn’t give her brother’s lunch to HER first. She told me he can have what she doesn’t finish. Oy vey.
My son discovered his wiener, aka peepers, in recent months. It’s a natural part of growing up, the self-discovery process. At his age, 20 months, it is nothing sexual. It’s an identification thing. This is his. He found it. He wants to look at it and see how far it can stretch while his britches are being changed. When his pants aren’t too constricting around the waist, he sticks his hand in his pants to make sure his peepers is still there. This action has been the center of attention and laughter at many a party and at plenty of Target visits. The laughter this elicits has encouraged his behavior and he will laugh right along with everyone else. Sometimes he’s the first one to bellow out a howl to draw the attention. It’s a big part of his daily routine right now. What can I do? He certainly doesn’t listen to me when I take his hand out of his pants and tell him to play with the trucks. He’s a boy and this “playing” thing will never end for the rest of his life. Though I am happy to say, I never went through that with my daughter!
On one sunny afternoon, I left the babies with my dad. He thinks his Grandkids are a joy… as long as they go home with their mother at the end of the day. It was a great day of playing outside after lunch, diving into the toy box, munching on snacks and watching some toons. At one point, the boy walks over to him, happy as a clam, showing his hands to my dad. Dad is wondering where in the heck he left the chocolate for the boy to have gotten it all over his hands. Upon closer inspection, dad realizes it isn’t chocolate at all!! Little Mister “Hands in his Pants” has found the golden nugget! The boy is whisked off to the bathroom for a thorough hand washing and then over to the bedroom for a vital diaper change. That moment deserved a special phone call from father to daughter. I’ll be honest, I giggled like a school girl when that call was over. By the way, my daughter never played with her poop.
The constant grazing of fruits and veggies, and only drinking water everyday has contributed to a very healthy system in my kids. The boy easily poops 5 times a day. (It’s 4p and I just changed poopy diaper #4.) There was a special surprise when I picked him up from his nap. Left unsupervised and unchanged is when the best damage is done. When I walked in, the room was stinky and he was showing me his hands. That’s a bad combination right there. Little Mister “Hands in his Pants” had poopy #3. On a positive note, he tried to wipe the poop off his hands this time. At least that’s what I like to tell myself. His cribsheet was like a giant pair of skid marked undies. Super gross. And you’re welcome for the mental picture. I now have a load of laundry going. Thank goodness my daughter is finally potty trained.
As you can see for yourself, my boy is so typical boy. He likes to play with all things masculine…cars, trucks, balls (both his and the sporting kind), and the occasional Disney Princess, just to name a few. This afternoon, I was called into the living room by cries for mama. Apparently, he spotted one of his golf balls under the couch. Being resourceful and as independent as he can be, he went under there and got it for himself. Piece of cake. The hard part was coming back out. His head was stuck under the frame and he couldn’t move anymore. He was scared, rightfully so, but I still had to contain a chuckle as I saw him struggling to get out. A moment later I returned with camera in hand to memorialize the moment before I freed him from his cranial shackle! He wasn’t happy, but you wouldn’t know that by seeing the giant smile on his face when I snapped the pic. Did I mention he got stuck twice today? Tough lessons are learned the hard way. Thankfully, my daughter never got stuck under the couch.
Everyday is an adventure with my children, boys vs. girls, as you parents already know. Today just happened to be crazier than most and it’s what made me hit the laptop to document the zaniness. They make me laugh. They make me cry, but most of all, they make me proud to be a mama and they validate me, my sleepless nights and all my patient hard work.
By the way, it’s almost 6p and I just changed poopy #5. I hope it’s not a #6 kind of day…
Both my son and daughter can be as sweet as pie. They are loving and very generous with the hugs and kisses. Both are great eaters. There are foods they don’t like, but they will try everything at least once. That being said, if they do not eat every 30 minutes, they get cranky. Mind you, it takes 20 minutes to eat a bowl of grapes. I feel like I’m constantly whipping up snacks for them. If my daughter doesn’t eat, she isn’t sweet. I’m convinced that’s where “sugar and spice and everything nice, that’s what little girls are made of” came from. Today was a culinary battle of wills with her and she’s been in time out more times than I can remember to count. All because she cranked out when I wouldn’t give her a piece of Easter candy, or the good strawberries (versus the bad ones??), or because I wouldn’t give her brother’s lunch to HER first. She told me he can have what she doesn’t finish. Oy vey.
