I would like to begin this post with a shout-out to all of the single parents and stay-at-home parents out there. I could never, ever do either of those things.
I love my children very much but Brian has been out of town for a few days (not coming back for a few more) and Mommy's gonna lose it soon. Right now, Lucy is on my foot saying, "I want some mimma cereal. Cereal mimmas. Ceral mimmas." I don't know what that is but I guarantee it is not one of the 47 types of cereal we have available. Imma is sitting on the floor using the iPod that is plugged into the wall. Right now she is just humming but every few minutes she will literally let out an earsplitting scream for no apparent reason. NO APPARENT REASON. I say, "Stop screaming!" about 85 times a day. There's never a reason to scream. Lucy is jumping on the bed, Imma is tackling the dog. Where, oh where, is Daddy?
Why is it that, if I know that Brian will be home at 6:15, I can only survive until 6:15 but if I know he won't be home at all, I some how make it until 8:30 (blessed 8:30!) and bedtime? On days like today, I don't even notice 6:15. It is inconsequential. But 8:30 is magical!
And it's not that I don't love my children. I absolutely do! I can't imagine my life without them. But I am not designed to spend all day with them--together. One on one, sure I can do that. Just Imma? No problem! Lucy alone? Got it! Put them together in the same room with two dogs and a Christmas-song-playing-carousel that I am not allowed to turn off--I'm done after about 4 hours. And I'm proud of myself for being able to make it 4 hours.
And by done, I mean mentally and physically exhausted--not ready to abandon them and run into the woods behind my house (it's hot out there!) or get in my car and drive away (where would I go?) or lock them in the closet (they'd just yell louder). But it is a lot harder to be patient in hours 5 through 14 then it is in the first 4. (Boy, 14 hours sounds like a long time!)
Imma is using a children's golf club as a whip for her ride along toy and Lucy is asking me where her movie went. What? What movie? Why am I certain I will see the imprint of a golf club on Lucy's face soon?
My children are fairly well-behaved. They don't break things or purposely trash the house. They don't hit each other much and they aren't violent. They like to scream. They like to ignore me when I tell them not to scream. and they like to argue. A lot. Sometimes they argue over nothing. Literally. The conversation starts with, "No it's not." Followed by, "Yes it is." What? What are you talking about? No one knows. . . . And it doesn't matter because the argument would continue.
I am blessed to have two beautiful, intelligent, loving children. And I am blessed to have time during the year to spend with them. And I am blessed to have a job where I can go spend time with other people's children because I can handle them by the hundreds. But I always miss my children when I am away from them. Just like childbirth, I forget about the pain and screams of nonsensical arguments and random dog-tackling.
When my husband returns from out-of-town trips, he no longer asks how the house got to be such a mess. He is just happy to see that I am not completely bald and that the dogs have all of their legs. Oh, Friday, where are you??
Imma ticker
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Shopping With Imma--and Earplugs
I know it sounds crazy, especially if you've been reading my blog from the very beginning, but there are times when I really wish Imma would just stop talking! This after years of praying that she would start talking, doesn't make a lot of sense and probably seems ridiculous but it would only take about five minutes in the grocery store with Imma before you would understand.
With two kids and one cart, I often put Imma in the part of the cart where the groceries go, unless of course we are getting a lot of items. If she is inside, it's usually better, but if she is outside, she literally talks about every single item that she sees. So, that's hundreds of items. It goes a little like this:
"Mommy! Look, it's cereal! Look, Mommy, it's chocolate cereal. You see that, Mommy? You see that? It's chocolate cereal!"
"Yes, honey, I see it."
"It's chocolate cereal, Mommy. We don't need that, Mommy. We have that at home. Look, Mommy! It's fruit cereal! Do you see that, Mommy? Do you see it? It's cereal with fruit!"
"Yes, baby, I see it."
"We have that at home, Mommy. We don't need it. Look, Mommy, it's Poptarts! Do you see that, Mommy? Do you see that Poptarts? It's red and purple and blue and chocolate. Do you see that one Poptarts, Mommy?"
"Yes, sweetheart, I see it."
And now, she has a scripted phrase she likes to add in, which she has learned from asking me if we can buy apps for the iPad. I can't purchase any apps for the iPad because it isn't mine, it's the schools. I am just borrowing it. When she started asking me to buy apps, I would say things like, "No, honey. We can't buy anything for the iPad. It's 2.99. You can't get it if it's not free." So, she started finding free ones, which I would occasionally add to the iPad for her. Then I had to start telling her there wasn't enough room for new apps on the iPad. So, now when we go to the store, people hear things like this:
"Look, Mommy! It's fruit snacks. It's blue fruit snacks. Do you see that, Mommy? It's 2.99. You can't get it if it's not free. There' s not enough room for it. Look, Mommy! It's ice cream. It's 3.99. You can't get it if it's not free. There's not enough room for it."
