Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Baby love

My Baby Bear has a crush. I don't think he knows it's a crush, but he does have a certain fondness for this gal. It probably has something to do with how much of a momma's boy he is and the amount of time I spend trying to keep him as my baby.

At swimming lessons, the class is instructed by two teachers; one female and one male. The first couple of lessons there was a hint of a crush, but because he was spending so much time out of the pool dancing, it was hard to make a final call.

This past week, he straight up refused to get in the pool with the boy instructor. It wasn't that he started pitching a fit over it. He would sweetly point to the girl instructor every time it was his turn to get in the water. He even elected to give up a couple of turns because she was with other kids. A went over and tried to coach him into the water with the boy instructor, and Baby Bear politely remarked, "No, I'll wait for her." Towards the end of the class, he would work with the boy as long as the girl instructor did the hand off.

I feel so bad for the boy instructor. I'm sure he's a good kid. We've started talking about the instructors at home to prep Baby Bear for next week by saying things like, both of your teachers are so nice. He still insists he will only work with the girl.

At least we are trying.

Monday, July 28, 2008

To pierce or not to pierce

As I daily struggle with my baby turning into a little kid, life gave me a cruel wake up call this weekend.

A and I refused to get Mooka's ears pierced when she was a baby. Our stance has always been, when she's old enough to understand and ask for it, then we will let her. I had no idea she would be "old enough" so soon. After seeing Sugar Bean this weekend at church, Mooka asked if we could get her ears pierced. I almost fainted. How can she be growing up so fast? Is there a way to stop this? How can she feel peer pressure from a six month old baby? She won't even let me pull a band aid off her without throwing a fit, how in the world will she sit through ear piercing?

In order to buy myself some more time, I told her we would wait until next weekend.

So here is my question, is it too soon for this?

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Song for the day

I love music. I like the way it makes me experience emotions that I may not be inclined to share openly.

That said, there are some songs that make me cry like a big baby. I have been impacted more by these type songs since I've had kids.

Case in point...this little jem came on while I was driving home from work last night. I could tell that the people in the cars next to me were concerned so I tried to do that half smile to let them know I'm just a freak.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

This month's follies

I recently received this request from a very dear friend of mine and I thought I'd share my response.


. . . tell me the worst thing your kids have done in the past month.


Baby Bear has pooped his pants the past two days in a row. Keep in mind he was not wearing a pull up at the time but rather a pair of swim trunks (with those nice mesh liners that doubled as a strainer).

Baby Bear walked into the bathroom last night and peed on my new carpet. This was not an accident while trying to use the toilet, but rather a deliberate attempt to ruin the carpet. He's out to get me.

Mooka refuses to sleep in her own bed. She starts out the night in her bed and then makes the migration sometime between 1- 3 each morning. This results in her not getting a full night's sleep and us not getting a full night's sleep. She's a real peach every morning.

Baby Bear wakes up everyday at 6:30. Doesn't matter what day. Doesn't matter how late he was up the night before. He's like a little robot.

Bedtime is the worst time of day - ever. It's like a really bad version of the movie ground hog day. I need to potty, I need juice, I need another book, I'm hot, I need to poop, I'm cold, I need to kiss daddy, I need to balance the deficit (you get the picture).

They have a new diet involving cheese its and juice. Everything else is "DIS-GUS-TING" and they make sure I know it.

We've paid the $150 for the kids to take swim lessons, but yet each lesson Baby Bear gets out of the pool and refuses to swim. He'd rather stand there and dance to the music played on the overhead speakers.

Mooka has two really horrible habits that we can't seem to break: thumb sucking and hair twirling. We've tried everything - threats from the dentist, promises of head gear and braces, but she just won't give up the thumb. Her hair is fashioned nicely into a mullet from all of the hair twirling. There is literally an eight inch difference between the sides and the back. Of course, she refuses to let me trim it.

While in MN, we were at the zoo and the kids were waiting to ride a train. Mooka was first in line until a girl, probably 3 years older than her, came and got in line. This devastated Mooka. She came running to me, shouting "Mommy, the fat brown girl just kicked me out of the line" as loud as she possibly could.

However, on the flip side...

After all the poops, the sleepless nights, the outbursts, the tantrums, the bad habits, I wouldn't change it for the world. I might not recommend having two toddlers at once, but other than that, it's amazing.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Weddings and toddlers

Ah, it's wedding season. Love is in the air. The birds are singing. The flowers are in bloom. And somewhere there is a bride who is going to think she wants your kids in her wedding.

See, single childless folks don't really get kids. They like them to come visit for a few hours, buy them some ice cream, send birthday cards and enjoy their limited interactions. It seems like a very logical idea to invite the young children to be a part of the big day. I for one cringe at the request to bring my children to someone else's home that might possibly have furniture in it, let alone ask them to stand in front of people during such an important event.

My sister recently got married to a wonderful man - the Rice Man. Of course, my children were invited to be the flower girl and ring bearer along with the Rice Man's brother's toddler daughter. That's right - three toddlers front and center. What could possibly go wrong?

Allow me to share our experience...

As the vows began, I felt a tug on my Maid of Honor dress and hear:

Mooka: Um, mommy, I'm done - gotta go - I can't do this anymore.
Me: (GLARE)
Mooka: Yep - can't be the princess anymore.
Me: (MORE GLARING)
Mooka: My sparkly barrette fell out.
Me: Just give it to me.

But no, we won't just stop there. As the sand ceremony was commencing:
Baby Bear: Mommy is that candy?
Me: (GLARE)
Baby Bear: Mommy I want some of that candy!
Me: Honey it's sand.
Baby Bear: Mommy why is it sand. I want candy.
This back and forth dialog went on for what felt like thirty minutes.

And everyone was so comforting after the wedding with nice remarks like, "Your kids are so cute, I didn't hear a thing." Uh huh - sure you didn't.

The reception was equally as fun when both of my children started busting out a booty dance and swinging on poles much like "professional dancers."



Regardless, the wedding was beautiful and we are so excited to have the Rice Man in our family.



Thursday, July 3, 2008

Wake up call

Weight has always been a struggle of mine. Throughout high school and college, I was a slave to my scale, diet pills and workout videos. While it was comforting for me to have my weight under control, it was always a ton of work.

Like many women, when I got pregnant I took eating for two to the extreme. It was so liberating to not feel like I was doing something wrong by eating. And eat I did. During my last trimester with Mooka it was not uncommon for me to polish off a box of Little Debbie's a day. I was able to lose most of the weight from her, but then six months later, I was prego with Baby Bear. I have had good intentions for the past three years, but have not been able to budge the scale.

This morning after a wonderful enlightening conversation with Mooka, I have new motivation. The conversation went something like this...

Mooka - "Mommy, why do you have boobies on your back?"

Nuf said.