Sunday, May 9, 2010
As many of you know, I am an older *cough*41*cough* mother of a two year old. By the time that you get to this age, there are many things that you've forgotten about the simplicity of life. It doesn't take long around a toddler to be reminded of those things, and then start appreciating again.
As a mother, I feel like I've learned a lot. Don't get me wrong, I learn a great deal from the older girls, but the toddler serves as a daily reminder to just...relax.
10 Things I've Learned from My Toddler
1. Wake up early. Have you ever noticed how toddlers wake up with the sunrise, most often bounding out of bed with a smile and an immediate purpose? Yeah. Be that way more.
2. Eat only when you're hungry and until you're full. Watch a toddler closely at lunch or dinner. When you can get them to eat, they eat exactly what they want, until they are full, and then they stop. Think how much better our diets would be if we lived by that same principal.
3. Don't be afraid to show emotion. If you're mad, be mad. If you're happy, be happy. E is really into telling me her emotion right now. One day I thought, "Wouldn't it be much easier on relationships if you could just say, 'I sad.' like a two year old?"
4. Hug hard. Hug often. Doesn't it make you feel fantastic how a little person will run at full speed just to fling themselves into your arms and hug you tight? Just think how great your other loved ones would feel if you showed that same intensity.
5. Leave your toys out. I think many of us (especially moms) are so set on making sure that everything looks perfect that we miss out on some key times. If leaving the dishes in the sink overnight means time outside on a summer evening with the family then there's no contest.
6. Don't spend time with people you don't like. Have you ever noticed how a toddler will not only refuse to spend time with someone they don't like, but they'll also tell you? Well, you don't have to go that far, but do realize your time is precious. Don't waste it with people you don't care about (and vice versa).
7. Use "NO!" like you mean it. If you don't want to do something (or can't), just say no. And then mean it.
8. Idolize someone. Toddlers look up to people who are important to them because they are caring and they, in general, teach them something. Who do you idolize?
9. Eat with your hands. As adults, we're so afraid of getting dirty...why? Eat with your hands. Run in the rain. Jump in a pile of leaves. You'll be amazed how liberating these things can be for you.
10. Sing. Often. If there's one thing that I will always remember about my toddler, it's that she sings ALL.THE.TIME. It doesn't matter if we're in the supermarket, walking into church or she is in the classroom at school. You know how much hearing someone sing makes you smile?
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
She's two.
She goes to school two days a week.
Anyway.
One of the things the teacher said was that "Ella serenades them all at naptime with one or two songs before going to sleep.”
This wasn’t especially surprising because 1) she comes from a long line of musicians (his side, not mine), and 2) she sings and/or plays “instruments” ALL.DAY.LONG. at home.
However, it did send me into fits of giggles in the car wondering exactly what E sings to the classroom each time.
Right now, she’s really into singing Pink’s “So what? I’m still a rock star. I’ve got my rock moves…” (except the Chippettes version, of course).
Was this her naptime lullaby, or did she choose one of the others in her two-year-old repertoire?
As with any child, E has her own…well…adaptation of songs.
As I’ve mentioned before, one of her favorites is Beyonce’s “All the Single Babies” (known as “All the Single Ladies” to most of you) complete with video-like hand motions. (She hasn’t seen the video, but I might’ve shown her a move or two…)
However, the one that really made me snort thinking of her singing it to the class is a preschool Bible song called, “Rise and Shine.”
The song starts like this, “Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory.”
However, E sings, “Rise and shine and give God the Brobee, Brobee.”
(In case you didn’t know, Brobee is character from Yo Gabba Gabba.)
And these, my friends, make up the songs my daughter is singing to her preschool class.
And now I’m wondering exactly what kind of “conferencing” the teachers are doing about E’s parents?
And then I think, "So what? We're still rock stars. At least we've got our rock moves..."
Monday, April 12, 2010
1. I'm grateful for the flexibility in a WAHM schedule where I can take day time to spend doing fun things with the munchkin, and
2. I'm especially grateful for the blessing of another wonderful daughter added to our family.
As we're sitting at the park on a long, bench swing, I tried to hold my toddler's hand. Sad that she pulled away I said, "I would like to hold hands. Some day very soon you won't think it's cool to hang out with me, and even worse, you probably won't even like me very much."