My son discovered his wiener, aka peepers, in recent months. It’s a natural part of growing up, the self-discovery process. At his age, 20 months, it is nothing sexual. It’s an identification thing. This is his. He found it. He wants to look at it and see how far it can stretch while his britches are being changed. When his pants aren’t too constricting around the waist, he sticks his hand in his pants to make sure his peepers is still there. This action has been the center of attention and laughter at many a party and at plenty of Target visits. The laughter this elicits has encouraged his behavior and he will laugh right along with everyone else. Sometimes he’s the first one to bellow out a howl to draw the attention. It’s a big part of his daily routine right now. What can I do? He certainly doesn’t listen to me when I take his hand out of his pants and tell him to play with the trucks. He’s a boy and this “playing” thing will never end for the rest of his life. Though I am happy to say, I never went through that with my daughter!
On one sunny afternoon, I left the babies with my dad. He thinks his Grandkids are a joy… as long as they go home with their mother at the end of the day. It was a great day of playing outside after lunch, diving into the toy box, munching on snacks and watching some toons. At one point, the boy walks over to him, happy as a clam, showing his hands to my dad. Dad is wondering where in the heck he left the chocolate for the boy to have gotten it all over his hands. Upon closer inspection, dad realizes it isn’t chocolate at all!! Little Mister “Hands in his Pants” has found the golden nugget! The boy is whisked off to the bathroom for a thorough hand washing and then over to the bedroom for a vital diaper change. That moment deserved a special phone call from father to daughter. I’ll be honest, I giggled like a school girl when that call was over. By the way, my daughter never played with her poop.
The constant grazing of fruits and veggies, and only drinking water everyday has contributed to a very healthy system in my kids. The boy easily poops 5 times a day. (It’s 4p and I just changed poopy diaper #4.) There was a special surprise when I picked him up from his nap. Left unsupervised and unchanged is when the best damage is done. When I walked in, the room was stinky and he was showing me his hands. That’s a bad combination right there. Little Mister “Hands in his Pants” had poopy #3. On a positive note, he tried to wipe the poop off his hands this time. At least that’s what I like to tell myself. His cribsheet was like a giant pair of skid marked undies. Super gross. And you’re welcome for the mental picture. I now have a load of laundry going. Thank goodness my daughter is finally potty trained.
As you can see for yourself, my boy is so typical boy. He likes to play with all things masculine…cars, trucks, balls (both his and the sporting kind), and the occasional Disney Princess, just to name a few. This afternoon, I was called into the living room by cries for mama. Apparently, he spotted one of his golf balls under the couch. Being resourceful and as independent as he can be, he went under there and got it for himself. Piece of cake. The hard part was coming back out. His head was stuck under the frame and he couldn’t move anymore. He was scared, rightfully so, but I still had to contain a chuckle as I saw him struggling to get out. A moment later I returned with camera in hand to memorialize the moment before I freed him from his cranial shackle! He wasn’t happy, but you wouldn’t know that by seeing the giant smile on his face when I snapped the pic. Did I mention he got stuck twice today? Tough lessons are learned the hard way. Thankfully, my daughter never got stuck under the couch.
Everyday is an adventure with my children, boys vs. girls, as you parents already know. Today just happened to be crazier than most and it’s what made me hit the laptop to document the zaniness. They make me laugh. They make me cry, but most of all, they make me proud to be a mama and they validate me, my sleepless nights and all my patient hard work.
By the way, it’s almost 6p and I just changed poopy #5. I hope it’s not a #6 kind of day…
Saturday, March 3, 2012
The Movie Experience
Call me crazy, but I took my babies to see The Lorax yesterday afternoon. By babies, I mean I have a 3 yo and a 19 mo old. The oldest sat tight and glued her eyes to that giant screen. As long as she had her popcorn and water, she was a gem! The boy, well that's another story and the reason for this blog post. Some things are just too entertaining not to share.
Timing is everything. We saw the 300P show because it was after his long nap and perfect time for a late lunch. I made some popcorn and PB&J at home because I was not going to stand in line with 2 monkeys and buy their overpriced anything. Edwards charges for kids at 3, but she can pass for 2 so I just bought one ticket. (Hey, we're a single income family and I have to cut corners wherever possible. I don't feel bad for it. They make up for cheap mom's like me at their concession stand!) We get our spots in the 3rd row of the stadium seating 10 minutes before showtime. This was good because he was able to check out the surroundings, settle in, people watch and adjust to the volume in the theater. Lights go down and that's when I whip out the popcorn.
