When you run instead of walk everywhere, you’re more likely to fall and fall hard.  That’s what happened to Sissy when Friday afternoon at my parents she was sprinting down the sidewalk in clunky pink snow boots with her hands in her pockets.  She tripped and her face scraped over the concrete, as her hands weren’t free to break her fall.  When Papa brought her inside, she was upset but not enough for us to realize how bad it was–until a short while later when the swollen lip was accompanied by long scratch marks and a loose front tooth.  The scrape above her brow was the worst, but no blood fortunately.  As timing would have it, our family Christmas picture was scheduled for yesterday morning.  The above photo does not reveal how messed up poor Charlotte’s face looks.  Thanks to photo shop and a skilled photographer, though, I will soon post the results of our shoot with a scratch-free little girl.  It was just like Mommy who broke her nose in 8th grade playing softball–the day before school pictures!

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 29

If you get annoyed by people who seem to have a knack for stress-free Christmas shopping that wraps up early and includes a lot of good deals, then STOP READING NOW.  I am one present short of being done with it all.  And everything but a handful is wrapped thanks to a certain department store that does it for free.  Perhaps the bonus, in our house Santa doesn’t use gift wrap.  He sets it all out on the floor and stuffs it in the stockings with no need for paper or tape or too much time.  I love that about him!  Now for the twist of luck/fate when it comes to bargains… Saturday my two had their first face-to-face of the season with the Jolly One.  Amazingly Thomas had the courage for a handshake with Sissy’s encouragement.  Neither made it on the lap.  Thankfully I was within earshot to discover Charlotte wants a big Barbie and Thomas wants a Scooby Doo race car.  What?  Where did they come up with these items?  The next morning I opened the newspaper to discover a 3-foot Rapunzel doll was half-off at a local retailer as part of a 4-day pre-Black Friday sale.  (Yes, it’s come to that.  Big pre-sales for bigger sales.)  It looked enough like a big Barbie that I found my way to the toy aisle to snag the last one on the shelf.  In the next aisle filled with video game stuff for kids, I told another shopper there were too many choices.  She kindly brought to my attention a computer-like notepad for children with a real keyboard on sale for $10 (with a coupon).  There was one left, which she let me have because she already bought two, and she handed over the coupon to get the discount.  Talk about holiday cheer!  Throw in a ton of $1 stocking stuffers and this Santa is so far ahead of the game it’s thrilling.  As for the Scooby Doo race car, further investigation revealed the 2-year-old subject was temporarily confused and has since repeated twice that he really wants “Wiggles”!  Perfect.  2 Wiggles DVDs are on their way just in time for Santa to deliver them.  I should be an elf in my next life.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 29

I mentioned earlier this year we let Charlotte quit a Saturday morning dance class because she stopped wanting to go.  As Dave pointed out, the move meant we would now have one day a week that wasn’t filled with a regular obligation.  A day just for us!  It was one of the most freeing things we’ve done as parents–for us and our kids.  So it won’t surprise you that in recent weeks when Sissy said she didn’t want to go to her only outside-of-preschool activity, tumbling, we agreed with her.  I know she loved the class more than any other thing she’s tried, but the reality is every Monday evening Charlotte is coming off a full day of preschool with no nap and she’s really tired.  The ultimate validation came when I called her very supportive instructor.  She said the same thing happens with a lot of little ones–they need a break and put the extracurricular stuff on hold until they’re older.  Adding that some times she has to convince the parents not to bring their children to another meet or tournament, that it’s too much too soon for some of them.  I loved her honesty.  Charlotte will have countless opportunities to join clubs and to participate in sports from the moment she hits kindergarten next year.  I refuse to push her/force her/pressure her to do anything like this at 4-years-old.  The list of things I was involved with from 4th through 12th grades is so long, I don’t even remember all of it.  What I keep telling people I talk with about this, “She has the rest of her life to be over-scheduled!”  So true.  Now in addition to Saturdays, my family has taken our weeknights back.  And I have zero regrets.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 29

Of course the night when we forget for the first time in a long time to have Charlotte go potty before bed, we are awakened with her between us at 4:30am to discover she peed.  Nothing a quick change and towel throw over the (small) wet spot won’t fix.  And we were back to sleep.  Then Thomas was hollering from his crib about an hour later.  Daddy brought him in to hopefully go back to bed with Charlotte and me… but you know how that goes.  He took forever to calm down, then Sissy was fired up over who was lying where.  I was in between them but she didn’t want to be on that side.  Well no way was Thomas going to let her be in the middle… so he was cheek-to-cheek with me on my left and Charlotte laid on my stomach with her head pressed under my neck.  Realizing this sleeping arrangement was not one where any sleeping would happen, I bailed on the whole situation and we headed down for breakfast.  They were thrilled about that since they were SO hungry–yet they eat like birds most of the time.  What’s even more crazy is what transpired two nights ago when I again found myself trying to go back to sleep in between them in our bed.  Sissy wanted me to hug her and Thomas wanted to hold my ring.  So picture this, I was on my back with my left arm crossed over around Charlotte’s waist to my right.  My right hand (with the wedding band switched to it) was crossed over for Thomas to hold on my left side.  And in the middle was I, Queen Nefertiti, the Egyptian mummy who will contort her body and sacrifice sleep to please her son and daughter!