To which she replied in a perfect two year old retort?
"Hahahahaha! I know, mommy, I know..."
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Before I get all of the you're-insane-texting-is-deadly-I-can't-believe-you're-being-so-irresponsible-to-post-this hate, you might want to get in line.
I suggest starting here.
And consider this, do you really think that statistics are going to show that someone crashed because she had to lean down to retrieve a kid's meal chicken nugget that rolled under the front seat?
I think not.
I'm not saying texting and driving isn't dangerous. It is very dangerous, as Will Smith proved. And he also proved sitting in a bathtub with a jellyfish was dangerous. See how that works? There can be more than one dangerous thing at a time.
I'm all for apps that download onto new (or young) driver's phones and disable texting while driving. I think that should be part of a parent's choice. However, I'm not so sure if I'm for no texting (or cell phone use) while driving for everyone.
If that's the case, I think they should also outlaw the following while driving:
- DVD players in cars (hahahahahaha to the "only in the back seat" requirement).
- Eating fast food (if you've ever tried to eat something from The Bell while driving down the highway, I feel ya).
- Listening to incendiary talk radio personalities.
- Taking notes while on a business call.
- Pets on your lap.
- Any kind of personal hygiene (including shaving, brushing your hair, make-up application, or staring lovingly at yourself in the mirror).
- Toddlers in the backseat.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Apparently, mommy + blogging now = hate.
That's funny, because for me, mommy+blogging always meant "be at home for your child while doing something you love."
How silly of me to be out of the know.
Unless you're a blogger or heavy into the social networking thing, you may not know about the recent New York Times article that cast a negative light on mommy bloggers and stirred up a whole bunch of...well, you know.
So imagine my surprise when yesterday I found myself smack dab in the middle of all the mommy blogger hating, which was as much of a surprise as being in a Detroit Free Press article called World of sex, lies and mommy blogs.
When I spoke to Georgea Kovanis (the author of the article) a few weeks ago for an interview, I had no idea the slant of the article (she hadn't figured it out yet, she said).
After speaking with Kovanis at length about blogging and the need for women to lift each other up, I was shocked to be included in an article that perpetuated such negativity about mommy blogging. I felt that was only a very small part of what I was trying to convey about blogging, being a mom and being a woman.
And then the comments began.
There was an onslaught--mostly negative (go figure)--of comments about how "we" (especially those of us interviewed in the article) needed to (in no particular order):
- Get a real job.
- Lose weight.
- Enjoy parenting.
- Pay more attention to our kids.
- Get a life.
And then it started to get really nasty. So I did what any self-preserving blogger would do: I stopped reading.
Look, everyone is entitled to their opinion (and mostly I don't care about them), but people, you just made my whole point about women not really supporting each other.
Each time I write a blog post, do I need to run through my qualifications--being college-educated, a director at a hospital at 25, a college instructor and academically published--and then list the number of hours I spend face time with my child before being worthy of blogging?
Did you know that, for many moms, blogs are their business (or an avenue to drive clients to their business)? Or, that many moms make major sacrifices and use blogging as a business so that they can be home with their children, as I covered in my recent Understanding the WAHM Evolution post. Or, that many WAHM and mom bloggers do spend most of their day with their kids and do the majority of their writing during nap times, school time, or at night, after everyone has gone to bed (and in lieu of any sort of social life)?
More importantly? Why do you even care?
And, why do we have to rip each other apart just to feel better about ourselves?
Thankfully, the awesome Melissa Ford had enough sense to realize that a well-rounded piece needed to follow negative campaigns. She promptly interviewed several of us and posted here and here.
It all boils down to this:
Mommy blogging is way more positive than negative. Yes, there are those who leave nasty comments and make a big stink to tell us we're not good moms whenever we post that we have a bad day and wish little Johnny would visit grandma until...college age. However, there are amazing moms blogging their every day lives...some to make money, some just to share their journey.
Many of us mom bloggers say things that others may not. If it gets a laugh, great. If it helps others realize they're not alone, even better.
What's wrong with that?