Right about now, I am thinking to myself that all is right with the world. I'm in a packed theater with two youngsters who are angelically seated with eyes up and feet forward, munching on snacks, watching a movie. My heart is swimming! The boy finished his popcorn. But not to worry...I have the trusty PB&J in my purse. Eaten in the dark, it's hard to see where the excess fillings drip out. Turns out, they drip out all over my white pants. (I'm making a mental note about that one.) Things still going good...he's watching the movie. I've missed a bit at this point because I have one eye on the boy and the other on the screen. The Princess has finished her popcorn and now she wants sandwiches. She's so good today!
There's half an hour left (I checked the running time before I committed and noted when the previews were over and the movie began so I had more accurate timing) and I'm all out of popcorn and PB&J. They didn't last the 86 minutes like I had hoped! And just like that, my swimming heart is punctured and panic spills out. *GASP* He gets cranky that there are no more munchies. So he drinks water. He likes to shake his cup to hear how much is in there. In one swift cup-shaking motion, he threw it at the kid in front of him. After slamming into the kid, the cup hits the armrest and clatters to the ground. And I get mad dogged by an angry 8 year old. I whisper, "Sorry." What else can I do? Well now my boy has no water because his sister saw what happened and she wasn't about to give up her cup for the cause. So I let him take smalls sips off my water bottle. I had just refilled his before he lost it, so mine wasn't full. Next thing I know, he hurls it in the air and it lands on the mom of the kid he already nailed. She handed an empty water bottle back to me.
Why can't my body curl up small enough to fit under my chair?
He is no longer on my lap. I put him back in the seat, next to his sister, with my arm across his chest, like a mom seat belt. But he wriggles out of it. When he stands on the seat, his head barely exceeds the high back, so I don't worry about him obstructing the view of the folks behind me. That's when he notices the lady next to us. She has a plastic bottle of Dr. Pepper in her armrest. Not anymore. More apologies whisper out of my mouth. I think about leaving, but that would crush my daughter and then I would have TWO cranky annoying kids. I must appease where ever conceivable! So we stay.
The movie is finally over (cue celebratory dance!). I know we have to wait for the masses to leave because it's easier maneuvering down the stairs without someone behind us. But my daughter is in a hurry to get out. She jumps off the seat and it flips up. My boy was standing, leaning on the back of the seat, so when it flipped up, he dropped down. It was right out of a game show. I nearly peed myself. He was not a happy camper. I tried to pull him straight up and out, but his leg was stuck. I had to free him from the giant kid trap through my tears of laughter.
The theater finally cleared out, especially the family in front of us (parents, grandparents, 3 kids), and I was able to fish for the assault cup. We left the theater and I was free at last!! Such relief. An overwhelming sense of relief that I survived the experience. I let the kids run out through the lobby and around the giant fountain before we head to the minivan. We're ready to cross the parking lot, so I pick him up. That's when I notice that he has a shoe missing. It's the shoe from the leg that got stuck in the kidtraption chair! We had to go all the way back into the theater. My daughter is excited because she thinks we are going to see it again. My son is excited because he thinks he can run up/down the stairs by himself. I get excited because I saw all the sandwich fillings on the floor that didn't make it to my white pants.
As we are on our final trek to the minivan, I think to myself that it could have been a lot worse (that the potential for PB&J on my pants was far greater than the actual). It was an adventure, a fun one, and though stressful at times, I laughed so much it hurt and my kids enjoyed themselves. I would do it again in a heartbeat...only after I try to find a sitter for the boy!
Timing is everything. We saw the 300P show because it was after his long nap and perfect time for a late lunch. I made some popcorn and PB&J at home because I was not going to stand in line with 2 monkeys and buy their overpriced anything. Edwards charges for kids at 3, but she can pass for 2 so I just bought one ticket. (Hey, we're a single income family and I have to cut corners wherever possible. I don't feel bad for it. They make up for cheap mom's like me at their concession stand!) We get our spots in the 3rd row of the stadium seating 10 minutes before showtime. This was good because he was able to check out the surroundings, settle in, people watch and adjust to the volume in the theater. Lights go down and that's when I whip out the popcorn.
Right about now, I am thinking to myself that all is right with the world. I'm in a packed theater with two youngsters who are angelically seated with eyes up and feet forward, munching on snacks, watching a movie. My heart is swimming! The boy finished his popcorn. But not to worry...I have the trusty PB&J in my purse. Eaten in the dark, it's hard to see where the excess fillings drip out. Turns out, they drip out all over my white pants. (I'm making a mental note about that one.) Things still going good...he's watching the movie. I've missed a bit at this point because I have one eye on the boy and the other on the screen. The Princess has finished her popcorn and now she wants sandwiches. She's so good today!
