Say It Isn't So

All good things must come to an end? Who said that? That's a pretty negative way to speak. But, alas, it's true in this case. My vacation is nearing it's end and will soon . . . sniff . . . be over.

I went back today to begin set up. I didn't really get that much done because we couldn't move the furniture because the carpets are supposed to be shampooed on Monday. At first I was angry and boasted defiance. However, after careful examination of the carpets I realized that they were in great need of a wash. So, I didn't arrange the desks. What I did get done was four bulletin boards (Thanks Ryan), some lamination, and a miniscule amount of copying.

Well, the vacation was good while it lasted. (I'll post some more photos later.) The last month I was less stressed, had a stocked refrigerator, happier kids, and a rested mommy. What do I have to look forward to? Well, sheer exhaustion, stress, demanding parents (perhaps), and less time with the kiddos (sniff again).

I will end this with two comments:
We'll enjoy the last four days to the fullest and only thirteen more weeks until I am off again!

Just So You Know

Matthew is coming off a rough bout of vaccine reactions. He had suffered for three days with a temperature of up to 102, aches, pains, and downright crankiness. He's been super clingy and just plain miserable. So, I was quite relieved this morning when he woke up saying, "Apo jus," instead of crying for Mommy. He had no fever and was basically pleasant albeit still a little irritable. Of course, you can't really blame him. He had two shots and blood drawn. Later he was looking at some books which were (and still are) strewn all over our bonus room floor. I was doing a quick email check and I hear him from his spot right outside the door say, "Owie." Then he walked in to the office and said, "Owie," again. I said, "Matthew, do you want to bring Mommy a book?" His response, "Owie," I tried again, "Matthew, do you want to listen to music?" "Owie." Finally, I said, "Are you okay?" He replied, "Yeah," and turned and left the room to go back to his books as if to say, "Just so you know, Mom."

Thank You, Oma

Nathan's Oma gave Natalie this beautiful blue floral dress a couple of weeks ago. Natalie loves dresses and anything girly so this dress is perfect. Last Thursday I took Natalie to see Surf's Up and she got all dressed up complete with glass slippers and purse. As we were leaving the theater the sun was really bright. Natalie said, " I think I need my sunglasses." She stopped, unzipped her purse and put them on. We continued walking. How cute is that?

So, thank you Oma. Natalie loves the dress! And it matches the "glass" slippers perfectly

Cotton Pickin Priceless

I just put little Mattchu down to sleep. He had a busy day swimming at a friend's house and then a rough day of a doctor's visit, shots, and bloodwork. Anyway, I read him some books, gave him his milk, and rocked him (for my sake). Then I sang him his night-night song and put him in his crib. I said goodnight to Elmo, Mickey Mouse, and Blast Off. Then I said, "Good night." He said, "Good night." I said, "I love you." Matthew replied, "I love you." I blew him a kiss. He blew me a kiss. What a sweet boy. He is now singing to himself. I love my boy.

What Did You Say?

Matthew has definitely started to talk . . . nonstop, but I had no idea how many words or phrases he actually knew. With Natalie I periodically listed and tabulated all her words. I've been too busy to keep up that (and the baby book) for Matthew. However; in honor of his eighteenth month mark I made a list. It seems that the little guy has over 125 words. I made the list last night and then as I laid down I thought of more. As I heard Daddy getting him up and changing his diaper I thought of more. And then as I sat with him at breakfast I thought of more. Of course sometimes it's still hard to get his point across. So he screams and cries. I don't blame him. Sometimes that's easier. I do it too!

Food For Thought

Today for breakfast Matthew had a scrambled egg, banana, and diluted apple juice. When the rest of the family got up he had a snack of blueberries. At lunch time he started to yell no at everything I mentioned or showed him until I figured out that he was asking for avocado. Yes, he had almost a whole avocado, cheese, tomatoes, milk, and a few goldfish crackers. Try to get any avocado when he's around and forget it. I made the mistake of cutting it up as I was preparing lunch the other day and he kept asking for more. He ate the whole thing before anyone else got any!

Finally, after three years of trying, I have one kid who eats healthy food. I won't say he makes healthy food choices because right now I pretty much guide him in his eating. But he will usually go for the good stuff. He loves all fruit, most vegetables, and eats pretty much anything I put on his plate. But I did all these things with Natalie when she was a baby - even more so. I was a fanatic about what she ate. I read all the books about good, healthy foods. I read up on good fats, bad fats, whole grain, refined sugar, and white flour. But Natalie was picky to begin with so I resorted to Gerber toddler ravioli and Gerber apples. And she ate that all the time until she was introduced to chicken nuggets at daycare. She wouldn't eat real chicken for the longest time either. I would even make my own "nuggets" by breading tiny bites of chicken. Nope, she wouldn't buy it.