As I said to Melissa Ford yesterday:
I would like to live in a mommy world where we could discuss things reasonably and see other points of view instead of reverting to high school and going straight for the proverbial jugular. But I guess that only exists in the world of marshmallows, unicorns and rainbows. It sounds nice, though. I'd like to visit there sometime.
Tuesday, April 5, 2010
OK, we're really not, but it's been an interesting past 24 hours of press for the Wilson household.
First, my darling two-year-old daughter was pictured in the paper with the Easter Bunny at the marshmallow drop. (If she looks all sweaty, it's because she had to stalk the Easter Bunny a half-mile and then throw-down some one year olds to get to him all while trying to keep her bunny ears straight.)
And then Dawn featured our 'tie-dyed' Easter eggs on her fabulous PartyBluPrints entertaining ideas blog.
Then, I was quoted in a *controversial* mommy blog article in the Detroit Free Press called (SURPRISE!) World of sex, lies and mommy blogs, which then led to a nicely balanced follow-up interview and blog post with Melissa Ford over at BlogHer.
Friday, April 2,2010
I recently saw an intriguing tweet from @DawnSandomeno on Twitter. (She and Elizabeth have a fantastic blog with great ideas and info on a variety of topics for home entertaining.)
The tweet that I saw from Dawn involved using silk neckties to "tie dye" Easter eggs.
EXACTLY.
After scrounging in my husband's tie drawer and then making a trip to the thrift store for 100% silk ties, we finally got around to making them tonight. And I have to tell you:
It was a huge hit!
It was so great that I had to stay up and blog about it tonight so you can try it by Easter!
You cut up silk ties, wrap them around uncooked eggs, and then cover that with another piece of cloth--like a cut-up pillow case or sheet. After boiling the eggs (in the cloth), you take off the cloth and TA-DA, you have some of the most beautifully and uniquely colored eggs you'll ever see. (Head over to Party Blu Prints Blog for the full instructions.)
Our tie-dyeing session turned into an impromptu friend/pizza/egg coloring party. Everyone not only enjoyed the process, but they were also extremely excited with the results. We're already planning another tie-dyeing session! We've determined that these will be great for summer parties and barbecues, too.
Here are our eggs all together:
Looking for tips? Here are some things that we'll do again, or differently, next time:
- The blog was right, the uglier the tie, the better. Something you think no one would (or should) wear will make the best eggs.
- In places where the material doesn't stay against the egg, the egg will be white. Next time, we are going to try cutting 4 slits into the tie material (one cut in the middle of each side of the square) so that it folds more smoothly over the egg. (One of our friends said, "Think upholstery.")
- Consider the time. The 20-25 minutes of simmering time is after the eggs come to a boil. With the eggs and the cloth, the water took quite some time to come to a boil. (We got a late start and found ourselves with sleepy kids waiting for their eggs.)
- Stick with ties that say 100% silk. We had one tie that claimed "all silk" -- none of the color transferred to the egg.
- We had multiple adults and children participating, so we wrote our names on the outer edge of the white (outside) cloth with a permanent marker prior to boiling. Then, we took turns going around and "unveiling" ours. This was definitely part of the fun.
- DEFINITELY use the blog tip about "shining" the eggs after. We used vegetable oil and it made the colors even more vibrant.
- The boiled egg smell along with cooking fabric isn't pleasant. Open a window or two before you start.
HAVE FUN! Come back and post a link to pictures of your eggs so we can see how they turn out!
Friday, March 19, 2010
If you haven't noticed lately, there are a great deal of moms who work at home, but are also the primary caretaker of their children. You know, the WAHPCTSAHM (Work at Home, Primary Caretaker, Stay at Home Mom).
They're easy to spot, they have their Blackberry in one hand and their baby in the other.
They're probably not the ones wearing Christian Louboutin shoes (anymore), and they may be in dire need of an updated hair highlight.
They may have a tall coffee stashed somewhere, but probably aren't sitting next to a friend in a coffee shop enjoying it.
You'll have a confusing conversation with them like this:
You: Do you work?
WAHPCTSAHM: Yes.
You: Do you have kids?
WAHPCTSAHM: Yes.
You: Oh, where do they attend daycare?
WAHPCTSAHM: They don't. They're with me all day.
You: *confused look*
And believe me, from all of us WAHPCTSAHMs: WE GET YOUR CONFUSION.