There's half an hour left (I checked the running time before I committed and noted when the previews were over and the movie began so I had more accurate timing) and I'm all out of popcorn and PB&J. They didn't last the 86 minutes like I had hoped! And just like that, my swimming heart is punctured and panic spills out. *GASP* He gets cranky that there are no more munchies. So he drinks water. He likes to shake his cup to hear how much is in there. In one swift cup-shaking motion, he threw it at the kid in front of him. After slamming into the kid, the cup hits the armrest and clatters to the ground. And I get mad dogged by an angry 8 year old. I whisper, "Sorry." What else can I do? Well now my boy has no water because his sister saw what happened and she wasn't about to give up her cup for the cause. So I let him take smalls sips off my water bottle. I had just refilled his before he lost it, so mine wasn't full. Next thing I know, he hurls it in the air and it lands on the mom of the kid he already nailed. She handed an empty water bottle back to me.
Why can't my body curl up small enough to fit under my chair?
He is no longer on my lap. I put him back in the seat, next to his sister, with my arm across his chest, like a mom seat belt. But he wriggles out of it. When he stands on the seat, his head barely exceeds the high back, so I don't worry about him obstructing the view of the folks behind me. That's when he notices the lady next to us. She has a plastic bottle of Dr. Pepper in her armrest. Not anymore. More apologies whisper out of my mouth. I think about leaving, but that would crush my daughter and then I would have TWO cranky annoying kids. I must appease where ever conceivable! So we stay.
The movie is finally over (cue celebratory dance!). I know we have to wait for the masses to leave because it's easier maneuvering down the stairs without someone behind us. But my daughter is in a hurry to get out. She jumps off the seat and it flips up. My boy was standing, leaning on the back of the seat, so when it flipped up, he dropped down. It was right out of a game show. I nearly peed myself. He was not a happy camper. I tried to pull him straight up and out, but his leg was stuck. I had to free him from the giant kid trap through my tears of laughter.
The theater finally cleared out, especially the family in front of us (parents, grandparents, 3 kids), and I was able to fish for the assault cup. We left the theater and I was free at last!! Such relief. An overwhelming sense of relief that I survived the experience. I let the kids run out through the lobby and around the giant fountain before we head to the minivan. We're ready to cross the parking lot, so I pick him up. That's when I notice that he has a shoe missing. It's the shoe from the leg that got stuck in the kidtraption chair! We had to go all the way back into the theater. My daughter is excited because she thinks we are going to see it again. My son is excited because he thinks he can run up/down the stairs by himself. I get excited because I saw all the sandwich fillings on the floor that didn't make it to my white pants.
As we are on our final trek to the minivan, I think to myself that it could have been a lot worse (that the potential for PB&J on my pants was far greater than the actual). It was an adventure, a fun one, and though stressful at times, I laughed so much it hurt and my kids enjoyed themselves. I would do it again in a heartbeat...only after I try to find a sitter for the boy!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Hello Blogosphere
I've been thinking about writing a blog for quite some time now. I'm a Stay-At-Home Mom and I have the usual excuses: two babies, a hubby and a home that all vie for my undivided attention; why am I doing this?; not sure what to say; hope to not offend anyone; what if no one reads it?? I am finally over the reasons NOT to do it. So like all other bloggers, I have to start somewhere. I can't worry about my excuses.
Funny. Crybaby. Thoughtful. Offensive. Caring. Sarcastic. Liberal. Unpolitical. Optimistic. Cynical. Believer. Sinner. This is who I am. The plans for my blog are to express soul-baring thoughts, opinions, and simple observations. They may be insightful, thought-provoking, or just plain boring. But I'm hopefully going to feel better because of it, all the while making myself laugh. I do that often. Laughter truly is the best medicine. I might have offed myself by now if I didn't appreciate the ability to laugh at myself or laugh my way out of a situation!
I promised to write when it hits me and I plan to keep that promise. This Blog is one of a very few things I do just for me, but I welcome you to take a ride. Stay tuned...
Funny. Crybaby. Thoughtful. Offensive. Caring. Sarcastic. Liberal. Unpolitical. Optimistic. Cynical. Believer. Sinner. This is who I am. The plans for my blog are to express soul-baring thoughts, opinions, and simple observations. They may be insightful, thought-provoking, or just plain boring. But I'm hopefully going to feel better because of it, all the while making myself laugh. I do that often. Laughter truly is the best medicine. I might have offed myself by now if I didn't appreciate the ability to laugh at myself or laugh my way out of a situation!
I promised to write when it hits me and I plan to keep that promise. This Blog is one of a very few things I do just for me, but I welcome you to take a ride. Stay tuned...
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