It's amazing how quickly our little girl has perfected the art of crying, all-around drama and simply getting what she wants. On days when she vehemently displays her attitude and defies us at every whim, are also the days we take away her beloved Backyardigans or other sweet treats. She is usually very quick to apologize to ensure she can get at least get some television time, but is also learning that for every action she does or does not do as we ask, there are consequences.
Today started off well enough, with both kids pretty happy when they awoke. The drop off at daycare was a bit clingy, but not particularly tearful. After dinner, and coincidentally after her daddy left to participate in futbol, she decided that she certainly wanted some of my diet soda. She had previously asked her daddy if she could have some, and he said that she could so long as she finished up her dinner. Of course, I felt that she had already consumed quite a bit of her juice and didn't need any coke to add to her already full belly. In her mind - and I do have to give her credit - she finished her dinner and so she assumed that she was going to get her drink. When that didn't go her way, she decided to defy other things that she knew she had to do. "I don't want to take a bath," she screamed.
Bathtime was painless since I promised her if she would cooperate, we could watch one show and then she had to read and get ready for bed. She seemed amicable enough, until the show ended...
When did my little girl decide she was going to be so rebellious and exert her authority, so to speak? At times, I do take pride that she has quite the gumption to be as defiant as her lungs would allow her to be - before we put the lid on it. But at others, I am quite amazed at her comprehension of the world around her, and her ability to piece things together to fit her needs.
The child likes to get her own clothes and determine even what color hair-band will go on her head. It certainly is amazing to see her develop into this little girl with so many questions, often times the exact ones over and over again in the span of 15 minutes. I often wonder if we don't do enough to stimulate her mind - as she certainly confuses ours on a daily basis.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
No Two Days Are Alike
Each day begins around six a.m., at least with the alarm chiming in telling me to get outta bed. After a few minutes of snoozing, I begrudgingly roll over and think about all the things I will do for the day. The first order of business is usually a shower, and depending on how often I opted to snooze will determine how leisurely that morning shower will be. By the time I'm done getting ready, it's time to wake up the two little creatures that keep my husband up at all hours of the night. Sometimes they beat me to the punch, and are awake or are bothering Josh befeore I put the final spritzes of hairspray on the funky morning do.
It's so funny to get Roo out of bed when she's sound asleep. Who would want to mess with a sleeping child? A bit of tickling of the ribs and her half-laughs allow her to just roll back to a sound sleep as if she were a teenage girl craving for just a few more minutes to finish up her enticingly good dream. When you ask her if she wants to wake up, she honestly whines the word, "no." But if you tell her that her brother needs prodding, she is all ears.
The days when she is up and at 'em, she readily stands in her crib and yells, "I'm awake!" You just can't help but love the honest nature of your little ones, even when it's only five in the morning.
If the hustle and bustle is too much for me in the a.m., I am able to convince the hubby to take care of Y. Sometimes that means stirring him from his deep sleep too...
When the two kids are packed up in the mommy-mobile, we all say our good-byes with hugs and kisses and we make the 17-minute trek into town to their school. After I drop them off, either with tears or without whines, I head to the office to begin phase two of the day. Some days phase two whirls around like a typhoon, with back-to-back meetings or conference calls, and sprinkled with many things to write, edit or plan. Never have I had a day exactly the same as another - and for that I'm grateful. But as the clock ticks down to quittin' time, I'm eager to pick up the tearful kiddies I dropped off in the morning to see what a great day they have had. There is really nothing better than seeing your beaming kids smile at you after a long day at the office, even if for a fleeting moment, the pang of guilt fills your heart.
Our journey home is almost always riddled with five o'clock traffic, with wall-to-wall vehicles just as anxious as we are to get where they need to get. Some of the funniest moments are shared within that car-ride. Roo often finds a way to make her brother laugh, especially if he's whining a bit from being over-tired or just plain bored. I catch him from time to time looking up at the DVD screen to see what's going on. I feel so bad that he has to crook and strain his neck to view what his sister so plainly sees and enjoys.
