Today was kind of a dreary boring rainy day - the perfect kind of day for PLAYING WITH MY NEW iPHONE!
I did not neglect my children while all this "playing" was happening. Actually, this morning was my turn to be the kidswap watcher, so I enjoyed 2 little guys wreaking havoc around the Penthouse while I attempted to unload the dishwasher (took about 30 minutes!) and clean up the kitchen (another 30 minutes, not that it was that messy - it is just that 2 year old boys like to "help" which makes for double the work!). When the kitchen was satisfactorily cleaned, we headed into the kid's bedroom for a little cottage fun. Ben did a pretty decent job of sharing minus the "I am going to lay on top of all the legos so you simply can't get to them to build robots" and the "If you touch the cottage door bell again, I am gonna claw paw you." Christian had no qualms taking what he wanted (he has an older brother!) and pushing Benny away when Ben wouldn't let him in the cottage. It was quite adorable until the slap-fest started, and even then it was pretty freakin' cute (don't tell Ben I said that!) as the boys were feeling out the situation. I pulled them apart pretty quick and they were completely content to play together after that.
Benny really does need to toughen up a bit. It's an interesting study - he is all boy, rough and tumble, falls down but never cries, is tough as nails - except when it comes to possessions, then is is a blubbering fool when someone takes something that belongs to him. I want to encourage him to share - which I do often - but I also want him to 'grow a pair' and take back what belongs to him when a bully is about. Ahhh, parenting - its such a fine line, isn't it?
After lunch, I put Ben in for a nap and Emma and I went "free" app shopping. I found a great app that allows her to practice tracing her letters something she certainly needs practice with. I found some word / picture flashcards that are fun for her as her phonics ability is amazing and the flashcards help her to see a picture and sound out the words - she's getting good at it, too! The other one we liked was a children's piano app that allows her to "play piano" - its pretty cool, Ben liked that one, too.
I am sure there are lots more good ones out there, but that was a decent start. I had to fight them to hand my phone back over when we were "done" (read: I was done and wanted to play with my phone, too!), which caused great tears (both kids) but hey, I am the "bully" of the Penthouse!
Actually more of a sucker than a bully. The "Poingo" books and reader pen I bought from kidswoot last week arrived today and although I was saving it for a birthday present, it seemed entirely too perfect a way to spend a rainy afternoon curled up on the comfy couch teaching Em how to use it!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
a Day of Outdoors
We had quite an event filled outdoors day today - good thing because it is supposed to rain for the next 48 hours!
The kids and I started out the morning with a hike at our favorite place, Avalon in Stony Brook (2 towns over). It was our first hike in that spot of the year and I was a little nervous to do it on my own with the kiddos. But, I gotta tell ya, they were AWESOME. Both of them walked the entire time and both of them LISTENED when I was telling them to go this way or that. BOTH OF THEM - YES, even Ben. I feel like I got my first taste of what the future will be bringing when we can get out and do things without having to plan for the "toddler." It took us about an hour including a good 20 minute play session on the "playground" - or workout station in the middle of the woods.
The kids and I started out the morning with a hike at our favorite place, Avalon in Stony Brook (2 towns over). It was our first hike in that spot of the year and I was a little nervous to do it on my own with the kiddos. But, I gotta tell ya, they were AWESOME. Both of them walked the entire time and both of them LISTENED when I was telling them to go this way or that. BOTH OF THEM - YES, even Ben. I feel like I got my first taste of what the future will be bringing when we can get out and do things without having to plan for the "toddler." It took us about an hour including a good 20 minute play session on the "playground" - or workout station in the middle of the woods.
I love Emma's choice for her hiking outfit! She was quite the fashionista on the course! And look in the same pic how far up ahead Ben was already. This kid had a blast! About halfway through the course he stopped in his tracks though and got 'the look' on his face. Yep, all that exercise got his bowels a-moving and he took a giant poop in his diaper. About 5 minutes later Emma had to pee and got her first experience peeing in the wilderness. Good times!!
After lunch, Daddy joined us at the Holtsville Ecology Center and we enjoyed the "mini-zoo" there. It's pretty small, but the perfect place to let Ben run without fear of him making a wrong turn and us losing him in a maze of animals. There is only one entrance / exit and one path. You walk through to the end and return along the same path. It was the first time we have been there in the afternoon, and just like the LA Zoo, you get a different group of animals out and about depending on what time of day you go, so the kids (and the parents) enjoyed seeing some new animals wandering around their cages.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Thank you, Gramma Lou!
4 whirlwind trips in a row = tuckered out mama, but I have the next 10 days to play play play so let's all say a prayer to Mother Nature for some sunshine days!
Whilst I was gone this 36 hours, Gramma Lou was around to lend Daddy a hand. Gramma Lou + Daddy = out to eat more in 36 hours than Mommy allows in a month... My kiddos enjoyed a lunch at Wendy's where Benjamin actually ate all 5 of his nuggets and a slice of bacon from Gramma's burger; a dinner of Chinese take out where Benjamin actually ate the innards of an egg roll AND some beef from the Beef and Broccoli; and finally Dunkin Donuts where Benjamin would have eaten an entire whole wheat bagel except that Gramma ripped it in half for him and he had the biggest HISSYFIT - he wanted to eat it whole like a big boy not broken apart like a baby!! Gramma said he kept trying to put the two pieces back together and kept getting pissed when they wouldn't stick! HA! But as you can see from the trend above, Ben is starting to expand his menu - so I cannot complain too much that they ate out so much!
Emma enjoyed the Chinese Food, too, but that goes without saying as this girl likes to eat. She tried bean sprouts for the first time and LOVED them calling them Chinese noodles - whatever it takes to keep her eating them!
Em complains a lot that her legs "hurt" - I don't know if she is making this up (she is a fabulous actress) or if they really do ache from growing pains. This afternoon she walked into the kitchen ever so sheepishly and said, "Mommy, my legs hurt. Can you fix 'em?" I said sure and laid down on the floor next to her and started massaging them. She looked at me like I was a giant weirdo and said, "What are you doing?" (I'm fixing your legs by massaging them.) "Oh, but it kinda tickles." I stopped and she was like, "Don't stop!"
This evening after dinner Daddy was showing me his friend's cake decorating website. We were clicking through all the beautiful cakes and Benny started blowing at the cakes as if he were blowing out the candles!! It was freakin' awesome.
Gramma Lou got a taste of Germ-For-All this morning before heading back to PA. We dropped Emma off at school and took Ben for a play at the indoor play yard. He went crazy with the two on one attention nonstop jibber jabbering the entire time we were there. His motor skills are obviously improving as he ages as he was able to climb apparatuses that he couldn't before and is braver about crawling through tunnels and bouncing on the big kid trampoline than he has been in the past. I LOVE going there with him one on one, and love it even more when it is two on one because I can see how much he appreciates being the center of attention.
Gramma also noticed how he now has more patience when you are reading to him. Before he would split after one or two pages but now he will stay on your lap for the entire read. Gramma taught him the word "eyes" this weekend and he will repeat it every time. That brings his speaking vocabulary up to about 15 words, but his comprehension is definitely nearing fluent as he responds more and more to our requests. I am still going to hold off on the "early intervention speech therapy" until his 2 1/2 year well visit. If he isn't talking more by then, I will get him to a therapist, but for now we will simply work with him reading books and pointing to objects and letting him decide when he wants to parrot us and learn to speak the word. In the past week he has added "eyes, moo, zoo, boo, you" to his list so I feel like we are finally making progress. Woohoo! He certainly has a sense of humor - whenever I ask him to say "Mommy," he looks me square in the eyes, gets a giant smile on his face, says "Daddy" and runs away giggling - cheeky little steam engine...
I have finally succumbed to the "smartphone" world and will be receiving my iphone (only $99!) tomorrow. I am told there are a ton of kid-friendly apps that are educational and fun that I need to download. I especially want the one where Emma can trace the alphabet - she needs practice forming her letters! If you have any other recommendation for either kiddo, please let me know!!