I wonder what the other shoppers think about me denying my child any food item that isn't free and why my cupboard is so full that there's not enough room for fruit snacks.
In all seriousness, I am very thankful at all of the progress Imma has made, especially with her speech and her language processing. Is it exhausting to hear her go on and on? Sure. But it beats the alternative of wondering if she would ever talk, ever understand what we were saying. I have some friends who have children who are nonverbal so I am extremely grateful for all that Imma can say and do. If the problem that we have now is that we can't get her to be quiet, than I'll take it. Still, if anyone would like to take her grocery shopping for entertainment purposes, she's quite the conversationalist.
With two kids and one cart, I often put Imma in the part of the cart where the groceries go, unless of course we are getting a lot of items. If she is inside, it's usually better, but if she is outside, she literally talks about every single item that she sees. So, that's hundreds of items. It goes a little like this:
"Mommy! Look, it's cereal! Look, Mommy, it's chocolate cereal. You see that, Mommy? You see that? It's chocolate cereal!"
"Yes, honey, I see it."
"It's chocolate cereal, Mommy. We don't need that, Mommy. We have that at home. Look, Mommy! It's fruit cereal! Do you see that, Mommy? Do you see it? It's cereal with fruit!"
"Yes, baby, I see it."
"We have that at home, Mommy. We don't need it. Look, Mommy, it's Poptarts! Do you see that, Mommy? Do you see that Poptarts? It's red and purple and blue and chocolate. Do you see that one Poptarts, Mommy?"
"Yes, sweetheart, I see it."
And now, she has a scripted phrase she likes to add in, which she has learned from asking me if we can buy apps for the iPad. I can't purchase any apps for the iPad because it isn't mine, it's the schools. I am just borrowing it. When she started asking me to buy apps, I would say things like, "No, honey. We can't buy anything for the iPad. It's 2.99. You can't get it if it's not free." So, she started finding free ones, which I would occasionally add to the iPad for her. Then I had to start telling her there wasn't enough room for new apps on the iPad. So, now when we go to the store, people hear things like this:
"Look, Mommy! It's fruit snacks. It's blue fruit snacks. Do you see that, Mommy? It's 2.99. You can't get it if it's not free. There' s not enough room for it. Look, Mommy! It's ice cream. It's 3.99. You can't get it if it's not free. There's not enough room for it."
I wonder what the other shoppers think about me denying my child any food item that isn't free and why my cupboard is so full that there's not enough room for fruit snacks.
In all seriousness, I am very thankful at all of the progress Imma has made, especially with her speech and her language processing. Is it exhausting to hear her go on and on? Sure. But it beats the alternative of wondering if she would ever talk, ever understand what we were saying. I have some friends who have children who are nonverbal so I am extremely grateful for all that Imma can say and do. If the problem that we have now is that we can't get her to be quiet, than I'll take it. Still, if anyone would like to take her grocery shopping for entertainment purposes, she's quite the conversationalist.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Daddy's Birthday!
Yesterday was Brian's birthday. The girls were so excited all day long! They couldn't wait for him to get home so they could sing, "Happy Birthday" and eat cake, of course!
They helped me mix and frost his cake, which resulted in a lot of frosting on us as well. The cake was Daddy's favorite--chocolate cake with chocolate frosting--and the girls asked me about 100 times when they could eat it. In the past, I've had a lot of trouble with round cakes. It seems like the "hump" on the bottom cake makes the top cake split in two and crumble apart. It's been so bad in the past that we've actually taken to calling it, "Earthquake Cake." But yesterday it worked out fine. And unfortunately, the only picture I have of the whole event is of the cake.
Brian got a few gifts, including a Bass Pro gift card because I have no idea what kind of tackle box to buy and a frozen lasagna, which is my version of cooking. Overall, I hope he had a nice time. I know the girls loved baking the cake and singing happy birthday. We are finally all done with birthdays for the next 8 months! Which means I have about 6 months until I have to start planning the next Birthday Extravaganza! As much as I love parties, it's nice not to have to think about it for a while.