After we settle into the house and I've changed out of work wear to home wear, I start phase three of the day. This entails fighting with my mind to either turn on the television to allow them some distraction so I can get dinner started, or just sit with them and play. If dinner is already made, and it's a heat-up type of meal, then play is certainly in order. Nights when we didn't plan ahead, the television becomes my 10-minute babysitter. Inevitably, any trek I make into the kitchen is closely followed by a crawling one-tooth wonder and his sister singing and dancing shortly thereafter. They both always go to the same spot in the kitchen - where there's a little "shorty stool" that my hubby created for me so I could reach up to the cabinets. Something about that spot that they both just love to sit and bang whatever toys they may have in hand - or to get close enough to the spices that are just a door away.
After dinner and by the time we are drying off the kids from their baths, I'm thinking, there's not much left in me for any more phases. But I would think lots of parents know that after the kids are in bed, there's the entirely other "home" phase that has to begin. For us, that's dishes, bottles and planning for the next day. If I'm lucky, I will squeeze in a load or two of laundry, and sometimes a light workout before I hit the bed. The nights seem to get shorter and shorter for all of these activities, but somehow, we manage to fit it all in. I'm certainly thankful and blessed for each passing day that I get to see my children grow and learn. Every day is filled with happiness, mixed with crazy moments and stressed out times. For each minute that isn't the same as the next is another cherished moment in life.
It's so funny to get Roo out of bed when she's sound asleep. Who would want to mess with a sleeping child? A bit of tickling of the ribs and her half-laughs allow her to just roll back to a sound sleep as if she were a teenage girl craving for just a few more minutes to finish up her enticingly good dream. When you ask her if she wants to wake up, she honestly whines the word, "no." But if you tell her that her brother needs prodding, she is all ears.
The days when she is up and at 'em, she readily stands in her crib and yells, "I'm awake!" You just can't help but love the honest nature of your little ones, even when it's only five in the morning.
If the hustle and bustle is too much for me in the a.m., I am able to convince the hubby to take care of Y. Sometimes that means stirring him from his deep sleep too...
When the two kids are packed up in the mommy-mobile, we all say our good-byes with hugs and kisses and we make the 17-minute trek into town to their school. After I drop them off, either with tears or without whines, I head to the office to begin phase two of the day. Some days phase two whirls around like a typhoon, with back-to-back meetings or conference calls, and sprinkled with many things to write, edit or plan. Never have I had a day exactly the same as another - and for that I'm grateful. But as the clock ticks down to quittin' time, I'm eager to pick up the tearful kiddies I dropped off in the morning to see what a great day they have had. There is really nothing better than seeing your beaming kids smile at you after a long day at the office, even if for a fleeting moment, the pang of guilt fills your heart.
Our journey home is almost always riddled with five o'clock traffic, with wall-to-wall vehicles just as anxious as we are to get where they need to get. Some of the funniest moments are shared within that car-ride. Roo often finds a way to make her brother laugh, especially if he's whining a bit from being over-tired or just plain bored. I catch him from time to time looking up at the DVD screen to see what's going on. I feel so bad that he has to crook and strain his neck to view what his sister so plainly sees and enjoys.
After we settle into the house and I've changed out of work wear to home wear, I start phase three of the day. This entails fighting with my mind to either turn on the television to allow them some distraction so I can get dinner started, or just sit with them and play. If dinner is already made, and it's a heat-up type of meal, then play is certainly in order. Nights when we didn't plan ahead, the television becomes my 10-minute babysitter. Inevitably, any trek I make into the kitchen is closely followed by a crawling one-tooth wonder and his sister singing and dancing shortly thereafter. They both always go to the same spot in the kitchen - where there's a little "shorty stool" that my hubby created for me so I could reach up to the cabinets. Something about that spot that they both just love to sit and bang whatever toys they may have in hand - or to get close enough to the spices that are just a door away.
After dinner and by the time we are drying off the kids from their baths, I'm thinking, there's not much left in me for any more phases. But I would think lots of parents know that after the kids are in bed, there's the entirely other "home" phase that has to begin. For us, that's dishes, bottles and planning for the next day. If I'm lucky, I will squeeze in a load or two of laundry, and sometimes a light workout before I hit the bed. The nights seem to get shorter and shorter for all of these activities, but somehow, we manage to fit it all in. I'm certainly thankful and blessed for each passing day that I get to see my children grow and learn. Every day is filled with happiness, mixed with crazy moments and stressed out times. For each minute that isn't the same as the next is another cherished moment in life.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Path of Too Much
Do you ever find yourself working on a small project or household activity, and then get easily distracted with other things around your said project? For example, I was going through the mail tonight and noticed that the refrigerator, stove, dishwasher all had lovely little prints all over it. Courtesty of the little fingers that come smudgingly into the kitchen every day.