Whilst I was gone this 36 hours, Gramma Lou was around to lend Daddy a hand. Gramma Lou + Daddy = out to eat more in 36 hours than Mommy allows in a month... My kiddos enjoyed a lunch at Wendy's where Benjamin actually ate all 5 of his nuggets and a slice of bacon from Gramma's burger; a dinner of Chinese take out where Benjamin actually ate the innards of an egg roll AND some beef from the Beef and Broccoli; and finally Dunkin Donuts where Benjamin would have eaten an entire whole wheat bagel except that Gramma ripped it in half for him and he had the biggest HISSYFIT - he wanted to eat it whole like a big boy not broken apart like a baby!! Gramma said he kept trying to put the two pieces back together and kept getting pissed when they wouldn't stick! HA! But as you can see from the trend above, Ben is starting to expand his menu - so I cannot complain too much that they ate out so much!
Emma enjoyed the Chinese Food, too, but that goes without saying as this girl likes to eat. She tried bean sprouts for the first time and LOVED them calling them Chinese noodles - whatever it takes to keep her eating them!
Em complains a lot that her legs "hurt" - I don't know if she is making this up (she is a fabulous actress) or if they really do ache from growing pains. This afternoon she walked into the kitchen ever so sheepishly and said, "Mommy, my legs hurt. Can you fix 'em?" I said sure and laid down on the floor next to her and started massaging them. She looked at me like I was a giant weirdo and said, "What are you doing?" (I'm fixing your legs by massaging them.) "Oh, but it kinda tickles." I stopped and she was like, "Don't stop!"
This evening after dinner Daddy was showing me his friend's cake decorating website. We were clicking through all the beautiful cakes and Benny started blowing at the cakes as if he were blowing out the candles!! It was freakin' awesome.
Gramma Lou got a taste of Germ-For-All this morning before heading back to PA. We dropped Emma off at school and took Ben for a play at the indoor play yard. He went crazy with the two on one attention nonstop jibber jabbering the entire time we were there. His motor skills are obviously improving as he ages as he was able to climb apparatuses that he couldn't before and is braver about crawling through tunnels and bouncing on the big kid trampoline than he has been in the past. I LOVE going there with him one on one, and love it even more when it is two on one because I can see how much he appreciates being the center of attention.
Gramma also noticed how he now has more patience when you are reading to him. Before he would split after one or two pages but now he will stay on your lap for the entire read. Gramma taught him the word "eyes" this weekend and he will repeat it every time. That brings his speaking vocabulary up to about 15 words, but his comprehension is definitely nearing fluent as he responds more and more to our requests. I am still going to hold off on the "early intervention speech therapy" until his 2 1/2 year well visit. If he isn't talking more by then, I will get him to a therapist, but for now we will simply work with him reading books and pointing to objects and letting him decide when he wants to parrot us and learn to speak the word. In the past week he has added "eyes, moo, zoo, boo, you" to his list so I feel like we are finally making progress. Woohoo! He certainly has a sense of humor - whenever I ask him to say "Mommy," he looks me square in the eyes, gets a giant smile on his face, says "Daddy" and runs away giggling - cheeky little steam engine...
I have finally succumbed to the "smartphone" world and will be receiving my iphone (only $99!) tomorrow. I am told there are a ton of kid-friendly apps that are educational and fun that I need to download. I especially want the one where Emma can trace the alphabet - she needs practice forming her letters! If you have any other recommendation for either kiddo, please let me know!!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Christmas in... March?
After so many days of warm sunny weather I was slightly cranky to awake to 2 inches of snow yesterday covering our deck, trees, yard and cars. I got over it pretty quick when Emma noticed the snow and yelled ever so excitedly, "It's Christmas again, Mommy!!"
I further got over it after walking the doggies and sucking in the tranquility a blanket of fresh fallen snow brings the Earth.
I finally further got over it when it had all melted away by noon and we played outside in the sunshine all afternoon. Hooray!
Yesterday morning was my 2 1/2 hours of free time as Benny was kid-swapped to my pal while Em was in preschool. I chose to whirlwind errand it, starting at Dunkin Donuts to purchase a gift card for the basket I am making for the silent auction at the preschool. I then hit up the paint store to get a quart of paint for living room wall touch ups as we have decided to stay in the penthouse for one more year sacking away the $$ for our Dream house. Target was next on the list, then BJs. By that point I was only 90 minutes in and still had another hour to burn, but I felt as though I had spent enough money for the day, called my pal and told her I was coming over to play date, too. It always amazes me that when I get "me" time I always want to rush home to my kids before my actual "me" time is up...
Last night around 4am Ben started to fuss. As I didn't want him to wake up a sleeping Emma, I was going to go into their room and attempt to shush him back to sleep like Daddy can, but I was afraid that he would wake up fully and want to party like he usually does when he sees me. So I stood outside their door for a few minutes listening to him crying out and just as I was going to open the door he settled down and fell back to sleep until 7:30 this morning. Lesson of this story: let him cry it out a bit longer than I usually do in the middle of the night before waking Daddy to go shush him. Daddy will finally be home from New Orleans late tonight and Gramma Lou is coming in 4 hours so I will go from solo to triple coverage soon enough. Woot!
I further got over it after walking the doggies and sucking in the tranquility a blanket of fresh fallen snow brings the Earth.
I finally further got over it when it had all melted away by noon and we played outside in the sunshine all afternoon. Hooray!
Yesterday morning was my 2 1/2 hours of free time as Benny was kid-swapped to my pal while Em was in preschool. I chose to whirlwind errand it, starting at Dunkin Donuts to purchase a gift card for the basket I am making for the silent auction at the preschool. I then hit up the paint store to get a quart of paint for living room wall touch ups as we have decided to stay in the penthouse for one more year sacking away the $$ for our Dream house. Target was next on the list, then BJs. By that point I was only 90 minutes in and still had another hour to burn, but I felt as though I had spent enough money for the day, called my pal and told her I was coming over to play date, too. It always amazes me that when I get "me" time I always want to rush home to my kids before my actual "me" time is up...
Last night around 4am Ben started to fuss. As I didn't want him to wake up a sleeping Emma, I was going to go into their room and attempt to shush him back to sleep like Daddy can, but I was afraid that he would wake up fully and want to party like he usually does when he sees me. So I stood outside their door for a few minutes listening to him crying out and just as I was going to open the door he settled down and fell back to sleep until 7:30 this morning. Lesson of this story: let him cry it out a bit longer than I usually do in the middle of the night before waking Daddy to go shush him. Daddy will finally be home from New Orleans late tonight and Gramma Lou is coming in 4 hours so I will go from solo to triple coverage soon enough. Woot!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
China
OMgoodness. I just had the most spirited conversation with Emma. And by spirited I mean "What the heck are you talking about, child?"
I pulled out her easel so she could color with her new white board markers while Ben was napping. I was working on my computer when I glanced over at her. She had covered her hands in black dry erase marker. I said:
M: Em, wait wait wait. What are you doing?
E: I am getting ready for China.
M: Huh? China?
E: Yes, MOMMY! I gotta color my hands, I gotta do it for China.
M: No, Emma. Marker stays on the white board. We do not color on our hands. Its dangerous.
E: No, Mom, its not dangerous. I gotta do it. I gotta get ready for China.
M: Sweety, what do you mean by China?
E: (extremely heartfelt) China and the train soccer game!
M: Babe, I'm sorry. I don't understand you. Is China a place?
E: No, Mommy. (then she repeats with tears in her eyes) I gotta get ready for China and the train soccer game.
M: Em, New York is a place, Pennsylvania is a place, California is a place. Is China a place?
E: No, Mommy, I said China is NOT a place. China is a DRAGON.
(Okay, now we are getting somewhere...)
M: China is a dragon? Is he a Dragon from TV? Or did you see China in your dreams? (she often mumbles about a "train soccer game" in her sleep...)