Of course we've graduated to better things now. She will eat vegetables and many fruits but she still is a picky girl and is quite opposed to trying new things and she won't even be bribed - gotta give her credit for standing her ground. We usually stick to the standard: chicken, broccoli, and rice. If it looks weird or different she won't touch it. I can get her to eat whole grain rice and even couscous (we call it baby rice). Throw in some cantaloupe and we're balanced by her means.

So why does one kiddo opt to try everything, while the other eats only what she knows? Does personality dictate how adventurous or accommodating one is with food choices? Heck, who doesn't love food? It's why so much of our population is overweight. Well, that and lack of exercise might be the cause. I can say that Natalie is exactly like her father in the sense that she doesn't like change. I can also say that she is exactly like her mother in the sense that she is stubborn. Put these two together: change equals new food and stubborn equals "I am not going to try it!" That's Natalie. Thank goodness for princess vitamins and the good food she will eat.

So, I will continue to offer all the good things to both my children. I will hope that Natalie will broaden her palette even if it's little by little. I won't give up. Just the other day after a little tantrum (a hunger one I bet) she came down and ate a half of a cheeseburger (4 percent fat) which was a first. Of course, there's always bagels.

Croc - A - What?

When these first started becoming popular I thought, "How totally ugly!" I certainly didn't want them and I wasn't planning to put them on my little princess' feet. No way! Then, everyone started wearing them. You could buy cute little charms to put in them. Natalie started to gravitate towards them and ooh and aah over them. I finally gave in and bought her the immitation Sketchers ones in pink with purple swirls. They are clunky but good for schlepping around the back yard or around Target. She likes them.

Last Friday all the dance moms were talking about Crocs and how wonderful they were and how their daughters had a couple of pairs complete with jibbitz (wtf?) - the charms. Then I got to thinking, "Maybe if I buy Natalie Crocs . . . maybe just then I will fit in with these overbearing-nothing else to do-gossipy moms . . . just maybe."

I happened to read this blog in which I found someone who shared my original view on ugliness and this blog which scared the heck out of me! Yikes! But I think flip flops would be just as dangerous and perhaps that child was messing around. Although, now I will fear the escalator when my small children are in tow.

Will I get some for Natalie? Well, not in the near future. She has way too many shoes anyway. Do I still think they are ugly? Heck yeah, but perhaps they are the new jelly shoe. Remember those?

Toe Tapping Penguins on a Warm Almost-Summer Day!

Natalie's dance recital isn't until July but the dance studio was asked to perform at a local city event. Only a few of the groups were asked to dance and Nat's was one of the lucky ones. Who wouldn't want to see three and four year olds tap dance in penguin outfits? Too cute. She did well too. I was just oozing with pride. She had quite an audience too. Auntie Julie and Uncle Joe, Grandpa John and Loretta, and Grandma and Grandpa P came. Here are a few photos from the day. Natalie is on the end and there's a photo of Mattchu enjoying himself too! Of course as soon as he saw the penguins he kept saying, "Happy Feet!"

JD

Well, I have been dismissed from jury duty. It was pretty close too - right up to the wire. I was dismissed at about 4:15 from my juror number four chair. Court lets out at 4:30, so if I hadn't been dismissed by then, I would have been on the trial. Yes, I know it's my civic duty and all but I am really happy that I was dismissed for two reasons. First, it's my vacation and spending it in a courtroom would be horrible when I could be home having oodles of fun with my two beautiful babies. Second, I don't want the responsibility of someone else's fate in my hands. It's too much pressure.

How did I get off you ask? Did I act overly biased? No. I was certainly truthful because, after all, I was under oath. Sh, it's a secret. I can't have everyone knowing why and how I got dismissed. I just wasn't what they were looking for on their panel. Oh well, I am not offended!

*Edited and reposted 6/8/07

Well, Actually They Both Do!

Matthew talks nonstop and can really communicate his wants. He has been counting to ten but he doesn't know that he's counting. Yesterday, when I was at jury duty (another blog entry), I called home and Daddy put him on the phone. Matthew heard my voice and said, "Mommy," and giggled with glee. We actually had a little conversation that included, "Okay, Mommy." What a big boy! He remembers lots of things. For example, when the phone rings it just used to be "Nana." Now he remembers when he spoke to my sister and will say, "Auntie phone." If someone is sleeping, he'll put his finger to his mouth and say, "Sh, sleeping." It's usually Daddy or the dog! Ha, ha! What a little sponge!

I am sure as I get to spend more time with him (now that I am on vacation) I will see more and more wondrous things.

Natalie - Well, since I discovered that she can read I have put up the school district's sight word lists - just the first two. And . . . she has already memorized the first list of five words! I tested her out by pointing the words as I come across them in stories. These are the words she can read: see, I, like, on, a, cat, hat, bat, mat, rat, sat, fat, and pat. Then of course I can put them in sentences for her to read. Hurray for Natalie! I am so proud of her!