I thought to myself, after I finish going through the week's worth of mail, I'll just polish the appliances. Then in the middle of wiping the appliances, I notice that the counters had dust on them. So I then take out the wipes and start wiping away. In the midst of the wiping, I notice that there are all sorts of things scattered on the countertops and start putting stuff away. While stuffing the cabinets and drawers with the things that are meant to go in there, I notice that there's dirt and hair on the kitchen floor, so I grab the broom and start sweeping. I sweep everywhere. While sweeping, I see that there's dust on the bookcase and the end tables. More dusting. As I reach down to pick up a toy that was left on the floor, I see the baseboard needed some dusting too. The list goes on and on. This is just the path to too much. I head down one thing, and end up getting distracted and irritated by something else that needs my attention. I fear that a lot of women are like me, or pray that they are not. I know this scatter-mind-cleaning drives my husband batty, as he doesn't understand the need to put things away in a timely fashion after they are used, and could really care less if we have dustballs in places that shouldn't have them.
I realize that after I sit down from doing all of these necessary chores, I just can't seem to make it stop. I make these paths for myself, without even realizing it, until by the end of the night, I'm pretty worn out from doing it all. My mind just doesn't stop until I'm really sleeping. Even then, I dream up things that are bound to get done sooner or later. They say you should do everything in moderation, but the only moderate thing I do is plan for the next project to tackle.
I thought to myself, after I finish going through the week's worth of mail, I'll just polish the appliances. Then in the middle of wiping the appliances, I notice that the counters had dust on them. So I then take out the wipes and start wiping away. In the midst of the wiping, I notice that there are all sorts of things scattered on the countertops and start putting stuff away. While stuffing the cabinets and drawers with the things that are meant to go in there, I notice that there's dirt and hair on the kitchen floor, so I grab the broom and start sweeping. I sweep everywhere. While sweeping, I see that there's dust on the bookcase and the end tables. More dusting. As I reach down to pick up a toy that was left on the floor, I see the baseboard needed some dusting too. The list goes on and on. This is just the path to too much. I head down one thing, and end up getting distracted and irritated by something else that needs my attention. I fear that a lot of women are like me, or pray that they are not. I know this scatter-mind-cleaning drives my husband batty, as he doesn't understand the need to put things away in a timely fashion after they are used, and could really care less if we have dustballs in places that shouldn't have them.
I realize that after I sit down from doing all of these necessary chores, I just can't seem to make it stop. I make these paths for myself, without even realizing it, until by the end of the night, I'm pretty worn out from doing it all. My mind just doesn't stop until I'm really sleeping. Even then, I dream up things that are bound to get done sooner or later. They say you should do everything in moderation, but the only moderate thing I do is plan for the next project to tackle.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Long Journey Home
After 11 grueling hours on the road, we finally made it home from Tennessee. Numerous pit stops for Roo and a few parking lots outside of Atlanta made for a long ride home. What I learned was that I really need to invest in a port-a-potty for Roo, and that sometimes things just don't turn out the way you hope or plan. The best thing to do is not get too upset about it and move on. Life still happens regardless of how fast your car is going, or whether or not you are going to get home within an expected timeframe. It does make for an extremely long day when you are just ready to be home. Vacations are great for relaxation - mind and spirit. But by the end, aren't we all just anxious to get back to some sort of routine? Unless you're a millionaire, it's the routines that make or break us.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Sitting With Baby
Everyday when I drop the kids off at daycare, I do it so methodically that it doesn't wear on me as much. But when the idea of having some mommy and daddy time without the kiddos comes up - a rare occasion at that - it's a bit of a challenge. It's not that we don't trust others to watch our kids. Since the day they were born, most all of the activities I plan in my head include them. So having a night out, or a few hours without them, is just not programmed in me.
I'm one of the lucky people in this world that has wonderful family nearby who can help out when we need some husband and wife time. Those moments are really hard to come by these days, so it helps us to cherish them even more when we do get them.