E: China is a dragon from Kai Lan. (a tv show we haven't watched in over a year now)
M: Okay, sweetheart. But you can't color on your hands with markers though because it could soak into your skin and make you sick.
E: Okay, Mom. Can we wipe it off with a wipey?
M: Great idea.
Seriously, she was soooo passionate about China and I had no clue... My brain is tired!
I pulled out her easel so she could color with her new white board markers while Ben was napping. I was working on my computer when I glanced over at her. She had covered her hands in black dry erase marker. I said:
M: Em, wait wait wait. What are you doing?
E: I am getting ready for China.
M: Huh? China?
E: Yes, MOMMY! I gotta color my hands, I gotta do it for China.
M: No, Emma. Marker stays on the white board. We do not color on our hands. Its dangerous.
E: No, Mom, its not dangerous. I gotta do it. I gotta get ready for China.
M: Sweety, what do you mean by China?
E: (extremely heartfelt) China and the train soccer game!
M: Babe, I'm sorry. I don't understand you. Is China a place?
E: No, Mommy. (then she repeats with tears in her eyes) I gotta get ready for China and the train soccer game.
M: Em, New York is a place, Pennsylvania is a place, California is a place. Is China a place?
E: No, Mommy, I said China is NOT a place. China is a DRAGON.
(Okay, now we are getting somewhere...)
M: China is a dragon? Is he a Dragon from TV? Or did you see China in your dreams? (she often mumbles about a "train soccer game" in her sleep...)
E: China is a dragon from Kai Lan. (a tv show we haven't watched in over a year now)
M: Okay, sweetheart. But you can't color on your hands with markers though because it could soak into your skin and make you sick.
E: Okay, Mom. Can we wipe it off with a wipey?
M: Great idea.
Seriously, she was soooo passionate about China and I had no clue... My brain is tired!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Surely she gets it from me...
Our beloved Emma is a comic in training. Ever since I introduced the "lets make up a story taking turns on the story line" and Daddy modified it with the whole "silly story" idea, Emma has found her funny bone. And I don't mean the "owie" funny bone, I mean the "I am going to grow up and say funny things on a stage and get paid lots of money when I finally land a sit-com" funny bone.
Case in point: Tonight after baths, my children and I snuggled into our comfy couch (best parenting move yet - purchasing the COMFY couch!), and told each other stories. Mostly I was just reciting nursery rhymes but Emma would chime in here and there and Ben would hop down off the couch here and there and grab a book and whip it at my head so I would read it and not just recite the same old nursery rhymes (he did this, I swear!). At one point I was soliloquizing "Little Miss Muffet" and Emma butted in and quipped, "No, Mommy. Little Miss Muffet brought her wolf and scared the spider away!" I looked at her with what must have been a blank stare because she immediately said, "That's funny, right?" I then burst into laughter because, YES, EMMA, that is pretty dang funny - the latter more so than the former! I loved it so much I instantly tweeted it so I wouldn't forget.
The best part is, she is now at the point that she knows I am going to "text" when she says something silly / funny, so as I offered another rhyme between flying books, and she desecrated another rhyme with her new found funny bone, she then said, "Put that out there, too!" meaning TWEET IT FOR ALL THE WORLD TO READ, so I can get my sit-com sooner than later and retire my parents and Grandparents.
I gotz me a cool kid.
Case in point: Tonight after baths, my children and I snuggled into our comfy couch (best parenting move yet - purchasing the COMFY couch!), and told each other stories. Mostly I was just reciting nursery rhymes but Emma would chime in here and there and Ben would hop down off the couch here and there and grab a book and whip it at my head so I would read it and not just recite the same old nursery rhymes (he did this, I swear!). At one point I was soliloquizing "Little Miss Muffet" and Emma butted in and quipped, "No, Mommy. Little Miss Muffet brought her wolf and scared the spider away!" I looked at her with what must have been a blank stare because she immediately said, "That's funny, right?" I then burst into laughter because, YES, EMMA, that is pretty dang funny - the latter more so than the former! I loved it so much I instantly tweeted it so I wouldn't forget.
The best part is, she is now at the point that she knows I am going to "text" when she says something silly / funny, so as I offered another rhyme between flying books, and she desecrated another rhyme with her new found funny bone, she then said, "Put that out there, too!" meaning TWEET IT FOR ALL THE WORLD TO READ, so I can get my sit-com sooner than later and retire my parents and Grandparents.
I gotz me a cool kid.
I love Google Translate!
Ben has discovered another toy I am not so fond of, mostly because there are a ton of small parts that I find scattered in every nook and cranny throughout the Germhouse. (Yes, now Ben has a cold, j'espère que le froid de la saison dernière.) I end up stepping on them in the middle of the night and am always hoping I won't need a trip to the pediatrist to have one surgically removed. The toy, by the way, is Mrs Potatohead - and he has a blast plucking and redesigning her face. Our favorite Emma quote over the weekend regarding the toy, "DADDY, CAN YOU PUT MRS. POTATOHEAD'S BUTT BACK ON?" she shouted from the bedroom...
My prayers were heard last night and we all slept through the night, me getting 7 hours and the kids just over 11 hours straight through. Hallelujah.
As it is "snaining" and cold today, I decided to take the kids to the mall to exchange Emma's gift from the Disney store from Abuelita for a bigger size. Emma has decided she now "likes Belle best" and LOVES her new Belle dress. She is wearing it as I type watching PBS. A PSA for teaching your children to read came on and she said, "Belle likes reading, Mommy, and I am Belle, so I like reading, too." Whatever it takes! Ben did a great job in the stroller while we made the exchange, but as soon as we were out of the store he went crazy. I wanted to give him a chance to run and burn off some energy as the mall was empty, but he kept running this way and that way, in and out of stores, causing 'confusion and delay'. Within 10 minutes I was SWEATING and swooped him up and back into the stroller, strapped him in and gave him his juice to quell his anger about being confined again. (Reminder, I wanted to give him the chance to exercise, not ME... ha!)
I need to go and take in the straps of the Belle dress. The salesgal gave me the idea to buy 2 sizes up so the dress will last a long time. She showed me how to tailor the straps so the dress wouldn't be too long. Imagine that, a sales person who wants you not to come back every 6 months to buy a new dress. Thanks, lady!!
My prayers were heard last night and we all slept through the night, me getting 7 hours and the kids just over 11 hours straight through. Hallelujah.
I need to go and take in the straps of the Belle dress. The salesgal gave me the idea to buy 2 sizes up so the dress will last a long time. She showed me how to tailor the straps so the dress wouldn't be too long. Imagine that, a sales person who wants you not to come back every 6 months to buy a new dress. Thanks, lady!!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Emma-isms
Whirlwind 36 hour trip to LA again (that included 11 hours in the air - one of which I thought we would be dropping out of the air due to hurricane force winds and heavy rains, oh my!) this weekend. Daddy was in single parent mode and got a bunch of awesome Emma-isms:
1) (I have no idea how they got on the subject but:) Daddy: Mommy and me made you. Emma: Did you make me in arts and crafts?
2) (Trying to wake Benny up from a nap:) Daddy: Emma can you please open Benny's door so he will start to wake up? Emma without hesitation: Nope, I'm too busy eating popcorn.
3) (playing hide and seek, Emma wouldn't stay hidden:) Daddy: Why do you keep coming out of your hiding space? Emma: Because I love you!
Apparently it was a rough couple of nights around here. Emma is in full blown "nightmares every hour" mode. She wakes up screaming about everything from sharks to monsters to whathaveyou. It is exhausting and makes for one tired Daddy. But he has 3 nights to himself in a hotel in New Orleans where he is opening yet another office this week - so get some sleep Daddy! I, on the other hand, am in single parent mode and looking forward to Gramma Lou's arrival on Friday! Woot!
I am running another 5k in 16 days. I haven't trained since I ran the last one 2 weeks ago due to travel and rain and laziness. So this morning I loaded both kids into the stroller and jogged them to pre-school, dropped off Emma and fast walked home (hard to jog and push a stroller uphill - although probably good training... If only the Rocky music were playing in my head to inspire me to get a move on!). Weather permitting, I NEED to do that more!
