Amazing the things you learn at the library that don’t come from books.  I took my two there and just happened upon story time.  Of course I love these planned events because you can chat with other adults as you attempt to prevent the little ones from destroying the children’s area.  A couple moms came that I used to see when our library visits were more frequent.  One found out this week she’s pregnant with her third, which is exciting.  Her two boys have limited palettes, like most kids, so the pink slime picture circulating online came up where chicken nuggets are concerned.  (For those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, it’s Facebook that’s making parents even more paranoid.)  A couple dads came, too.  One, who is great with the kids and very hands-on, told me a little boy had climbed on his lap to read a book and when the 3-year-old got down… here it comes… he noticed his pants were wet.  Yes, a random kid peed on him at the library.  Of course the mom was mortified.  But naturally he took it well because all parents figure out quickly dealing with body fluids is an almost daily occurrence.  It’s just you don’t expect them to come from someone else’s child.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 44

To the preschool mom who left her Jetta running with the doors unlocked in the parking lot, my apologies.  Normally I would not open your driver-side door and attempt to climb in your vehicle.  But there were extenuating circumstances when I dropped Thomas off today.  First, my husband has the SUV I usually drive because the car he drives is in the shop.  That explains why I brought my son in a Chevy 4-door of a similar size and color to yours.  The fact it also was running and unlocked right next to your vehicle is reason enough for a scatter-brained mom like me to get mixed up.  What’s that you say?  Your Volkswagen looks nothing like my rental car.  Could be… but you see it was really foggy out and with the sun attempting to break through perhaps I was blinded.  Did I mention I was wearing sunglasses to hide my tired and puffy eyes?  By the way, I didn’t take anything but I would be willing to trade my boring black purse for your python-printed one in the front seat.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 44

Charlotte was in tears when she came home this afternoon.  A neighbor boy knocked down her snow tunnel and laughed about it.  This kid is a little older and usually nicer.  So I told her to forget about it, he probably didn’t realize it would collapse as he stood on it, we can make another one and boys are stinky.  I threw in the last thing for her entertainment.  A little sucker and stick of gum helped alleviate the pain.  Let’s face it.  Today it’s the destruction of a snow tunnel, tomorrow some boy will dump her right before Valentine’s Day to avoid buying gifts.  That’s just how it’s going to be in a world where if you dish it out you better be able to take it.  And she drives her brother nuts regularly, so perhaps this is payback.  Though I’m sure she was pleased her good friend, the boy’s sister, tattled and he got a time out.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 44

It’s been one of those weird weeks where I vacillate between thoughts about what color to paint the living room to what kind of relationship I’ll have with my kids when they’re older.  That’s normal for me.  Some days I act like I’m in high school but reflect on current circumstances with the judgement of a 75-year-old.  No one ever really told me what I’ve always known–I don’t act my age.  It’s a reality of many blessings and occasional curses in that you frequently over think stuff but reason from a wise perspective.  Tomorrow marks the start of month 44 pouring my private life into this virtual journal.  I can’t imagine not writing things down since it’s become more than habitual–it’s cathartic and in some strange way keeps me grounded.  Occasionally I picture myself older, alone somewhere, reading this blog.  A paperback version, of course, as the first two years are already bound in a book.  I smile and laugh at the memories that come flooding back.  Material I would never totally recall all those years later as I’m prone to forgetting and repeating things at this point.  I don’t take the time to go back and rehash it.  Why do that when I’m already setting aside space in retirement to fully grasp how much I’ve embarrassed myself… but I’ll be okay with it all then because I’m mentally advanced enough to know that the older you get the more you allow yourself to be authentic.  That is something I look forward to.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 43

Her cake was a precise replica of her golf bag!

 Only when you have children do you get why people some times skip attending an event sure to be a good time… that is, if kids aren’t invited.  At first you plan to get a babysitter, then you weigh the expense for her and how tired you’ll be the next morning against the level of enjoyment.  And it may not be worth it.  Unless that rare adult invite comes along that INCLUDES people tween and under.  Such was the case for my friend Jenny’s 30th birthday party.  Not only were little ones welcome, they were directed to a table set aside just for them to decorate Mardi Gras masks with jewels and feathers. 