Certainly finding a sitter outside of family can be quite nerve-wracking. I hear from my girlfriends all the time about seeking a good one, and keeping that special someone who is able to care for their kids. Mabye that's why we haven't pursued a sitter as an option in quite a long time. Even when I sneak out for a few hours when the hubby is watching them, I get so tickled when I see my kids light up and smile from ear to ear at the first glance of me after being away. I realize how important it is to share some quality time with and without our babies, but haven't had the heart or energy to seek out a good sitter. Maybe that's something to pursue tomorrow. For now, I will just cherish the quiet moments with the kids and laugh at their funny pursuits and inquisitive little hands reaching for just about anything that is close to them. Sometimes sitting with babies doesn't need to be for someone else, but rather, just for me.
I'm one of the lucky people in this world that has wonderful family nearby who can help out when we need some husband and wife time. Those moments are really hard to come by these days, so it helps us to cherish them even more when we do get them.
Certainly finding a sitter outside of family can be quite nerve-wracking. I hear from my girlfriends all the time about seeking a good one, and keeping that special someone who is able to care for their kids. Mabye that's why we haven't pursued a sitter as an option in quite a long time. Even when I sneak out for a few hours when the hubby is watching them, I get so tickled when I see my kids light up and smile from ear to ear at the first glance of me after being away. I realize how important it is to share some quality time with and without our babies, but haven't had the heart or energy to seek out a good sitter. Maybe that's something to pursue tomorrow. For now, I will just cherish the quiet moments with the kids and laugh at their funny pursuits and inquisitive little hands reaching for just about anything that is close to them. Sometimes sitting with babies doesn't need to be for someone else, but rather, just for me.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
I Gotta P
So our journey began with just a full two days of mostly accident-free potty. We were all determined that this was going to be the final day of pull ups and daipers. Her teachers were confident that she could do it, but I was a bit apprehensive. I knew our vacation trek would be a long haul and feared that she'd have an accident for sure, but it would be foolish to have a set back just because we wanted to make good time.
The first hour wasn't too bad. We stopped I think just once. But after a few unsuccessful trips to the bathroom - for she preferred some restrooms over others - we had a regular habit of checking in at the most hole-in-the-wall type gas stations where she would successfully pee. I felt bad going in each time, especially if I didn't purchase anything. Toward the latter part of our trip, I took my wallet in each time and purchased a little something as we headed out after a successful download.
It took us more than five hours to get to Atlanta, but we certainly made it in one piece and all dry. The rest of the trip up to Gatlinburg got more interesting, as she was getting more enamored with restrooms. Her first few words would always be, "Don't touch anything mommy, just hold on to mommy." She knew the routine - seat wipe down, underwear, on the pot and then go, and then washing of the hands. If she wasn't ready, it was always, "I don't need to go peepee." Thankfully, the big smile on her face after a successful trip was always well worth the stop and mostly deserving of M&Ms or Y's yogurt melts.
I hope the journey home will be just as eventful. What would a vacation be without your toddler telling you she's gotta pee?
The first hour wasn't too bad. We stopped I think just once. But after a few unsuccessful trips to the bathroom - for she preferred some restrooms over others - we had a regular habit of checking in at the most hole-in-the-wall type gas stations where she would successfully pee. I felt bad going in each time, especially if I didn't purchase anything. Toward the latter part of our trip, I took my wallet in each time and purchased a little something as we headed out after a successful download.
It took us more than five hours to get to Atlanta, but we certainly made it in one piece and all dry. The rest of the trip up to Gatlinburg got more interesting, as she was getting more enamored with restrooms. Her first few words would always be, "Don't touch anything mommy, just hold on to mommy." She knew the routine - seat wipe down, underwear, on the pot and then go, and then washing of the hands. If she wasn't ready, it was always, "I don't need to go peepee." Thankfully, the big smile on her face after a successful trip was always well worth the stop and mostly deserving of M&Ms or Y's yogurt melts.
I hope the journey home will be just as eventful. What would a vacation be without your toddler telling you she's gotta pee?
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Baby No More
In a blink of an eye, our little girl has grown up. For weeks it seems she was determined to be in control and would only use the potty when she felt like she wanted. We pleaded, we begged, we even resorted to M&Ms. Today though, I sent her off to school with a new pack of pull ups and her glittery and very pink princess underwear. We were both determined to give it a go.