1) (I have no idea how they got on the subject but:) Daddy: Mommy and me made you. Emma: Did you make me in arts and crafts?
2) (Trying to wake Benny up from a nap:) Daddy: Emma can you please open Benny's door so he will start to wake up? Emma without hesitation: Nope, I'm too busy eating popcorn.
3) (playing hide and seek, Emma wouldn't stay hidden:) Daddy: Why do you keep coming out of your hiding space? Emma: Because I love you!
Apparently it was a rough couple of nights around here. Emma is in full blown "nightmares every hour" mode. She wakes up screaming about everything from sharks to monsters to whathaveyou. It is exhausting and makes for one tired Daddy. But he has 3 nights to himself in a hotel in New Orleans where he is opening yet another office this week - so get some sleep Daddy! I, on the other hand, am in single parent mode and looking forward to Gramma Lou's arrival on Friday! Woot!
I am running another 5k in 16 days. I haven't trained since I ran the last one 2 weeks ago due to travel and rain and laziness. So this morning I loaded both kids into the stroller and jogged them to pre-school, dropped off Emma and fast walked home (hard to jog and push a stroller uphill - although probably good training... If only the Rocky music were playing in my head to inspire me to get a move on!). Weather permitting, I NEED to do that more!
Friday, March 18, 2011
Love is in the air, Spring, too.
There are certain "smells" you don't get in LA. One of those is "Spring is in the air." It amazes me that I haven't smelled this particular smell in 18 years, yet I recognized it immediately when I smelled it... (kind of like "Old Spice" which my Dad wore for years...)
We had THE best day today. It has taken me almost 10 months, but I think I may have found my "Afton equivalent" here on Long Island (NOT "Afton replacement" - that girl is one of a kind irreplaceable!). Her name is Jen and she has two kiddos, one Em's age and one a little younger than Benny. She loves being outdoors as much as I do, has a great attitude toward child rearing, and loves hiking / walking for exercise kids in tow. We had a blast on a 3 mile hike that took us over 90 minutes as we were constantly putting kids in the stroller and taking kids out of the stroller, wrangling little boys to stay on the path and scolding older siblings for getting too far out of sight. It was an absolutely beautiful day - mid 60s - perfect for getting some fresh air and exercise / shaking off cabin fever! At one point in the hike through the woods we passed a trail of power lines. Emma did a good job explaining to the others to stay on the path as "We can't go through electricity world!"
After lunch I almost didn't put Ben in for a nap - it was SOOOO nice that I wanted to go outside and play more! But I tossed him in the crib and after about 30 minutes of fuss fuss fuss, he crashed and Emma and I went out front to ride her scooter and dig in the freshly tilled dirt (the gardeners are finally back in action - Spring really is here!). We were outside for a good hour and a half when Spring's first "bug sighting" appeared and Em FREAKED out. She is mostly afraid of flying bugs - today was a hornet, a good thing to be fearful of. Ninja Mommy put the beast to permanent rest and she relaxed until she saw a fly - A FLY PEOPLE - and bawled like a baby, "I wanna go inside, the outside is SCARY! I wanna go inside and watch Cinderella..." So, in we went. I turned on the movie and selfishly woke Ben up from his nap so he and I could go outside and enjoy the weather! We had so much fun - Ben is incredibly affectionate when he is flying solo with a parent. He love to crawl up into our laps and gives constant hugs and kisses. It makes me wonder how ignored he must feel when Big Sister is hogging up all the attention. Needless to say, I was loving it and loving him and we were outside until I heard Emma holler, "Cinderella's all done, Mom!"
We had THE best day today. It has taken me almost 10 months, but I think I may have found my "Afton equivalent" here on Long Island (NOT "Afton replacement" - that girl is one of a kind irreplaceable!). Her name is Jen and she has two kiddos, one Em's age and one a little younger than Benny. She loves being outdoors as much as I do, has a great attitude toward child rearing, and loves hiking / walking for exercise kids in tow. We had a blast on a 3 mile hike that took us over 90 minutes as we were constantly putting kids in the stroller and taking kids out of the stroller, wrangling little boys to stay on the path and scolding older siblings for getting too far out of sight. It was an absolutely beautiful day - mid 60s - perfect for getting some fresh air and exercise / shaking off cabin fever! At one point in the hike through the woods we passed a trail of power lines. Emma did a good job explaining to the others to stay on the path as "We can't go through electricity world!"
After lunch I almost didn't put Ben in for a nap - it was SOOOO nice that I wanted to go outside and play more! But I tossed him in the crib and after about 30 minutes of fuss fuss fuss, he crashed and Emma and I went out front to ride her scooter and dig in the freshly tilled dirt (the gardeners are finally back in action - Spring really is here!). We were outside for a good hour and a half when Spring's first "bug sighting" appeared and Em FREAKED out. She is mostly afraid of flying bugs - today was a hornet, a good thing to be fearful of. Ninja Mommy put the beast to permanent rest and she relaxed until she saw a fly - A FLY PEOPLE - and bawled like a baby, "I wanna go inside, the outside is SCARY! I wanna go inside and watch Cinderella..." So, in we went. I turned on the movie and selfishly woke Ben up from his nap so he and I could go outside and enjoy the weather! We had so much fun - Ben is incredibly affectionate when he is flying solo with a parent. He love to crawl up into our laps and gives constant hugs and kisses. It makes me wonder how ignored he must feel when Big Sister is hogging up all the attention. Needless to say, I was loving it and loving him and we were outside until I heard Emma holler, "Cinderella's all done, Mom!"
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Random Monsters, Inc reference anyone?
"Lets go shopping right now. I need it! I need the people water slide. Come on, Mommy. Please get me it! Please!" Cry hysterically then repeat over and over. Toss in a few giant FAKE wails and repeat again!
That is what I get for allowing Emma to page through the Target flier we got in the mail today. Ugh. Lesson learned. Needless to say it is buried in the trash and I will be praying she has forgotten about it by morning.
This morning Emma and I had a girls morning out, hitting up BJs and Guintas - the produce market. It was pouring rain and on the drive Em gave me this awesome diatribe on "how we have to hang out and wait for the sun to come out because when the sun comes out after the rain a rainbow happens and the leprechaun hides his gold at the end of the rainbow." Who says kids don't pay attention in preschool?
As we were leaving BJs we drove by HSBC bank. Their logo looks kind of like a "bow" (to a 3 year old) and Em said, "Hey, Mom. Is that the bow store where we can buy bows just like Minnie's store Minnie's Bowtique?" (Thank you Mickey Mouse Clubhouse...)
After lunch, we hit up the library to exchange books / dvds. As we were walking through the adult section I was talking to Emma in full voice and she totally shooshed me! "Mama, you gotta be quiet in the library." Sorry, kiddo. Oops.
This afternoon we made our yummy easy COOL bake oven pudding treat and afterward I noticed she had spilled pudding on her DRESS (yes, of course, she was wearing a pretty dress). "Em, you spilled pudding on your dress." She replied all nonchalant, "That's okay, Mom, you can just wash it tomorrow." Yes, master.
The final Em-ism of the evening came at 8:15pm. I was at her preschool at a membership meeting and I got this text: "Em just walked out of her room and announced that we forgot to brush her teeth." She had been in bed for over 45 minutes and was struggling to find a legitimate way to get back up out of bed without getting in trouble. She did. She won. Love us that girl...
What about Ben, you ask? Ben was a giant bag of awesome goodness today. He and Daddy went wild wrestling and reading books and building giant train tracks all morning. He did not take a nap today again - 90 minutes of hollering from his crib - ugh! but I am not giving up just yet!! He is madly in love with this book called "Snuggle Puppy" by Sandra Boynton. If you have a kid you MUST own this book. (I just bought it used off Amazon for 1¢!) He requires we read it to him 15 times a day and giggles like a madman every time. I will read it 115x a day if he promises to power all of Monstropolis daily.