We live it every day when trying to explain it to our friends, family, and sometimes even our husbands.
It's hard for others to understand that when we steal a few moments away in our home office during the day or at nap time, it's generally not to shop Bloomingdales.
If we post a funny comment on Facebook, it doesn't mean we're not working. Instead, it probably means we popped over to social network about business, saw something unrelated and commented on it while we were there.
Want to understand more about your WAHPCTSAHM?
1. Don't be offended by our incessant Blackberry checking.
When I check my Blackberry during a baby gym class or while I'm at your house, it's probably because I'm waiting for a comment from my editor that needs to be clarified quickly or some other work-related issue. I have my Blackberry so I can work AND ensure that my toddler is able to participate in activities during the day.
2. Social networking isn't just 'social' for us.
When we're blogging or on Facebook, Twitter or any other social networking site at 3 a.m., it probably isn't to play Farmville. Yes, we may chat about mundane things with others on them. However, our ultimate goal is one thing: to network with others in our business-related area. Which leads me to...
3. If we're blocking you on IM, it doesn't mean we aren't friends.
I use my instant messenger for two things: email alerts and to talk to someone while we're doing business together. Other than that? My IM is 'Off' to (most) others.
4. No, we cannot have drinks, go to a movie, enjoy dinner, attend a Pampered Chef party [or any other socially-related event] with you at night or on the weekend.
For many WAHPCTSAHMs, our 'work day' begins at night or on the weekend after the kids go to bed or our spouse can take the next shift. This means that we will almost always say no to your social event. (Unless you're hosting a party with Colin Farrell. Then I'm SO THERE). But don't be offended. It's us, not you.
5. If we seem distracted during gossip time, we probably are.
We may be at little Jimmy's soccer practice in body, but maybe not in mind. Our brains are running at warp* speed and we're probably constructing an RFP in our head during the mom sideline gathering.
6. We usually can't do play dates at the last minute.
WAHPCTSAHM plan their days (and nights) around their work and child's activity schedule. If we say no to a last minute play date addition, it's probably because we're working.
7. Don't go away mad, just go away.
When we're done at our children's activity, WE'RE DONE. We're probably the first ones to rush out the door (or maybe even rush you out). Don't be offended. We probably have a deadline or want to squeeze in lunch before work...or maybe even a bathroom break.
8. Yes, our house is always a mess.
No, you can't come over.
9. No, we aren't better than you. We're just different.
Look, WAHPCTSAHMs aren't superwomen. There are days we cry. There are days we wonder what the heck we're doing. Yes, there are even days we fantasize about a 'real office' job. However, we chose to make sacrifices in order to raise our child ourselves AND be able to work. Which leads me to...
10. No, we don't like looking like this.
Let's be honest, when you're taking care of a toddler during the day and working at nights and on weekends into the wee hours, something will give. It may be the WAHPCTSAHM's appearance (see shoes and highlights comment above). No, I don't like not getting regular highlights, being 'ponytail girl' all the time, not having trendy clothes or being too exhausted to work out. But that's the way it is...for now. I see the light at the end of the tunnel, and it's called preschool.
You might also like: But, I don't want to share my chocolate chip cookie.
(*I first typed "warped." Coincidence? I think not...)
Thursday, March 11, 2010
It is, by far, my best 'accomplishment' in life. However, it is also the hardest thing I've ever done.
I've alluded to it before--that strange, secret code of motherhood perfection that prohibits us from really talking about what is going on with us, our kids and our life since Us + Kids = Someone Else's Life
Well, I'm going to break that code, and I'm just going to say it right up front:
I don't like sharing my chocolate chip cookies with my toddler.
And while we're at it? I don't like
...giving up my television shows for the same episode of Elmo OVER&OVER&OVER again, or
...sticky fingers inside my Diet Coke glass to fish out pieces of ice, or
...listening to the same children's CD EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. in the car, or
...not having a good night's rest in two years because my 'mom ear' is in the permanent ON position, or
...meltdowns at grocery stores, or
...hearing "MINE!" 4,372 times per day (even when it doesn't apply).
There's more, but you get the point.
Does this mean that I don't cherish motherhood as the amazing blessing that is? Of course I cherish it. Heck, I even enjoy it.