Then the UNI Panther showed up and it got crazy!  Thomas and Charlotte and a couple other kids were hanging on his every move, off and on the dance floor.  The poor guy(?) became a daycare provider for a good hour and Thomas burst into tears when he skipped out.  I’m guessing the person playing TC just realized why he/she needs to put off having children for a few more years… if at all.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 43

It occurred to me recently that I’ve never been without Dave or the kids a single night since we got married.  When Charlotte and Thomas are with my parents, Dave is with me.  And when Dave is in Washington state, I’m always with our two.  Honestly, I have never once thought about it being any other way.  No desire for a girls-only weekend or escape.  My refuge is with my family.  My weekend is reserved for them and any activity that can’t include Dave and the kids is one I’ll dread if it tears me away too long.  Perhaps it’s the many years of “me” time I experienced in my 20s.  I had a thousand free afternoons and nights where I controlled the remote.  Only my voice interacting with someone on the other end of the phone line to break the silence.  I don’t miss those moments because the joy I derive from the contrast–married life with kids–is so great, I would never trade it back.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 43

Note to fast food chains everywhere:  Do not include toys in kids’ meals that resemble rodents!  Exhibit A, the above pictured plastic piece.  Thomas thought it was pretty cool the thing rolls around on the kitchen tile.  Only he failed to pick it up from the floor and it was left in a little space between the pantry door and the refrigerator.  When I opened the door and caught a glimpse of it in the periphery of my right eye, I started flailing my arms and stuttering and collapsing in a way that was later described by Dave as the makings of some sort of attack.  Like a stroke or cardiac arrest or fainting that would involve smelling salts to bring you back to consciousness.  I can’t help it.  Of course I thought it was a mouse and, as you may recall, one moved in with us when we settled in to our new house just one year ago.  I am still not over it and this recent incident brought back all the pain and suffering.  No, I am not going to get an attorney to sue the restaurant that chose to stuff that disgusting brown and black thing next to a pack of fries.  But I did toss it in the trash immediately so as not to again upset my family enough to think Mommy was finally having that nervous breakdown.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 43

Two new lists I knew you’d want to see:

Top 10 Boy Baby Names of 2011    

Liam

Jacob

Mason

Ethan

Aiden

Logan

Noah

Jayden

Lucas

Joshua

Top 10 Girl Baby Names of 2011

Sophia

Emma

Isabella

Olivia

Chloe

Madison

Ava

Abigail

Lily

Emily

Source: Circle of Moms

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 43

Dave and I enjoy politics.  We watch televised debates regularly and talk about candidates and campaign commercials.  But outside of our interest in the South Carolina primary, this past weekend was consumed with The Wiggles.  Since Charlotte became a regular viewer of the Australian foursome’s TV show then Thomas became a superfan, watching or listening to every DVD and CD by the group we can buy is mandatory.  I find myself singing Wiggles tunes in my head.  Dave and I react to familiar ditties playing on the flipdown DVD behind our heads with comments like, “I love this song,” or “Sam is a really good singer.”  And that’s the subject that’s consumed us.  The Wiggles announced Greg  (the yellow Wiggle) is coming back to replace Sam.  Sam replaced Greg five years ago when health issues sidelined him.  Big drama has ensued now that it’s been revealed Sam was only getting paid chump change–out of a $25 million+ haul by the group last year alone.  What really set off fans worldwide–a coldhearted interview on Australia’s version of the Today show during which Anthony showed little care or concern for Sam after he spent more than a decade as a dancer and then full-fledged Wiggle.  Dave and I discussed the topic all weekend.  And searched for info online.  Thomas and Charlotte weighed in with their concerns about Sam’s wellbeing yet support for Greg’s comeback.  If you are now thinking Tara and her family are a little bit on the crazy side of the fence, you would be correct.  That’s what having kids does to you.  It makes you care about things that years ago would have never been on your radar.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 43

A snow day never unfolds at our house as pictured in a children’s book.  The kids did get to play outside–for like 5 minutes.  Because it’s always too windy and cold here to actually enjoy the snow.  I did have some hot chocolate ready for them.  But that was about the only idyllic touch to the morning as they were SO crabby.  One little thing goes wrong and they snap.  Thomas got a time out.  Sissy came close.  Mommy and Daddy, gratefully, got a long one when our neighbor invited the kids over for lunch and an hour of play.  I took a nap for 45 minutes since I got to bed at 1:20am.  Driving in to work I saw one mailbox knocked off its base, two drivers stuck in the snow and people bundled up outside to smoke.  Depressing trip, really.  It got worse when I ordered pizza for Dave and the kids over the phone… the guy said, “Thank you, Sir.”  My voice is not that deep.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 43