Her teacher came rushing up to me to in Y's classroom to tell me that my baby girl did a great job today and stayed dry the whole day. The big smile on her face and my sheer excitement was too much to bear. I had anticipated a day like this soon, but when the words were uttered, I started feeling sad.
How is it that a child can so quickly absorb and learn just about anything you say and do? True, they are trained like all of us, conditioned like Pavlovian canines, to do things on cue. Every day of her life thus far had been filled with wet and soiled diapers, and some poor soul coming to her rescue to get her out of said clothes protector. Then without you knowing, she realizes the sensation, and has enough courage and forethought to tell someone before she does her business as she has always done.
The minutes upon minutes of agony, patiently waiting for a sprinkle or a nugget, and to sit there with her as she contemplates her next move can be just about as fun as watching paint dry. This is certainly harder than just laying her on a changing table to switch her out of one diaper into another. But the reality that her dependence on me and daddy are disappearing so quickly, that it does indeed make me quite glum. Our baby girl is no longer a baby she says so matter of factly. Mommy, I'm a big girl now.
Her teacher came rushing up to me to in Y's classroom to tell me that my baby girl did a great job today and stayed dry the whole day. The big smile on her face and my sheer excitement was too much to bear. I had anticipated a day like this soon, but when the words were uttered, I started feeling sad.
How is it that a child can so quickly absorb and learn just about anything you say and do? True, they are trained like all of us, conditioned like Pavlovian canines, to do things on cue. Every day of her life thus far had been filled with wet and soiled diapers, and some poor soul coming to her rescue to get her out of said clothes protector. Then without you knowing, she realizes the sensation, and has enough courage and forethought to tell someone before she does her business as she has always done.
The minutes upon minutes of agony, patiently waiting for a sprinkle or a nugget, and to sit there with her as she contemplates her next move can be just about as fun as watching paint dry. This is certainly harder than just laying her on a changing table to switch her out of one diaper into another. But the reality that her dependence on me and daddy are disappearing so quickly, that it does indeed make me quite glum. Our baby girl is no longer a baby she says so matter of factly. Mommy, I'm a big girl now.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Best Babysitter
This weekend, we enjoyed the last of the best babysitter there ever was. The pristine, sandy white beaches of Perdido Key will be lost forever as the oil spill inches ever closer. Where else can you take your kids for hours of uninterrupted frolicking in the soft sands between your toes and warm waters that coax and caress the skin?
For nearly four hours, the kids got to play around the beach, digging their little holes with their mighty pink shovels and yellow pails, and squealed with delight with each crashing wave. Sure, the tide was a little strong as the yellow flag indicated, but the sun was bright, warm and absolutely inviting. A cold little drink and the smell of sunscreen rounded out the luxury of pure nothingness.
What made the reality of the oil just miles offshore was the constant flow of beach patrol and helicopters conducting their surveillance above. The poor airplane that was advertising some fun concoction was literally lost in the sky...I don't even remember what the promo was about.
As a child growing up in Pensacola and into my college life, I had the opportunity to play in the Gulf and sink my feet in all parts of the beaches - from Navarre all the way to our beloved Perdido Key. After the hurricane seasons including Opal, Erin, Ivan and others, Navarre and Pensacola Beach were never the same. Navarre Beach eventually was renamed Opal Beach after it re-opened years after the damage struck its shores. Traces of Hurricane Ivan actually still litter the quiet town of Pensacola, including blue tarps and abandoned storefronts. It will be decades more I'm sure, before any signs of recovery will take place after this BP mess.
I'm certainly glad the kids were able to play, if even for a little while, on one of nature's best treasures. The beach wasn't nearly as crowded as Pensacola Beach was - at least based on the media coverage and what I heard - and I was grateful for the few passers-by and the small pockets of family and friends enjoying their time in the sun.
We bid a fond farewell to our beach and said good-bye to a babysitter that was so thankful to have us share in its glorious beauty. We will miss you and pray that one day, when the kids are all grown up, we can enjoy the endless flow of blue-green waters and pearly sand in all of our crevices.
For nearly four hours, the kids got to play around the beach, digging their little holes with their mighty pink shovels and yellow pails, and squealed with delight with each crashing wave. Sure, the tide was a little strong as the yellow flag indicated, but the sun was bright, warm and absolutely inviting. A cold little drink and the smell of sunscreen rounded out the luxury of pure nothingness.