Of course, there's a couple of other little holidays I like to go all out for in between. Halloween decorations go up September 1st, people. That gives me a little over a month . . . . And of course I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping. You snooze, you lose (and what you lose is time, patience, and sanity in my case so I don't snooze!) When do you start decorating for Halloween? When do you start your Christmas shopping? What are you overly-obsessive about when it comes to planning and decorating?
They helped me mix and frost his cake, which resulted in a lot of frosting on us as well. The cake was Daddy's favorite--chocolate cake with chocolate frosting--and the girls asked me about 100 times when they could eat it. In the past, I've had a lot of trouble with round cakes. It seems like the "hump" on the bottom cake makes the top cake split in two and crumble apart. It's been so bad in the past that we've actually taken to calling it, "Earthquake Cake." But yesterday it worked out fine. And unfortunately, the only picture I have of the whole event is of the cake.
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| Brian's birthday cake. Can you guess how old he is? Imma said he was 8! |
Brian got a few gifts, including a Bass Pro gift card because I have no idea what kind of tackle box to buy and a frozen lasagna, which is my version of cooking. Overall, I hope he had a nice time. I know the girls loved baking the cake and singing happy birthday. We are finally all done with birthdays for the next 8 months! Which means I have about 6 months until I have to start planning the next Birthday Extravaganza! As much as I love parties, it's nice not to have to think about it for a while.
Of course, there's a couple of other little holidays I like to go all out for in between. Halloween decorations go up September 1st, people. That gives me a little over a month . . . . And of course I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping. You snooze, you lose (and what you lose is time, patience, and sanity in my case so I don't snooze!) When do you start decorating for Halloween? When do you start your Christmas shopping? What are you overly-obsessive about when it comes to planning and decorating?
Friday, July 12, 2013
Lucy's 3rd Birthday Celebration!
We celebrated Lucy turning three with several smaller parties--rather than one Birthday Extravaganza, as we did with Imma. We went to Great Wolf Lodge, which both girls love, though Imma definitely appreciates the water more than Lucy does.
On Lucy's actual birthday, we went to Old McDonald's for chicken mcnuggets and to play in the play area. We did cupcakes at home and she opened two presents from Mommy, Daddy, and Imma. When she realized that the presents were wrapped in Cinderella paper, she had to take off the other princess dress she had on and switch to her Cinderella dress. She got a Cinderella and Prince Charming set with a horse and a talking Cinderella doll. I'd gotten both of these items on clearance after Christmas so I was super proud of myself that I was able to keep them a secret from her for so long. She loved both of them, especially the talking Cinderalla.
On the Saturday after her birthday, we had some friends and family over for fishing, barbecue, and fireworks. Lucy wanted a Sponge Bob birthday, much to my chagrin, and Daddy was in charge of getting the cake and decorations for her party. He did a nice job. She really loved her cake and all of the Sponge Bob decor. She had a great time with the friends that came over, including her second mommy, Amy, and her family, and her cousin Ella. Two of her aunts were here and her "uncle" who isn't quite her uncle yet but will be someday soon, we think/hope. We also had some friends drive all the way from Prosper, which is almost an hour away. Lucy really enjoyed the fireworks and Imma did better with them than usual. She at least stood next to the door and peaked out at us, which is better than it has been in the past.
Now that these birthday are over, I'm already starting to think about next year. I'm considering doing a combined party for both girls again. It always makes me sad that Lucy doesn't have many friends her age that come to her party. I know it's probably because she isn't in school yet but I would like for her birthday party to include more play time for her with children her age. I just think it's hard for people to come during the summer, especially since her birthday is on a holiday weekend. But I also want them each to have their own special day. What a dilemma!
Next birthday is Daddy's birthday. I wonder if he wants a princess party or Care Bears . . . .
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| The girls really love the story time at Great Wolf Lodge. |
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| We were able to stay in the Wolf Den again, which the girls love. |
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| This is the "kid area" of our room. |
On Lucy's actual birthday, we went to Old McDonald's for chicken mcnuggets and to play in the play area. We did cupcakes at home and she opened two presents from Mommy, Daddy, and Imma. When she realized that the presents were wrapped in Cinderella paper, she had to take off the other princess dress she had on and switch to her Cinderella dress. She got a Cinderella and Prince Charming set with a horse and a talking Cinderella doll. I'd gotten both of these items on clearance after Christmas so I was super proud of myself that I was able to keep them a secret from her for so long. She loved both of them, especially the talking Cinderalla.