Does it mean that I'm human? I'm guessing so, and here's how I know:
You email me to tell me that you agree.
You don't post it on my blog in the public comments (lest someone see what a 'horrible' mom you are), and you certainly don't say it to my face.
But you do use that lovely anonymity of the Internet as a shield.
And that's OK with me. I'll take a hit for the team because there are those who 'unsubscribe' whenever I do a post like this, and those of you who 'whisper' at groups and play dates.
But you're not fooling anyone.
In a recent post, I revealed how I secretly wished the school would just handle potty training so I wouldn't have to do it. A potty training expert commented, "I read potty training stuff for a living and this might be the most awesomely honest thing I've ever read. Good for you."
If this blog is nothing else, it's honest.
So, I know you're out there.
And I know you don't like sharing your chocolate chip cookies, either.
Even if you don't want to admit it.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Us, too.
All you need to do is create a mailbox, and the construction is pretty simple.
- A shoebox (or a box with a removable lid)
- Wrapping or craft paper
- Tape
- Scissors
- Old Valentine cards (works just as well with leftover birthday cards, Christmas cards, or just plain envelopes)
- Be sure to use a shoebox or other box with a removable lid. The toddler needs an easy way to get the "mail" out so they can start over again!
- Test that the cards fit into the slots before wrapping the lid. You don't want to have a frustrated toddler when they can't get the cards into the slots.
- Toddlers love to color and work with stickers. This project is easy enough that the toddler can help with the entire process, but especially the decorating!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
I have a little secret:
I'm not really interested in potty training our toddler.
If I were a better mom, I would've taken hold of the poopy reigns when she showed an interest two months ago at school. The teachers were telling me things like, "Ella asked to poop on the potty and then she did it!"
Even worse, they were writing things on her daily progress report like "Sat on potty three times!"
Instead, I was just *secretly* hoping that they would take care of it at school and she would *magically* come home one day and be potty trained.
When that didn't happen, we I decided it was time.
Now, one week before her second birthday --the same week we transitioned her to a "big girl" bed and the same week we took away most of her bottle privileges -- it's time to poop on the big potty!
(Because, hey, why not take away all comfort items and force milestones all at once?!? Tomorrow I'm making her get a job...).
Of course, I did some research and settled on the "Three Day" potty training method (for obvious reasons, er, see above), with some modifications (because the entire world is better with Jackie modifications).
We sat on the potty at least 3.4 million times today, with no results.
None.
Nada.
Zilch.
The big loser ZERO.
She went once in her pull-ups, hid in the corner once and peed in her pants and then peed in the kitchen chair.
This is the same girl that has to go around the house flushing all the toilets 3,762 times per day.
So after being tucked away in bed tonight (where she's sure to poop in the diaper we put on her any minute now), hubby says, "Maybe it's too early?"
To which I replied?
"On the contrary. I think it's too late."
Oh well, maybe she'll show an interest again when she starts dating...
Friday, January 29, 2010
Today I dropped Ella off at school -- back for the first time since THE EVENT.
Although she was a little shy at first, she was happy to be back. I was equally happy to have her back (for several reasons).
As I was leaving, one of the teachers said, "We're SO HAPPY to have you back! You had us really scared!"
And then it happened.
Tears sprang to the corners of my eyes.
I made my way out of the classroom and down the hall with my hand pressed to my mouth, suppressing a wave of emotions.
In the parking lot, I sat in the car and sobbed for 10 minutes.
I sobbed for my baby.
I sobbed for my baby's life.
I sobbed for the possibility of her untimely death.
I sobbed because for 15 days (15!) I hadn't let myself absorb what had really happened.
That's the weird thing about being the strong one, sometimes you forget to let yourself sob.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
As many of you know, we recently had a traumatic event with our soon-to-be two year old toddler, Ella. Because of all the emails, texts, and calls, I just wanted to take a moment to update everyone.
After (what will now be dubbed forever as) THE EVENT, we made it home from the emergency room around 1 a.m. on Friday, January 15. Ella had no more seizure episodes and her fever was lower.
Friday, as well as Saturday, she was O.K. Not well, but as O.K. as a sick little baby could act.