That is what I get for allowing Emma to page through the Target flier we got in the mail today. Ugh. Lesson learned. Needless to say it is buried in the trash and I will be praying she has forgotten about it by morning.
This morning Emma and I had a girls morning out, hitting up BJs and Guintas - the produce market. It was pouring rain and on the drive Em gave me this awesome diatribe on "how we have to hang out and wait for the sun to come out because when the sun comes out after the rain a rainbow happens and the leprechaun hides his gold at the end of the rainbow." Who says kids don't pay attention in preschool?
As we were leaving BJs we drove by HSBC bank. Their logo looks kind of like a "bow" (to a 3 year old) and Em said, "Hey, Mom. Is that the bow store where we can buy bows just like Minnie's store Minnie's Bowtique?" (Thank you Mickey Mouse Clubhouse...)
After lunch, we hit up the library to exchange books / dvds. As we were walking through the adult section I was talking to Emma in full voice and she totally shooshed me! "Mama, you gotta be quiet in the library." Sorry, kiddo. Oops.
This afternoon we made our yummy easy COOL bake oven pudding treat and afterward I noticed she had spilled pudding on her DRESS (yes, of course, she was wearing a pretty dress). "Em, you spilled pudding on your dress." She replied all nonchalant, "That's okay, Mom, you can just wash it tomorrow." Yes, master.
The final Em-ism of the evening came at 8:15pm. I was at her preschool at a membership meeting and I got this text: "Em just walked out of her room and announced that we forgot to brush her teeth." She had been in bed for over 45 minutes and was struggling to find a legitimate way to get back up out of bed without getting in trouble. She did. She won. Love us that girl...
What about Ben, you ask? Ben was a giant bag of awesome goodness today. He and Daddy went wild wrestling and reading books and building giant train tracks all morning. He did not take a nap today again - 90 minutes of hollering from his crib - ugh! but I am not giving up just yet!! He is madly in love with this book called "Snuggle Puppy" by Sandra Boynton. If you have a kid you MUST own this book. (I just bought it used off Amazon for 1¢!) He requires we read it to him 15 times a day and giggles like a madman every time. I will read it 115x a day if he promises to power all of Monstropolis daily.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Catch up time 2
I purposely scheduled our family pictures for the first session of the day, 10am, because generaly everyone is in a good mood at that time. Generally. Let's just say, Thursday night / Friday morning was a rough night. Both kids had lingering colds and couldn't get comfortable, their coughs waking them up and taking ages before settling back down. I finally caved and gave them both Children's Dimetap mixed with juice - and I gotta tell you, it helped. I know kids under 6 are not "supposed" to take it, but I grew up on it and look how fab I turned out... Anyhow, the lack of sleep made for some puffy eyes and dark circles - perfect for a family portrait.
Oh, yes, and Ben was an absolute monster. We arrived about 30 minutes early so we went to Petsmart next door to waste time. Both kids had a blast running around the store checking out the animals. Ben was particularly enamored with the gold fish in all the tanks and Emma had a blast watching the mice and the birds. When it was time to go, neither child put up a fight and I thought, "Sweet, this is going to be great!" We went into the photo studio and headed right to the bathrooms so the kids could wash their petsmart hands and use the facilities. I don't know why as I swear I have never dropped him, but Ben is TERRIFIED of public changing tables. He started screaming and didn't stop for our entire photo shoot. We could do absolutely nothing to calm him down. You would have thought he was one of those African tribesman who don't want you to take their picture as the believe the camera is stealing your soul. This kid kicked and screamed, and wiggled and thrashed, and bucked and punched - nothing, not goldfish crackers nor juice would calm him down.
Emma on the other hand was an absolute peach, smiling when she was supposed to and showing concern for her upset brother, "Mama, what's wrong with Benny? Why's he crying?" ...if only I knew...
These were the best of the family shots. No, really, the BEST ones. If only I could have saved all the ones we deleted you would get a real sense of how the shoot went!
Needless to say, the morning exhausted us and we simply stayed home the rest of the day and watched movies snuggled on the sofa...
On the drive home we were stopped at a red light and Emma said, "That's the store that sells fire." Huh? we inquired? "That store right there, that's the fire store." We were stopped out in front of a Firestone Tires - there were no "flames" or "fires" in their logo or their window, simply the word "Firestone" in red letters over the storefront. I asked her how she knew it was a fire store and she said it is right there in the red letters. Apparently my 3 3/4 year old can read! Daddy and I were completely caught off guard and so excited for her! I guess it is now time to start working with the words in the books. She already identifies the letters and the sounds they make (phonics), time to move on!
My first 5k in 21 years went better than I expected on Saturday morning. I ran it in 35 minutes and 13 seconds not stopping to walk. I came in first for my age (I was the only 39 year old - haha) and was quite proud of my performance (although an almost 6 months pregnant Mama beat me!!). It was lots of fun and I am looking forward to my next one in 4 weeks. Must keep training!
After the race we all went to Henry's house for smoothies. My friend brought her Vitamix blender and went crazy making yummy concoctions. It is now safe to say that I REQUIRE a Vitamix. If only they weren't 300 bucks!
Saturday afternoon the kids were once again a whiney mess. I actually even had the thought, "I wonder if God makes my kids miserable on purpose Saturday afternoon so it is easier for me to go to work on Sunday and Monday!" Sheesh.
My favorite text from Daddy while I was away this weekend was: "Em just asked me why I always fill Benny's milk 1st! She said I should always do hers 1st, THEEEEN benny." ha!
I then got a picture text of Emma on Monday wearing a lovely church dress. She is on a girlie girl kick and needs to wear a dress every day now. She screams, "I WANNA WEAR A PRETTY DRESS!!"
My favorite Emma-ism of the day: Out of the blue as we were driving in the car she announced, "I want a kitty cat for my birthday. Can you get me one?" I questioned whether she wanted a real kitty cat or a toy kitty cat and she looked at me with disgust, "Mama, a toy kitty cat!" Duh, Mommy, duh.
Oh, yes, and Ben was an absolute monster. We arrived about 30 minutes early so we went to Petsmart next door to waste time. Both kids had a blast running around the store checking out the animals. Ben was particularly enamored with the gold fish in all the tanks and Emma had a blast watching the mice and the birds. When it was time to go, neither child put up a fight and I thought, "Sweet, this is going to be great!" We went into the photo studio and headed right to the bathrooms so the kids could wash their petsmart hands and use the facilities. I don't know why as I swear I have never dropped him, but Ben is TERRIFIED of public changing tables. He started screaming and didn't stop for our entire photo shoot. We could do absolutely nothing to calm him down. You would have thought he was one of those African tribesman who don't want you to take their picture as the believe the camera is stealing your soul. This kid kicked and screamed, and wiggled and thrashed, and bucked and punched - nothing, not goldfish crackers nor juice would calm him down.
Emma on the other hand was an absolute peach, smiling when she was supposed to and showing concern for her upset brother, "Mama, what's wrong with Benny? Why's he crying?" ...if only I knew...
These were the best of the family shots. No, really, the BEST ones. If only I could have saved all the ones we deleted you would get a real sense of how the shoot went!
Needless to say, the morning exhausted us and we simply stayed home the rest of the day and watched movies snuggled on the sofa...
On the drive home we were stopped at a red light and Emma said, "That's the store that sells fire." Huh? we inquired? "That store right there, that's the fire store." We were stopped out in front of a Firestone Tires - there were no "flames" or "fires" in their logo or their window, simply the word "Firestone" in red letters over the storefront. I asked her how she knew it was a fire store and she said it is right there in the red letters. Apparently my 3 3/4 year old can read! Daddy and I were completely caught off guard and so excited for her! I guess it is now time to start working with the words in the books. She already identifies the letters and the sounds they make (phonics), time to move on!
