It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's an Airplane

Matthew is really starting to pick up language. This is good because on Saturday our sitter asked if he was as smart as Natalie. By his age Natalie had a huge vocabulary and was speaking in sentences. She understood everything! I believe that Matthew gets it and understands quite a bit. You can give him directions and he'll do exactly what you tell him. He has pretty good fine motor skills too. He eats well with a spoon and can draw with crayons or markers.
His language has been something to be desired, though. However, just the other day he surprised me with a sentence. I was changing his diaper and he said, "I see you." Very cute. Since then he has been repeating everything from colors to food to requests. Today we were out running around the backyard after dinner just me and him. An old airplane flew by really low and loud. He looked surprised to see it. I pointed at it and said, "airplane." He repeated it. Then later we heard an airplane but didn't see one. He pointed to the sky and said, "airplane." I agreed with him that I heard it but didn't see it. He held his arms out in an 'I don't know' sort of why as it to say, "Where is it?" We climbed up the slope and saw a hummingbird fluttering by. It certainly caught his attention and he pointed at it and said, "AIRPLANE!" Well, you gotta start somewhere!

Really, I'm Not Celebrating

Natalie is all about lists and putting things that she wants on her "lists." We go shopping and everything is, "I'll put this on my list." Tonight she asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I told her that I didn't know and that I'd make a list. I am not really celebrating in the sense that I am shouting from the rooftops how old I am. Hey, I used to lie about my age when I was in my twenties! So I am not celebrating.

But if I were, this is what I'd want . . .

Coach bag (but I can wait for my anniversary)
Jeans (my favorite wardrobe item) let me pick them out though
Shower gel fruity scents with lotion to match
Weight Watchers Cookbook (available at Target)
The Sneaky Chef Cookbook - good recipes for kids
Tickets to see Wicked
Charlotte's Web (dvd widescreen)
Protecting the Gift: Keeping Children and Teenagers Safe

Well, if I'm getting new jeans and new bag then I want new shoes too! And well, then, I might as just go shopping to complete the outfit. And then . . .

Sorry, I got a little carried away with the list. Just following after my daughter, that's all.

Natalie is planning on throwing me a princess party. I don't think I get to be Ariel, though.

My Angel

While we don't go to church regularly, I definately feel that religion is an important part of my children's upbringing. Early on I would talk to Natalie about God, Jesus, and sing songs that I remembered from my childhood. She took a strong liking to Away in a Manger when she was very young. I changed the words from Little Lord Jesus to Baby Jesus so she could relate it to her manger set. When she thinks of Jesus, she thinks of Baby Jesus - the one in our Little People Nativity.

Natalie and I were preparing a box for my friend's three year old daughter this morning. They lost everything in a house fire. We put in an American Girl baby. We have two others so Natalie was totally okay with giving up that one. We picked out some Play Doh colors from a package that I had been saving. Then I pulled out a brand new Cinderella princess Barbie complete with full size crown for litlle princesses. Her eyes lit up and she said, "Cinderella!" I could tell she wanted it. What three year old who loves princesses wouldn't? She took the box and held it lovingly. Then I motioned for Nat to put it into Darby's care package box and reminded her that Darby lost all her toys when "her house was fired" (as Natalie would say). "You have so many nice things," I reminded her. She looked at me and put it in the box and said, "It even has a tiara for Darby to wear."

Now, if you know a three year old, any three year old, not just Natalie, you'll know that it's hard for a kid to give up a toy that they know they'd just love. I was really proud of her, my sweet, generous, giving daughter. She put it in the box. She didn't say she wanted it. She didn't even say she'd put it on her list. So I said, "Natalie, Mommy is so proud of you. Jesus would be proud of you too." She looked at me and said, "Mommy, is Jesus all grown up now?"

Things I Have Learned

Here are some things I have learned over these past few days.

1. Olestra - you got that already.

2. Don't eat anything after severe stomach cramps (especially taquitos at lunch with guacamole). Something bigger may be coming.