Sunday her fever started to spike again. Late afternoon, she started to become extremely lethargic, as she was before her seizure on Thursday. Not taking any chances, we loaded up and headed back to the E.R. (our pediatrician is on vaca for 10 days and it was a holiday weekend, anyway).
Turns out? Ella has RSV, or Respiratory Syncytial Virus. You may (or may not) know, but RSV is an extremely contagious virus that can be potentially life-threatening to infants and toddlers. You can read more about it at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but I won't bore you here.
In a nutshell, we were transferred to another hospital (yep, that's two ambulance rides and two hospitals in three days for those of you keeping score) where they kept Ella overnight. Her fever stayed very high until Monday morning. After that, she started to run around the room and play and eat. We were were released late afternoon.
She still has a cough, but no more fever, and thankfully, no more seizures.
She feels much, much better than her parents, who are now both sick from her germiness.
Thank you, everyone, for your concern, thoughts and prayers. It was so overwhelmingly supportive that I'll be writing a blog post about it when I can wrap my thoughts around the enormity of it.
By the way, do you know how long it takes to feel like you've showered all the germs off of two ambulance rides and two hospitals?!?
Friday, January 15, 2010
Life is not meant for a mother to experience giving her child CPR. But what are you to do when your 23-month-old child is not breathing, lying lifeless and blue on the kitchen floor?
But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Yesterday wasn't abnormal, for the most part. Ella awoke with a cough and runny nose, but little more. We went out, she ate some french fries, she sang in the supermarket -- all things that she would do on any random day.
After waking from a nap later, she had a croupy cough and her fever started to rise. We are not new to the baby fever thing, having fought fevers as high as 105 with her, so I wasn't panicked. As the evening wore on, it wasn't getter better. The doctor suggested we dose her with the normal kid drugs and if her fever didn't go down before bed we take her to the emergency room.
Her fever started to go down, even if just a little. A little while later, a sudden spike and some lethargy had us worried. As I held her in my arms, she started to -- for lack of better description -- go out of it. Her eyes weren't focusing, she couldn't keep her eyelids open, her body was going limp.
And then suddenly something strange happened. She opened her eyes and looked up, not eyes rolling back, but actually looking up and focusing on something on the ceiling. When I stood up, she turned her head so she could see the same spot on the ceiling. For some reason, my actual thought was, "She's staring at Jesus." The hair on the back of my neck stood up.
I yelled for Todd to start the car to take her to the emergency room. Moments later, she clenched her teeth, she stared away, unfocused. She was obviously having a seizure. As I ran through the house with her in my arms she went totally limp.
She was unresponsive.
She was unconscious.
She wasn't breathing.
And she was turning completely blue.
Fast.
It's true what people say, things start to happen in slow motion like you're in a movie. I remember screaming in a voice I didn't even know I had, "NO GOD! PLEASE NO!" as I placed her on the kitchen floor. Her face was completely blue, her lips even bluer. There were dark, bluish-black circles under her closed eyes.
My health care training took over and I went into auto-pilot mode, alternately barking orders to Todd on the phone with 911, giving my 23-month-old daughter CPR and screaming at her to come back.
I don't know how much time elapsed, I suspect a minute or so, but it seemed like an eternity. She started breathing and the scary blue went away, but she was still out of it. I started doing things to trigger her memory. I sang Jingle Bells. I asked her about her favorite teacher at school. I used stern voice to tell her to stop it. Things that all seem ridiculous now seemed perfectly reasonable then.
We spent four hours with her in the emergency room, doing tests, keeping watch. She had a seizure. She has a sore throat. She has a cough that they're treating like croup.
Concrete evidence I can handle. A blue dying baby on my floor I cannot.
I slept in her room for the few hours that we did sleep this morning. I checked on her throughout the night and then awoke in a panic during the times I drifted off.
I was never happier than hearing, "Mama, hold you?" as she lifted her little toddler arms for me to pick her up this morning.
Things were back to normal for her, but they will never be the same for me.
Ever.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Baby cries.
This is the snowman:
This is the baby on snowman making:
(That was an hour ago. She's still curled into a fetal position.)
Wasn't that FUN, honey?!?