My first 5k in 21 years went better than I expected on Saturday morning. I ran it in 35 minutes and 13 seconds not stopping to walk. I came in first for my age (I was the only 39 year old - haha) and was quite proud of my performance (although an almost 6 months pregnant Mama beat me!!). It was lots of fun and I am looking forward to my next one in 4 weeks. Must keep training!
After the race we all went to Henry's house for smoothies. My friend brought her Vitamix blender and went crazy making yummy concoctions. It is now safe to say that I REQUIRE a Vitamix. If only they weren't 300 bucks!
Saturday afternoon the kids were once again a whiney mess. I actually even had the thought, "I wonder if God makes my kids miserable on purpose Saturday afternoon so it is easier for me to go to work on Sunday and Monday!" Sheesh.
My favorite text from Daddy while I was away this weekend was: "Em just asked me why I always fill Benny's milk 1st! She said I should always do hers 1st, THEEEEN benny." ha!
I then got a picture text of Emma on Monday wearing a lovely church dress. She is on a girlie girl kick and needs to wear a dress every day now. She screams, "I WANNA WEAR A PRETTY DRESS!!"
My favorite Emma-ism of the day: Out of the blue as we were driving in the car she announced, "I want a kitty cat for my birthday. Can you get me one?" I questioned whether she wanted a real kitty cat or a toy kitty cat and she looked at me with disgust, "Mama, a toy kitty cat!" Duh, Mommy, duh.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Moonshine
Why can't my children's colons process sweet potatoes yet? Every time I sneak a homemade puree into meatballs or a sauce or meat loaf, both kids have puree pooh the next day... Sweet potatoes are a superfood! Did they not get the memo?
Occasionally after Emma has used the toilet I have to ask her is she wiped good. Yesterday was one of those days and she replied with all sincerity, "Yes, Mama, I did, see?" and she pulled her pants down and mooned me.
I had a lovely morning with 90 whole minutes of ME time! How did I achieve this little miracle? Well, the mommy of Emma's preschool buddy, Georgie, has a little guy a few months younger than Ben. Last week I watched Christian while she was helping out in the school and today she watched Ben so I could have some ME time. It was AWESOME! She enjoyed it, too, and we have decided to make this an every Thursday occurrence, alternating weekly. Hey, it only took us 3/4s of the school year to figure it out! It is great for both the little guys to experience a playdate without Mommy present or older siblings there to hog the toys - oh, and also to learn to share. Fingers crossed we can keep this up!
This morning I was searching for the remote control to the dvd player and after too much time wasted I found it on the back of the couch hidden away by the cushions. The only guilty party to do such a thing is Daddy and I said, "Naughty Daddy! He didn't put the remote control away." Emma took great offense to me calling Daddy naughty and said with vigor, "No, Mommy, Daddy's REALLY NICE."
Family portraits tomorrow... wish us luck!
Occasionally after Emma has used the toilet I have to ask her is she wiped good. Yesterday was one of those days and she replied with all sincerity, "Yes, Mama, I did, see?" and she pulled her pants down and mooned me.
I had a lovely morning with 90 whole minutes of ME time! How did I achieve this little miracle? Well, the mommy of Emma's preschool buddy, Georgie, has a little guy a few months younger than Ben. Last week I watched Christian while she was helping out in the school and today she watched Ben so I could have some ME time. It was AWESOME! She enjoyed it, too, and we have decided to make this an every Thursday occurrence, alternating weekly. Hey, it only took us 3/4s of the school year to figure it out! It is great for both the little guys to experience a playdate without Mommy present or older siblings there to hog the toys - oh, and also to learn to share. Fingers crossed we can keep this up!
This morning I was searching for the remote control to the dvd player and after too much time wasted I found it on the back of the couch hidden away by the cushions. The only guilty party to do such a thing is Daddy and I said, "Naughty Daddy! He didn't put the remote control away." Emma took great offense to me calling Daddy naughty and said with vigor, "No, Mommy, Daddy's REALLY NICE."
Family portraits tomorrow... wish us luck!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
busy beavers
Today was one of those go! go! go! days. (I feel like this is my first chance to truly relax all day.) We started out the morning with the fastest ever shopping trip inside my favorite produce market. Me and both kids were in and out within 5 minutes purchasing enough veggies to stuff 2 bags and for the mere price of $12.83. I know, I know my speed and thriftiness impress! Actually, the reason I went so fast is because I made the mistake of telling the kids we were going to the park and they were freaking out because THIS WAS NOT THE PARK. But, kiddos, your Mama is on a baked veggie kick and NEEDS veggies to bake, yo.
After leaving Guintas, we headed to Heritage park which will from now on be labeled WINDY PARK. Both times that I have been there it has been a windy nightmare. Thank goodness I had packed the kid's winter hats and mittens - Mommy's, not so much. They were happy as clams and my poor ears were a-whistling.
After about 45 minutes I dragged them kicking and screaming back to the van with promises of watching a movie when we got home. Sometimes a mom has to do what a mom has to dooooo.
After lunch, I tossed Benny in for a nap and Emma and I hit up the library. As we walked through the main section Emma noticed a pair of older gentleman playing chess and said quite loudly, "Hey, those men are playing CHEST." (Yes, chest - as in treasure chest.) That got a few giggles from fellow book borrowers...
We ran to the "other" supermarket after the library and bought "cake mix" (instant pudding) for her to make in her Princess Cool Bake Oven (as opposed to Easy Bake Oven). This oven was the dumbest invention alive (cool bake, really? Try disgusting gelatinous nastiness maker) until I read a review online that said it was perfect for making instant "pudding cakes." ME-OH-MY talk about finding the positive in a negative situation! Simply mix 3 tablespoons of milk with 1 tablespoon of instant pudding mix, toss it in the oven for 10 minutes and "WALA" - chocolate goodness. Whoever wrote that review on Amazon is our cool bake oven angel!
This afternoon I caught Ben, yet again, coloring on our lovely walls. WHERE IS HE FINDING THESE CRAYONS? I swear I pick them up after every use! The kid must have a secret stash somewhere...
My favorite Emmaism of the day: She LOVES to watch (and often participate) in the making of dinner. Tonight as I was mixing up a batch of homemade sweet potato meatballs she inquired, "Are you gonna mix the bra meat in the bowl?" What? I asked? "Are you gonna put the bra meat in the bowl?" I laughed out loud when I realized she meant raw meat. Cute Cute Cute, until she sticks her hands in the bra meat and then wipes them on her pants. Oh, salmonella!
After leaving Guintas, we headed to Heritage park which will from now on be labeled WINDY PARK. Both times that I have been there it has been a windy nightmare. Thank goodness I had packed the kid's winter hats and mittens - Mommy's, not so much. They were happy as clams and my poor ears were a-whistling.
After about 45 minutes I dragged them kicking and screaming back to the van with promises of watching a movie when we got home. Sometimes a mom has to do what a mom has to dooooo.
After lunch, I tossed Benny in for a nap and Emma and I hit up the library. As we walked through the main section Emma noticed a pair of older gentleman playing chess and said quite loudly, "Hey, those men are playing CHEST." (Yes, chest - as in treasure chest.) That got a few giggles from fellow book borrowers...
We ran to the "other" supermarket after the library and bought "cake mix" (instant pudding) for her to make in her Princess Cool Bake Oven (as opposed to Easy Bake Oven). This oven was the dumbest invention alive (cool bake, really? Try disgusting gelatinous nastiness maker) until I read a review online that said it was perfect for making instant "pudding cakes." ME-OH-MY talk about finding the positive in a negative situation! Simply mix 3 tablespoons of milk with 1 tablespoon of instant pudding mix, toss it in the oven for 10 minutes and "WALA" - chocolate goodness. Whoever wrote that review on Amazon is our cool bake oven angel!
This afternoon I caught Ben, yet again, coloring on our lovely walls. WHERE IS HE FINDING THESE CRAYONS? I swear I pick them up after every use! The kid must have a secret stash somewhere...