What made the reality of the oil just miles offshore was the constant flow of beach patrol and helicopters conducting their surveillance above. The poor airplane that was advertising some fun concoction was literally lost in the sky...I don't even remember what the promo was about.
As a child growing up in Pensacola and into my college life, I had the opportunity to play in the Gulf and sink my feet in all parts of the beaches - from Navarre all the way to our beloved Perdido Key. After the hurricane seasons including Opal, Erin, Ivan and others, Navarre and Pensacola Beach were never the same. Navarre Beach eventually was renamed Opal Beach after it re-opened years after the damage struck its shores. Traces of Hurricane Ivan actually still litter the quiet town of Pensacola, including blue tarps and abandoned storefronts. It will be decades more I'm sure, before any signs of recovery will take place after this BP mess.
I'm certainly glad the kids were able to play, if even for a little while, on one of nature's best treasures. The beach wasn't nearly as crowded as Pensacola Beach was - at least based on the media coverage and what I heard - and I was grateful for the few passers-by and the small pockets of family and friends enjoying their time in the sun.
We bid a fond farewell to our beach and said good-bye to a babysitter that was so thankful to have us share in its glorious beauty. We will miss you and pray that one day, when the kids are all grown up, we can enjoy the endless flow of blue-green waters and pearly sand in all of our crevices.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Road Warrior
Each time we have a trip coming up, I become overly OCD with trying to have a clean house, laundry done, dishes out of the sink and trash taken out. Is that really too much to ask to have all of that done so that when you return home you don't have to come home to a stinky, dirty house, on top of the unpacking and unwinding to start the work week?
It's funny how a few of my girlfriends, and even today, my hair stylist, all share the same thoughts about traveling. Their husbands or boyfriends, including my very own, however, do not share this sentiment. Their priority is to worry about packing for themselves and loading up the car. You, on the other hand, pack for yourself, the kids and make lists of all the things that need to be handled before you walk out that door.
Thankfully we travel often enough that I almost have this down to a science. We have bags that have things that we don't necessarily have to unpack when we get home, so that when we do pack, all we have to do is pull the stuff out into our pile of "things to take with us."
This trip coming up, I have fulfilled part of my OCD desires, but I honestly haven't the energy to clean the house. Sure, the toys will be picked up and things put away where they are supposed to be, but taking more time to clean areas of the house that only I will see will just have to wait until next week.
In the meantime, I've gotta figure out if we can still enjoy the pristine beaches on the Gulf Coast before they completely disappear from the oil spill. I have a lot of fond memories on the white, sandy beaches, and I'm sad that our kids won't be able to make those similar memories for themselves.
For now, the house is packed and we just gotta plow through another work day/school day before we hit the evening traffic. As crazy as it always is to get out the door with two kids in tow and everything but the kitchen sink, we do enjoy our travels. They make the weekends even shorter, but the moments are ever sweeter when we get to see the brilliant smiles on their faces to see family.
It's funny how a few of my girlfriends, and even today, my hair stylist, all share the same thoughts about traveling. Their husbands or boyfriends, including my very own, however, do not share this sentiment. Their priority is to worry about packing for themselves and loading up the car. You, on the other hand, pack for yourself, the kids and make lists of all the things that need to be handled before you walk out that door.
Thankfully we travel often enough that I almost have this down to a science. We have bags that have things that we don't necessarily have to unpack when we get home, so that when we do pack, all we have to do is pull the stuff out into our pile of "things to take with us."
This trip coming up, I have fulfilled part of my OCD desires, but I honestly haven't the energy to clean the house. Sure, the toys will be picked up and things put away where they are supposed to be, but taking more time to clean areas of the house that only I will see will just have to wait until next week.
In the meantime, I've gotta figure out if we can still enjoy the pristine beaches on the Gulf Coast before they completely disappear from the oil spill. I have a lot of fond memories on the white, sandy beaches, and I'm sad that our kids won't be able to make those similar memories for themselves.