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Aside from having to watch her closely (she's already taken the liberty to add a new mural to the dining room wall and some sketches to the wood floor...also in the dining room), she always wants both mommy AND daddy to draw with her.
At the same time.
(Uncanny, I know...)
Monday, November 23, 2009
So I finally get around to hanging my daughter's first birthday picture in her room.
She's 21 months old now. She'll be two at the beginning of February.
So, anyway...
It's a great picture of her with sticky pink icing hands and it's framed by a mat of signatures and memories from all her guests at the party.
Today I hang it in a prominent position in her room, right across from her bed and above the sofa. You know, where she can see it when she wakes up or comes into the room.
When Ella comes into the room I say, "LOOK HONEY! Mommy hung your first birthday picture! Isn't it cuuuuuuute?!?"
Ella's reply?
In a sob, "EWWWWW! The baby's hands are yuuuuuuuucky!"
She's totally preoccupied with it in her room and feels the need to declare, on the verge of tears every time she enters her room, "EWWWW! BABY'S HANDS ARE YUCKY!"
*sigh*
Kids these days are so ungrateful.
I think I'll leave it up just to torture her...
Friday, November 13, 2009
- $65 helps a mom receive pre- and postnatal care and a blanket
- $125 provides a safe delivery and a blanket
- $250 provides care for two mothers and blankets
Friday, October 23, 2009
For a little while, Ella (now 20 months) has shown interest in the big potty. She's curious to watch me "tinkle" (TMI?). She thinks it's hysterical to unroll the toilet paper. She's really interested in the flushing of the toilet.
Of which she's just learned to do.
(Fantastic.)
When I picked her up from "school" (pre-preschool) on Wednesday she was wearing her back up pants.
Uh. Oh.
On the way out, I was reading her daily report and they informed me that three different times Ella went (by herself) to sit on the potty. Lucky for me I had just that very day purchased a board book about potty training.
(Coincidence? I think not...)
So that evening, right before bed, we sat down to read the potty book. Except something wasn't right. Every time the word potty was in the book, it came out of my mouth party, which made the story go something like this:
Learning to party can be hard, but it can also be fun.
You can party like the big kids when the learning time is done.
Just watch as I teach you with your dolly Sue.
She sits on the party and you can sit there, too!
When your dolly has partied she flushes the water away.
Now she is happy and ready to go outside to play!
Going party can be fun. Learn and you will see.
Once you know how to do it, it is as easy as can be.
So practice sitting on your party a little every day.
And when you learn to use it, we will cheer a big "Hooray!"
I can't imagine why (at the end of the book) the only page Ella showed interest in was the one with the balloons on it.
I mean, what's a potty without balloons?!?
Friday, October 16, 2009, 8:21 p.m.
This year is Ella's first REAL Halloween. I mean, she was around last year, but she SO.DIDN'T.GET.IT.
I was so excited to sign Ella up for her first REAL Halloween party at our Gymboree that we attend. It was tonight. We got Ella ready and then Todd and I painted our faces (me: a bee-bug, him: a bee), donned antennae and off we all flew.
Did I mention how excited I was? So was Ella. Here she was at home "flying like a bee-bug" before the party:
Sidebar: You know how your gut tells you something but you just ignore it sometimes hoping that it will go away? When Ella got home from school, my gut was telling me that this was going to be too much for a 20 month old. She was just coming off an ear infection, she still had some sinus drainage, and school then a party made for a long day for a baby.
Remember this gut feeling...
So we get to the party and it was packed.
FUN! YAY!
Ella runs around.
FUN! YAY!
Ella climbs some stuff.
FUN! YAY!
Ella pukes in the middle of the crowded floor. And then pukes again. And then pukes some more.
FUN! YAY!
I sit in the middle of the crowded party and scrub puke off the carpet while everyone watches.
FUN! YAY!
And then Ella feels much better.
Although by then we had been labeled the "H1N1 kid" and we parted the sea of people like Moses wherever we went.
We left early.
On the way out I felt SO DISAPPOINTED. I felt disappointed for her. I felt disappointed for us. I looked at Todd and said, "It's so sad that she felt this way on her first ever Halloween party." To which he replied?
"Yeah, well, sometimes you just have to party 'til you puke. Then it's time to go..."
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