My favorite Emmaism of the day: She LOVES to watch (and often participate) in the making of dinner. Tonight as I was mixing up a batch of homemade sweet potato meatballs she inquired, "Are you gonna mix the bra meat in the bowl?" What? I asked? "Are you gonna put the bra meat in the bowl?" I laughed out loud when I realized she meant raw meat. Cute Cute Cute, until she sticks her hands in the bra meat and then wipes them on her pants. Oh, salmonella!
(Our little angel, Ben. Emma enjoying dinner!)
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Happy Birthday, Daddy!
Because our darling daughter is wicked funny and I have no time to immediately blog what she has said then I quickly forget, I started a new twitter account to keep track of all the conversation goodness. It will also help to remind me to write about it here. Follow me if you desire: batterbabybunch
Sooooo, the potential bad news is my FREE pre-K may disappear. Boohoohoohoo! All year we have been looking forward to 5 half days a week (FREE) but today when I went to register her I found out that because of potential massive budget cuts, the pre-K program may go bye bye. NOOOOOOO! We will know more next month, but in the meantime it has been added to our "prayer list".
While I was working this weekend I got the following texts from Daddy plus a few of my tweets today:
1) Emma regarding skinny jeans: "Daddy, these jeans make me walk funny." (Emma put on a new pair of jeans that she had gotten for Christmas and they didn't quite fit her frame - besides, she is used to sweat pants and leggings...)
2) Remind to tell you how Benny peed all over the floor of the playhouse. (I still haven't gotten the scoop on this...)
3) Emma just asked where her poops go after flushing "Do they go to the place where they sell poops?"
4)Your boy is going bonkers! Running in circles, back and forth down the hallway. Em is yelling "This way! That way!" and he is completely ignoring her.
5) Sweety, u want some of my broccoli? Reply without hesitation, 'I have french fries.' (tonight at Daddy's birthday dinner at the Port Jeff Lobster House, Daddy asked Emma this...)
6) "Why you talk like that Mama?" (I had made up a silly poem and was reciting it in a British accent...)
Sooooo, the potential bad news is my FREE pre-K may disappear. Boohoohoohoo! All year we have been looking forward to 5 half days a week (FREE) but today when I went to register her I found out that because of potential massive budget cuts, the pre-K program may go bye bye. NOOOOOOO! We will know more next month, but in the meantime it has been added to our "prayer list".
While I was working this weekend I got the following texts from Daddy plus a few of my tweets today:
1) Emma regarding skinny jeans: "Daddy, these jeans make me walk funny." (Emma put on a new pair of jeans that she had gotten for Christmas and they didn't quite fit her frame - besides, she is used to sweat pants and leggings...)
2) Remind to tell you how Benny peed all over the floor of the playhouse. (I still haven't gotten the scoop on this...)
3) Emma just asked where her poops go after flushing "Do they go to the place where they sell poops?"
4)Your boy is going bonkers! Running in circles, back and forth down the hallway. Em is yelling "This way! That way!" and he is completely ignoring her.
5) Sweety, u want some of my broccoli? Reply without hesitation, 'I have french fries.' (tonight at Daddy's birthday dinner at the Port Jeff Lobster House, Daddy asked Emma this...)
6) "Why you talk like that Mama?" (I had made up a silly poem and was reciting it in a British accent...)
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Tantrum with a Capital T
Yesterday afternoon after I put Ben in for his nap (and, BTW, he did NOT nap, just rolled around for 90 minutes jibber jabbering - UGH!), Emma wanted something, I can't even remember what, and I told her NO. She did not like that much and had a full on drop on the floor rolling around screaming and crying and kicking and did I mention the screaming tantrum. It was beyond ridiculous and I simply sat on the couch staring at her in disbelief (it has been a VERY long time since this happened). When she settled down a bit, in a moment of pure parenting genius (if you ask me), I let her have it with my favorite kind of "yelling" - the angry wicked whisper / hiss, "How old are you?" "Three," she whined. And because she is so birthday obsessed these days, "How old are you going to be on your next birthday?" "Four..." she answered wondering where this line of whisper / hiss questioning was going. "No, you are not going to be four. I am not going to let you. You are going to be two because you are rolling around screaming and crying like a two year old." This absolutely killed her, "Noooooo! I don't wanna be two. I wanna be four!!!" "Then stop acting like you are two. Get up off the floor and act like you are four." She thought about it for a few seconds, stopped all the foolishness, stood up and sweetly asked, "Can I be four now?"
About an hour later she was sitting all happy go lucky on her little wooden chair. She said, "Look Mommy!" She had pulled her arms and legs up and into her shirt and she looked like a cute little Weeble Wobble. Problem was, she acted like a Weeble Wobble too and lost her balance rolling off the chair and onto her FACE (thank goodness for carpet!) as she couldn't get her arms or feet out of the shirt to break her fall. I scooped her up and tried to make light of the situation calling her Humpty Dumpty - which, now that I think of it, I don't think she knows that tale yet - praying she hadn't broken her nose. It was very red and starting to swell, but no blood and didn't look crooked. Phew!
About an hour later she was sitting all happy go lucky on her little wooden chair. She said, "Look Mommy!" She had pulled her arms and legs up and into her shirt and she looked like a cute little Weeble Wobble. Problem was, she acted like a Weeble Wobble too and lost her balance rolling off the chair and onto her FACE (thank goodness for carpet!) as she couldn't get her arms or feet out of the shirt to break her fall. I scooped her up and tried to make light of the situation calling her Humpty Dumpty - which, now that I think of it, I don't think she knows that tale yet - praying she hadn't broken her nose. It was very red and starting to swell, but no blood and didn't look crooked. Phew!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Giggle me mine
Last night Emma was giving me some bedtime trouble, "But I'm not sleepy! I don't wanna go to bed! There are monsters in my room. My room is scarrrrrrry." I finally said this, "Em, what day is tomorrow?" She sang the days of the week song out loud and replied, "Thursday." "That's right, it's Thursday and on Thursday you get to go to school. But if you don't go night night, then you can't go to school. And if you don't go to school Mrs. C and Mrs. Muhleman and all of your friends will miss you." She thought about that for a while and finally said, "Okaaaaay," rolled over and I didn't hear another peep from her. Go figure.
While she was at school, Benny and I made the speediest trip ever to the mall and back. I purchased, for the first time since 2001, a new pair of running shoes - yes, you read that right, running shoes. I am getting serious about this 5k thing, people! Of course, being the thrifty gal I am, I purchased New Balance's "last year's model" for half price from Sears ($39.99!)! I was even able to score a Men's size 7 wide which should ease the bunion ache when my jaunts are complete. Hopefully the weather will be nice tomorrow morning (and by nice - higher temp than this morning's 19˚) so I can give them a try. The best part about the whole shopping experience with Benny was the laughter. The kid couldn't get enough of me running up and down the aisles of the shoes department and doing lunges and squats until I found the pair that fit best. He was cackling like crazy - as if I was Mike Wazowski doing stand up in his bedroom - making the other shoppers giggle along with him. And you've all heard Benny's laugh - pure heaven!
I almost forgot to report this awesome bit of news, Ben LIKES to brush his teeth now. Gone are the days of putting him in a head lock and jamming the brush into his mouth for a few quick swipes. He likes it so much that he wants/needs to carry his toothbrush with him everywhere. No more costly trains! A 59¢ toddler toothbrush now rules the toy bin! Woot! Today I found him cleaning my bookshelf with it, Daddy's inversion table, Apollo's ears... It was seen dangerously close to the toilet seat a few times and even went to bed with him tonight. I tried to pry it out of his hands but he CRIED hysterically. Needless to say I must now go out and buy an exact replica so he has one for his actual sanitary teeth cleaning and one for everything else.