3. When having severe intestinal problems, don't bother going to bed. Just lie on the bathroom floor and bring a pillow and blanket. Otherwise, you'll just keep stepping on the dog.

4. Don't order a big meal with a salad at dinner even though your husband tells you to eat. The salad will be enough and you won't eat the dinner. You are just coming off an intestinal thing. Food doesn't even sound good.

5. A casino is not fun with stomach cramps.

6. Realize that things happen and you can't help that you weren't able to go on the field trip with your class. Don't feel guilty. They wouldn't have wanted you there in your condition any way.

7. Don't stop medication cold turkey. It is definitely not good for your body and can cause some bad side effects.

Why I Will Never Eat Anything With Olestra Again

The answer is . . . because of two days of grueling, stabbing, piercing stomach pains -pains that were so sharp and unbearable I thought for sure I would be going to the emergency room. I kid you not. It was that bad. Today, I am recovering and still am doubling over in agony periodically while clutching my lower abdomen and telling Natalie, "Mommy's tummy REALLY
hurts."

Granted, I did eat more than one serving . . . but I can promise you that the rest of the bag is going in the trash (unless Ryan wants it) and I will never touch Olestra again. EVER!

Oh, and just for the record, I only had the abdominal cramps!

Vacation Memories: A Tribute to February

Although February was not that long ago, this all seems so distant. Here is tribute to my off track time.

We had fun times at home, whether it be in our backyard or at the park.

This event was a fundraiser at the park put on by our local realtor.

Matthew's first ice cream cone and he loved it. Natalie loves ice cream too but not chocolate.

I took Natalie back to school for her Valentine's Day party. She really loved passing out her Valentines and eating snacks with her friends.Or celebrating Valentine's Day at home with take out from Panda Express and presents. Natalie loved her Ariel doll and t-shirt.

And then there was the Valentine's Day party at dance class.

Or just being silly.

And then of course . . . the many trips to Disneyland. Perhaps I'll add those at a later time.

But in all reality, it was a great break. I am thankful that I have the time to stay home with them for a month every twelve weeks. It does go by pretty fast on both sides. Hey, in another ten weeks I'll be off again.

A Little Homework for Me (AKA Book Review)

Wow, I feel way too busy to be doing this. Instead of watching American Idol I am doing a book review. It kind of feels like homework. My students would be happy. It's kind of a good way to segway going back to work - do a little book report.

If you've been keeping up with me and my links you know that I've been doing this book review blog a long. I actually haven't linked to my blog but just have been emailing Kristen the writer of The Mom Trap. I definately want to thank her for including me. It's been fun. Tonight I being a little bold and writing my comments on my own blog. It makes me feel a bit nervous. What if people actually click the link and read my blog? I don't really write much about anything but my family. Unless you know me, you might find it rather dull. Me, on the other hand, love reading all the mommy blogs I've come across.

Oh well. I'll be brave.

Oh, and the teacher in me has found several typos with the most recent being on page 87 (chanceto). Now, don't go and judge me. It just pops out to me.

Part three of 1 -2 -3 Magic is titled No Child Will Thank You. It's a short section and an easy read. I read quickly tonight as Natalie took her bath. It basically goes over the six types of testing and manipulation that a child goes through to get what they want or getting revenge. These are: testing, tantrums, threatening, martyrdom, buttering up, and physical tactics. It's funny that when I read this section I thought back to my own childhood and recalled how many of these I tried and did they work. Some of them did.

The second chapter in this section (11) actually gave some scenarios and dialog of the 1-2-3 counting. I couldn't help but wonder how many were contrived. I can definately see that this discipline method could work given it's consistency; but for me the only way to tell for sure is to be hands on and try it. This past week I really haven't had much of an opportunity to use it. Natalie has been extremely good and cooperative and Matthew is just too little. Although, he is learning how to stomp his feet when he's mad. Time will tell and I will continue to count with Natalie. We used the method before I started reading the book. We just used it for everything. The next section is supposed to include how to promote the behavior and get your child to do what you want them to do. I am curious as to how that will work.

Oh, and this weekend, when I have more time, I plan to do a little photo essay of my vacation.