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| Cinderella opening Cinderella. |
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| She loves singing cards, too. |
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| It was a Cinderella birthday but not a Cinderella birthday party. |
On the Saturday after her birthday, we had some friends and family over for fishing, barbecue, and fireworks. Lucy wanted a Sponge Bob birthday, much to my chagrin, and Daddy was in charge of getting the cake and decorations for her party. He did a nice job. She really loved her cake and all of the Sponge Bob decor. She had a great time with the friends that came over, including her second mommy, Amy, and her family, and her cousin Ella. Two of her aunts were here and her "uncle" who isn't quite her uncle yet but will be someday soon, we think/hope. We also had some friends drive all the way from Prosper, which is almost an hour away. Lucy really enjoyed the fireworks and Imma did better with them than usual. She at least stood next to the door and peaked out at us, which is better than it has been in the past.
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| It took several tries to get the candles out but she did it. |
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| Daddy moved the cake over a little closer. |
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| She was so proud of herself when the candle finally went out! |
Now that these birthday are over, I'm already starting to think about next year. I'm considering doing a combined party for both girls again. It always makes me sad that Lucy doesn't have many friends her age that come to her party. I know it's probably because she isn't in school yet but I would like for her birthday party to include more play time for her with children her age. I just think it's hard for people to come during the summer, especially since her birthday is on a holiday weekend. But I also want them each to have their own special day. What a dilemma!
Friday, July 5, 2013
To My Little Princess on Her Third Birthday
Dear Lucy Kate Annabella,
Happy Birthday! It is hard to fathom that you could be three years old already. Every 4th of July I am reminded of that one a few years ago, the day we almost met you. Instead, it was the morning of the 5th of July when you finally decided to make your appearance. You were worth the wait. From that day on, it became apparent we were going to do things Lucy's way. And that's fine by me.
There's no question that you are a little diva. Your entourage consists of three blankets, two dolls, and usually another item or two that must go wherever you are. You're often the only little girl in a princess dress wherever we happen to be and I don't even realize now that other people may find this odd. If you want something, if someone hurts your feelings, if something doesn't go quiet the way you were hoping, everyone knows. But we do our best to avoid that--not because you are spoiled but because you are so sweet. It is very difficult to see you cry.
You are patient and loving. You have an understanding with your sister beyond your years. It's so sweet to listen to you explain things or say things over and over until you think she understands. You copy her, you repeat her, you imitate her. You love your sister in a way only sisters and best friends can understand. This was my greatest wish in having two little girls and I love to hear you play together nicely. It doesn't always last a long time, you are both very strong-willed (don't know where you get that from!) and sometimes you get very upset at each other, but almost all siblings do that. I hope that the two of you will have the kind of relationship nothing can ever come between.
I love to watch you dance. I've been so proud of your accomplishments in dance class this year, but even more than that, the joy you show when you are dancing is beyond description. You love music and you naturally start moving to it as soon as you hear it. I hope that you continue to dance and bring happiness to lots of others who get to experience watching you do so. You also have the sweetest little singing voice and I love to listen to you singing to your animals and dolls over the monitor at bedtime. It amazes me how well you know the words to so many songs. It's even sweeter when you don't know the words so you just make them up.
I love how you call the alphabet the "ABCD's." You love to look at books and find letters that you know. You also like to count. I think you will love school and learning the way that I do and I can't wait to see all of the new things that you teach me. You can handle an iPhone or an iPad like a boss. Who knows what technology you will have by the time you're my age. You'll certainly be able to figure anything out and maybe invent some of it, too.
I constantly worry about you because you are such a little klutz. You are always running into things, falling down, hitting your head. I often imagine wrapping you in bubble wrap with only your head sticking out--which would need a helmet, of course. You're my Itty Bitty Girl and I have to protect you from everything dangerous, even if the danger is your own inability to judge whether or not your head is going to make it around the corner of a table. But you always dust yourself off and keep on going.
One of your greatest gifts is your ability to make other people smile. It doesn't take others long to fall in love with you because you are just a sweet, beautiful child. You reach out to others and make friends quickly. Imma's friends love you so much, it's so nice to see all of you playing together.