While she was at school, Benny and I made the speediest trip ever to the mall and back. I purchased, for the first time since 2001, a new pair of running shoes - yes, you read that right, running shoes. I am getting serious about this 5k thing, people! Of course, being the thrifty gal I am, I purchased New Balance's "last year's model" for half price from Sears ($39.99!)! I was even able to score a Men's size 7 wide which should ease the bunion ache when my jaunts are complete. Hopefully the weather will be nice tomorrow morning (and by nice - higher temp than this morning's 19˚) so I can give them a try. The best part about the whole shopping experience with Benny was the laughter. The kid couldn't get enough of me running up and down the aisles of the shoes department and doing lunges and squats until I found the pair that fit best. He was cackling like crazy - as if I was Mike Wazowski doing stand up in his bedroom - making the other shoppers giggle along with him. And you've all heard Benny's laugh - pure heaven!
I almost forgot to report this awesome bit of news, Ben LIKES to brush his teeth now. Gone are the days of putting him in a head lock and jamming the brush into his mouth for a few quick swipes. He likes it so much that he wants/needs to carry his toothbrush with him everywhere. No more costly trains! A 59¢ toddler toothbrush now rules the toy bin! Woot! Today I found him cleaning my bookshelf with it, Daddy's inversion table, Apollo's ears... It was seen dangerously close to the toilet seat a few times and even went to bed with him tonight. I tried to pry it out of his hands but he CRIED hysterically. Needless to say I must now go out and buy an exact replica so he has one for his actual sanitary teeth cleaning and one for everything else.
Nudist or Naturist?
I wasn't going to write about this here because some of my readers may be uncomfortable with the 'nudist colony' we are operating (i.e. a 2 and 3 year old streaking around the house before and after their baths... "Can't catch me I'm the Gingerbread man!") but then I remembered that this blog is ultimately for me!
This morning as I was getting out of the shower Benny was hollering something fierce from his crib in that, "Yo! Mama! I have poopy diaper and I am hungry - can you hurry it up?" kind of way. So I wrapped a towel around myself, scooped him up, changed his stinky diaper, got him a sippy cup filled with milk and plopped him on the couch next to his potato sister to watch Mickey the Mouse.
I then went into the bathroom to get dried off properly. 6 seconds later, Ben was at my side giving me the "I'm hungry" whine so I hung up my towel and naked, I went into the kitchen and popped a waffle in the toaster. As I was standing there waiting for the waffle to toast, Ben wandered in dragging what I assumed was his blanket and stood next to me pushing on my leg fussing his usual garble. Turns out he was trying to get my attention and give me my bathrobe to put on! I grabbed it from him, thanked him, put it on, and he smiled from ear to ear.
Possibly the main one offended with my nudist ways is my 2 year old son!
This morning as I was getting out of the shower Benny was hollering something fierce from his crib in that, "Yo! Mama! I have poopy diaper and I am hungry - can you hurry it up?" kind of way. So I wrapped a towel around myself, scooped him up, changed his stinky diaper, got him a sippy cup filled with milk and plopped him on the couch next to his potato sister to watch Mickey the Mouse.
I then went into the bathroom to get dried off properly. 6 seconds later, Ben was at my side giving me the "I'm hungry" whine so I hung up my towel and naked, I went into the kitchen and popped a waffle in the toaster. As I was standing there waiting for the waffle to toast, Ben wandered in dragging what I assumed was his blanket and stood next to me pushing on my leg fussing his usual garble. Turns out he was trying to get my attention and give me my bathrobe to put on! I grabbed it from him, thanked him, put it on, and he smiled from ear to ear.
Possibly the main one offended with my nudist ways is my 2 year old son!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Dirty work
It is official. The terrible twos have arrived. Benny has moved into the territory and is pushing my buttons as he exerts his independence. While he is blossoming in so many positive ways, this purposeful torture of his Mama is getting on my old lady nerves.
He is especially naughty when we play outside. He knows very well not to run out into the street, but is on a constant vigil to see if I am looking and purposely running out and watching back over his shoulder laughing his head off as I chase him. He did it at the park this morning, too - I hate that I cannot make him understand the danger in it, but I love that he gets so much joy pissing me off!
While Em was at school yesterday, we watched our friend's 18 month old. He was a real sweetie and it was fun watching the two boys run around. Ben would only get cranky when Christian played with Freddie or James (his favorite trains), so of course, Christian picked up on that and made a constant attempt to play with them. Although Benny is much bigger than this kid, he would simply burst into tears, drag me over to Christian and wait for me to take the train back. I kept trying to emphasize the importance of sharing with our friends, but more importantly I was trying to show Benny how to stand up for himself and if Christian took the train out of his hands, then take it back!
That concept did not make any sense to him at all, little Mama's boy, he wanted me to do all the dirty work!
He is especially naughty when we play outside. He knows very well not to run out into the street, but is on a constant vigil to see if I am looking and purposely running out and watching back over his shoulder laughing his head off as I chase him. He did it at the park this morning, too - I hate that I cannot make him understand the danger in it, but I love that he gets so much joy pissing me off!
While Em was at school yesterday, we watched our friend's 18 month old. He was a real sweetie and it was fun watching the two boys run around. Ben would only get cranky when Christian played with Freddie or James (his favorite trains), so of course, Christian picked up on that and made a constant attempt to play with them. Although Benny is much bigger than this kid, he would simply burst into tears, drag me over to Christian and wait for me to take the train back. I kept trying to emphasize the importance of sharing with our friends, but more importantly I was trying to show Benny how to stand up for himself and if Christian took the train out of his hands, then take it back!
That concept did not make any sense to him at all, little Mama's boy, he wanted me to do all the dirty work!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Picnic time
We all (dogs included) piled into the minivan for a lovely Sunday drive through the North Fork. The idea was to have a picnic somewhere - we weren't quite sure, we figured we would simply let the sunshine guide us, which it did, to the beach of Jamesport. We hopped out and into the lovely gazebo and unpacked the bag.
Just as we were about to have our first bite the wind kicked up and froze us all so back into the van for our yummy picnic!
Yesterday we all went to the 4th birthday party of one of Em's school pals, Georgie. It started out at Fun 4 All - the indoor germ yard, I mean play yard - then ended up at Georgie's house for pizza and cake. We had a blast but when we got home at 2:30, I tossed Ben in for a nap, turned on PBS for Emma and assumed the position on the couch for a solid hour of napping. Seriously, I purposely put off having kids at a young age because a) I hadn't found that special someone to share in the experience and b) I wanted to travel around the world before settling down. I am super glad I waited because I got to see and do so much in my 20s and 30s, but I gotta tell you - the whole pushin' 40 with two young 'ens in the house is wiping me out. That and this whole silly training for the 5k thing. I thought exercise was supposed to give you more energy through out the day!! But the days that I get out and run, I am most sleepy in the afternoon...
I decided to walk the entire 5k course on Sunday morning and it took me exactly 51 minutes. It is a picturesque route through the village and the harbor / marina - easy and challenging at the same time. I have yet to run the entire thing, just going a bit farther every day I can get out to train. So basically my running goal is to beat 51 minutes! 11 more days to go!
Just as we were about to have our first bite the wind kicked up and froze us all so back into the van for our yummy picnic!
Yesterday we all went to the 4th birthday party of one of Em's school pals, Georgie. It started out at Fun 4 All - the indoor germ yard, I mean play yard - then ended up at Georgie's house for pizza and cake. We had a blast but when we got home at 2:30, I tossed Ben in for a nap, turned on PBS for Emma and assumed the position on the couch for a solid hour of napping. Seriously, I purposely put off having kids at a young age because a) I hadn't found that special someone to share in the experience and b) I wanted to travel around the world before settling down. I am super glad I waited because I got to see and do so much in my 20s and 30s, but I gotta tell you - the whole pushin' 40 with two young 'ens in the house is wiping me out. That and this whole silly training for the 5k thing. I thought exercise was supposed to give you more energy through out the day!! But the days that I get out and run, I am most sleepy in the afternoon...
I decided to walk the entire 5k course on Sunday morning and it took me exactly 51 minutes. It is a picturesque route through the village and the harbor / marina - easy and challenging at the same time. I have yet to run the entire thing, just going a bit farther every day I can get out to train. So basically my running goal is to beat 51 minutes! 11 more days to go!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)