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 29

I could not resist sharing this one.  The doctored photo of Mark below is a result of the email I received yesterday:

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 29

Lately Charlotte has been following directions and listening to us the first time.  It’s a huge breakthrough.  Before Daddy and I would have to repeat the question or request, some times to the point of raising our voices before she would react.  The past couple weeks it’s been a calm, “Okay, Mommy,” in response along with action.  It’s been great.  We naturally follow it up with compliments to her and about her in her presence.  “Isn’t Charlotte a good girl?  She follows directions and listens so well.”  This pleases her.  Thomas, soaking it all in, has added, “I’m good, too.”  I go along with him, but we’re still in the throes of the terrible twos with that one.  Charlotte is just so much better about responding, even acknowledging stuff she would have previously pretended not to hear.  And a big improvement with the clothes selection.  Yesterday morning her ripped jeans and short-sleeved T-shirt were a no go, I told her.  She promptly changed into a long-sleeved shirt and appropriate jeans–well, after I insisted a second time.  But still, it’s a move in the right direction.  The topper, last night she laid out her outfit for school and this morning presented me with a My Little Pony-stickered “frame” she made for me.  “Because you are a special mom!”  I love that kid.  The 2-year-old, too!

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If there is one thing I would tell husbands or wives-to-be, it’s prepare to compromise.  That’s what marriage is all about and why I wasn’t willing to take part in it until I was in my 30s and convinced I had found the best man to reciprocate it!  Every one of my sacrifices can be equally matched if not exceeded by Dave’s list.  Let’s see… I was willing to marry a divorced man with two older children knowing it would pretty much take a miracle to have biological children of our own.  Dave was willing to quit the job he loved, move halfway across the country away from his family and the only place he’d ever lived and go back to school to get certified to teach special needs when he already had his Master’s.  That’s a lot of give and take.  5 years later many miracles and blessings have resulted from our union built on compromise.  We had two children together in 3 years.  And after doing special needs for 5 years, Dave is back teaching PE and strength training.  No way could I have predicted how much our willingness to compromise would turn out so beautifully for BOTH of us.  At least you always hope your spouse is just as content!

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 29

Lately when morning comes, all four of us are in the same bed.  I honestly don’t know how and when it all happens.  I’ve explained before that when Thomas wakes up in his crib and starts hollering for us down the hall, one of us races in to get him so as not to disturb Sissy in her bedroom across the hall.  I’ve been so tired this week, I don’t recall hearing my 2-year-old calling for us or recognizing Daddy has come to get him until I wake up and realize he’s on my pillow.  Then at some point Charlotte stumbles in and climbs over Thomas and me to get to the spot left between her brother and Daddy.  Thankfully it’s a king bed and my munchkins are on the slender side so we all fit.  But Thomas is worse than Charlotte when it comes to nuzzling his way on top of me.  I have resorted to half my head on the pillow and a fetal sleeping position with my knees dangling over the edge.  This morning I was so out of it I could hardly react to the squabbling between the monkeys in the middle.  Touching, poking, kicking and pushing don’t mix well with a 5am unexpected wake-up.  Then I realized there was more room on Charlotte’s other side.  Poor Daddy was down sleeping on the living room couch!  At least it was his choice and I didn’t banish him there.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 29

Happy to report both my children received good reviews from their preschool teachers.  In fact, some of the skills they’ve master at 2 & 4 are quite impressive.  Thomas knows his colors and a few shapes, including a pentagon.  I still struggle with that one.  Charlotte is practicing things like cutting and tracing… and get this, sewing a button on!  I had to admit, that’s more than Mommy is doing on the domestic front.  Perhaps the best news is that both children are (for the most part) well-behaved and well-mannered in class.  They listen.  That’s huge.  And that’s what you want–your kids at their best when you’re not around.  Sadly they are often at their worst in your presence.  But now that I know things like sweeping and wiping off tables are a part of their school day, I’ll just hand over a broom and wet rag when they start to act up.  Thank you, teachers, for making my job easier.  Any chance I can drop off a couple items with loose buttons to have some 4-year-old repair?

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 29

Charlotte is obsessed with age lately.  She asks me multiple times a day about mine and Daddy’s.  She also retains previously mentioned ones.  Like that Nana/Papa are both 65.  Last night, though, she went a bit too far.  “When you’re 65, you’ll be in a wheelchair,” she told me matter-of-factly.  It didn’t stop there.  “When you’re 78, you’ll really, really be in a wheelchair.  And when you’re 90, you’ll really, really, really be in a wheelchair.”  I pretty much didn’t deny that could happen some day.  But I had to ask, “Will you push me when I’m in a wheelchair?”  This stumped her.  She shrugged her shoulders uncomfortably and smiled nervously.  “Daddy will!”  That was her conclusion.  Already at 4 she’s making plans to avoid caring for an elderly parent.  Scheming to get out of visits to the nursing home that might require her wheeling me around the parking lot.  Interesting point about her father, I thought.  “Yes, hopefully Daddy will be able to do that,” I replied.  Adding, “if he’s not already in a wheelchair.”  You know when I’m 90, he’ll be 103!

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 29