This year, you've gone to Great Wolf Lodge at least twice, maybe three times, and you love it, though you don't particularly like swimming. You've done dance with Ms. Lexi and swimming lessons with Ms. Williams. You went to Education Station for a few months but we knew we'd found your second mommy when you started going to Ms. Amy's house. You loved Disney World, especially meeting all of your fellow princesses and I loved taking you to meet them. You loved the beach but not the ocean. You love the zoo and the aquarium because you love animals. You tell me all the time how you see monkeys and owls in the trees. You talk about your PawPaw everyday which makes me so happy because it encourages me that maybe you won't forget him. You are my sunshine and you make me happy no matter what color the sky is. It is a privilege and an honor to be your mother and I'm so blessed to have your sweet smile in my life. I love you so much, Princess Lucy Kate, and I hope your fourth year is as full of happiness, smiles, and little giggles as your third.
Love,
Monny
Happy Birthday! It is hard to fathom that you could be three years old already. Every 4th of July I am reminded of that one a few years ago, the day we almost met you. Instead, it was the morning of the 5th of July when you finally decided to make your appearance. You were worth the wait. From that day on, it became apparent we were going to do things Lucy's way. And that's fine by me.
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| My little diva letting me know who's boss |
There's no question that you are a little diva. Your entourage consists of three blankets, two dolls, and usually another item or two that must go wherever you are. You're often the only little girl in a princess dress wherever we happen to be and I don't even realize now that other people may find this odd. If you want something, if someone hurts your feelings, if something doesn't go quiet the way you were hoping, everyone knows. But we do our best to avoid that--not because you are spoiled but because you are so sweet. It is very difficult to see you cry.
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| Who could argue with that face? |
You are patient and loving. You have an understanding with your sister beyond your years. It's so sweet to listen to you explain things or say things over and over until you think she understands. You copy her, you repeat her, you imitate her. You love your sister in a way only sisters and best friends can understand. This was my greatest wish in having two little girls and I love to hear you play together nicely. It doesn't always last a long time, you are both very strong-willed (don't know where you get that from!) and sometimes you get very upset at each other, but almost all siblings do that. I hope that the two of you will have the kind of relationship nothing can ever come between.
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| Lucy wants to be just like Imma |
I love to watch you dance. I've been so proud of your accomplishments in dance class this year, but even more than that, the joy you show when you are dancing is beyond description. You love music and you naturally start moving to it as soon as you hear it. I hope that you continue to dance and bring happiness to lots of others who get to experience watching you do so. You also have the sweetest little singing voice and I love to listen to you singing to your animals and dolls over the monitor at bedtime. It amazes me how well you know the words to so many songs. It's even sweeter when you don't know the words so you just make them up.
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| My little dancing diva in her costume for her recital. She owned that stage. |
I love how you call the alphabet the "ABCD's." You love to look at books and find letters that you know. You also like to count. I think you will love school and learning the way that I do and I can't wait to see all of the new things that you teach me. You can handle an iPhone or an iPad like a boss. Who knows what technology you will have by the time you're my age. You'll certainly be able to figure anything out and maybe invent some of it, too.
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| Teacher Lucy? |
I constantly worry about you because you are such a little klutz. You are always running into things, falling down, hitting your head. I often imagine wrapping you in bubble wrap with only your head sticking out--which would need a helmet, of course. You're my Itty Bitty Girl and I have to protect you from everything dangerous, even if the danger is your own inability to judge whether or not your head is going to make it around the corner of a table. But you always dust yourself off and keep on going.
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| My beautiful baby |
One of your greatest gifts is your ability to make other people smile. It doesn't take others long to fall in love with you because you are just a sweet, beautiful child. You reach out to others and make friends quickly. Imma's friends love you so much, it's so nice to see all of you playing together.
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| Lucy playing with Imma and her friends at Imma's baseball party. |
This year, you've gone to Great Wolf Lodge at least twice, maybe three times, and you love it, though you don't particularly like swimming. You've done dance with Ms. Lexi and swimming lessons with Ms. Williams. You went to Education Station for a few months but we knew we'd found your second mommy when you started going to Ms. Amy's house. You loved Disney World, especially meeting all of your fellow princesses and I loved taking you to meet them. You loved the beach but not the ocean. You love the zoo and the aquarium because you love animals. You tell me all the time how you see monkeys and owls in the trees. You talk about your PawPaw everyday which makes me so happy because it encourages me that maybe you won't forget him. You are my sunshine and you make me happy no matter what color the sky is. It is a privilege and an honor to be your mother and I'm so blessed to have your sweet smile in my life. I love you so much, Princess Lucy Kate, and I hope your fourth year is as full of happiness, smiles, and little giggles as your third.
Love,
Monny
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| Lucy loves Rapunzel and the other princesses. |
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| One of my favorite pics of Lu |
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| Working that Tutu |
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| Happy Birthday, Sweet Princess! |
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