For now, the house is packed and we just gotta plow through another work day/school day before we hit the evening traffic. As crazy as it always is to get out the door with two kids in tow and everything but the kitchen sink, we do enjoy our travels. They make the weekends even shorter, but the moments are ever sweeter when we get to see the brilliant smiles on their faces to see family.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Two Hours
During the week, some days I only have less than two hours to spend time with my kids, make dinner (or have the hubby throw something on the grill), eat as a family (although it's more like stuff your face, scarf down the food and take turns feeding the baby), bathe the children and then put them to bed. It can be quite exhausting and stressful as both of us try to still have some "me" time - whether that's kickboxing for me, or soccer for him on somewhat alternating nights. I have to admit that Mondays are probably are only "down" days when neither of us trying to rush out the door to get to another activity or head out of town or trek over to my sister's for the kids to play with each other. I try not to think about it as much, even when I'm stuck in rush hour traffic on the way home with my daughter asking at every red light from Capital Circle to Thomasville Road, "where are we goin' mommy?"
Within that short time frame, we as parents do have to do soooo much. As adults, we can eat dinner and talk and do all of that within a reasonable time frame. But when you have a toddler who chews, then tries to talk, then chews again while asking for water, apple juice, milk, or anything else that you don't have in front of her, you start to wonder, at what point do I just learn to eat and carry on a conversation while still maintaining a sense of time?
Some nights, we have to hurry her along with rewards of watching "Backyardigans," or eating dessert. Thankfully our little baby boy is still eating jar-food and is just as happy as can be once you've fed him his fill and give him something to play with while you eat your food. He's pretty quiet after he's been fed, and is quite happy when you share with him a little of something that you are eating too. I enjoy those moments with him as I know that just around the corner, we'll have a rambling toddler who has an opinion on just about anything, and won't be afraid to let you know.
Within that short time frame, we as parents do have to do soooo much. As adults, we can eat dinner and talk and do all of that within a reasonable time frame. But when you have a toddler who chews, then tries to talk, then chews again while asking for water, apple juice, milk, or anything else that you don't have in front of her, you start to wonder, at what point do I just learn to eat and carry on a conversation while still maintaining a sense of time?
Some nights, we have to hurry her along with rewards of watching "Backyardigans," or eating dessert. Thankfully our little baby boy is still eating jar-food and is just as happy as can be once you've fed him his fill and give him something to play with while you eat your food. He's pretty quiet after he's been fed, and is quite happy when you share with him a little of something that you are eating too. I enjoy those moments with him as I know that just around the corner, we'll have a rambling toddler who has an opinion on just about anything, and won't be afraid to let you know.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
IDK
Three little words beyond the "I Love You" in a parent's vocabulary has got to be "I Don't Know." This past weekend, our little girl was exhibiting some strange behaviors and complaining about her girlie regions. I mean, as a female, I could understand that the area can be quite sensitive and a child as young as two won't be able to fully explain her discomfort. So we just watched and waited until the holiday was over before we could call the pediatrician to see if she can get checked out. Did we think that she was not wanting to do the potty-thing, or was she truly wanting to use the bathroom, but couldn't because of pain? I - D - K.
The worst part about not knowing what could be wrong is trying to find the appropriate reaction, without over-reacting. Sure, our child has been cranky and whiney before, but this time seemed different. Every time she has had an ear infection, she rarely has a fever, and explaining this to the nurse gatekeeper at the doctor's office is always so much fun. Same-day appointments are coveted at the pediatrician's office because they are just always so booked to begin with.
In the end, I'm glad I took her in today. It gave me a sense of relief and comfort knowing that even though she didn't have anything severe, the doctor gave me an "it's OK" for getting her checked out. I would have hated it more if she got worse and we could have helped this situation early on. Sometimes you just gotta go with your instinct. You may not be right 100 percent of the time, but you can certainly give your mind the rest it needs and the answer to your IDK.
The worst part about not knowing what could be wrong is trying to find the appropriate reaction, without over-reacting. Sure, our child has been cranky and whiney before, but this time seemed different. Every time she has had an ear infection, she rarely has a fever, and explaining this to the nurse gatekeeper at the doctor's office is always so much fun. Same-day appointments are coveted at the pediatrician's office because they are just always so booked to begin with.
In the end, I'm glad I took her in today. It gave me a sense of relief and comfort knowing that even though she didn't have anything severe, the doctor gave me an "it's OK" for getting her checked out. I would have hated it more if she got worse and we could have helped this situation early on. Sometimes you just gotta go with your instinct. You may not be right 100 percent of the time, but you can certainly give your mind the rest it needs and the answer to your IDK.
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