Love this quote

"We are such spendthrifts with our lives. The trick of living is to slip on and off the planet with the least fuss you can muster. I'm not running for sainthood. I just happen to think that in life we need to be a little like the farmer, who puts back into the soil what he takes out." -Paul Newman

Proud mama

There are so many moments I find myself smiling because I am proud of my daughter. Today, especially, was one of those days.

I had my first parent/teacher conference with P's preschool. At first I kind of giggled at the thought of having a parent/teacher conference for preschool, but then I realized I *did* want to know how she was doing. I spend so much time with her and think I know her so well, but really, how do I know what she is like in class? She could be the bossy tyrannical friend who steals all the toys, or she could be the quiet little wall flower. Hanging with her everyday, I doubt either one of those descriptions is true about my little P, but really, I don't/didn't know. I was pretty excited to go and find out what the teachers had to say about my little princess.

School was canceled for the kids so the teachers could do conferencing. Hubby took the morning off, and the school provided babysitters (parent volunteers) for the kids while parents met with teachers. I love this school, and love that P's experience has been so positive. She is only three. She needs lots of play, love, and guidance...and I feel she gets that there. The teachers sat down with us and went through the folder they keep for her. It had pictures of her playing with other kids, a drawing she did in her journal (I hope I get this at the end of the year so I can scan it in), and other reflections of the things they do in class such as patterns, cutting with scissors, painting, etc. There are two teachers for P's class of 16, and they both know each kid very well. They told us they loved P and that she was very mature for her age. She shares, she is a leader, and she is the one they usually make an example of because she is doing something "right" - as in sitting in a chair or being quiet and listening when they are gathering everyone to go outside to play. They said she is very detail-oriented and always keeping herself busy.

Hubby and I were both glowing when we left. We even took a bucket of toys home to wash.

Running with Asthma

I started the couch to 5K running program because I have always wanted to run a 5K or a race of some sort. For me, running is emotional because I have *never* been able to do it because of my asthma. I have been able to workout inhaler-free on the elliptical, aerobics (as long as they aren't too jumpy), and other types of exercise...but running is a whole other ballgame.

It is hard.
The hardest workout I have ever done.

I used to be the step aerobics queen - jazzercise, Bally's, etc. I could step for hours and then do interval weights. Of course, since having children I have had to work myself back up to being fit again and I have been hitting the gym at least 3 times a week for about 5 or 6 months now. But, even all that work has not prepared me for running!

I find myself with the running bug and I desire to do it. I have a cousin who finished the NYC Marathon yesterday (26.2 miles), friend who ran the Columbus 1/2 (13.1 miles) back in May, a cousin who has run two 5Ks (3.2 miles each) in 3 months (and trained in 3 weeks!), and a few Book Club buddies who have run various length races.

I see how those women succeeded and it gives me motivation. I know I can do it. Yesterday, running was a failure for me and I felt pretty defeated. I couldn't do the 20 minute run on the training podcast. I had to go back and do the run that was two 8 minute runs. I think the problem was that was the first time I ran outside, had various inclines, and it was cold. With exercise induced asthma, cold triggers an attack. I take my inhaler before I run to help keep the symptoms at bay, but today it didn't work like it had worked inside. I think running small hills and being cold, AND I think I was running too fast. I ran an 8 minute mile. I read through some forums about asthma and running an many of them say they run an 11.30 mile and increase to a 10.30. Makes total sense. My second run was so much better because I ran slower - even with the inclines.

I decided I was going to do the 20 minute run today, and that was that. The kids had dentist appointments and then we headed to the rec center. On the way I was telling P that I had a run to do. She said "mama, just be sure to take it slow. don't run fast or you will get out of breath." She listens....even though I accuse her of NOT listening most of the time. Anyhow, I did it! I ran 20 minutes - slow, but sure and am very proud of myself. Today is not a day for me to be humble. haha!

Name Writing

I cannot believe my 3 year old just wrote her name.


This was in the birthday card to her cousin Hailey.

I guess I am in awe because I haven't worked with her that much on writing. I mean, we work on it some for fun, but I never push her. And, hubby asked if they practice it in preschool - well, not right now. Maybe later in the school year just for introduction, but they are totally about learning through play...not academics at such a tender age of 3. She seems to really like reading and writing. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that she is picking up how to write letters. I am just very proud of her, and she was pretty proud of herself and practiced even when I left the room. cute.

1 and 1/2...and my little apple dumplin'

All I want to do is smooch my little boy all the time! I love his chubby little cheeks and his sweet smile...his hair, his cute personality - he's just my adorable bundle of warm fuzzies. He's nothing like my husband. hahaha!

He had his 18 month check up and is growing like a weed! Far surpassing his sister at this age.

35 inches tall
28 lbs 2 oz
Over the 100 %ile for height
75th %ile for weight

He cried for a while after his shots, and didn't like the fact that he had to wear a band-aid.

He is wearing 18 month and 24 month clothing - many of them passed on to us. I can't thank friends enough for their generosity. We are lucky!

She loves preschool

I wasn't sure how P was going to do in preschool. I knew in the deep downs that she was going to love it, but the separation anxiety issue was giving me anxiety. In ballet class she wouldn't let me leave her, and had to sit in my lap the whole time. At Open Heart Camp she cried and cried because she didn't want me to leave her. I ended up staying two of the three days...luckily, it was fun for me and E too. :)

Given that, I was worried.

Well, the first day came. This day was only for an hour and the parents stayed with the children. We dropped bubbies off at Auntie Carol's and I pep talked her as we drove to school. "Ooh, I am so excited to go to your school! You are going to have so much fun! We get to meet your teachers" and so on and so forth. When we got there she was excited, but then she turned into a maniac. She screamed, threw a fit, yelled at the top of her lungs "I am going home! I want to go home! I am not staying here!" Then proceeded to sit in the corner by the door, as pictured here:
Yeah, it wasn't going well. All the teachers looked at me with their eyes saying "its okay...awe poor little thing...but we promise she'll be fine." P and I took our time sitting in that doorway. I was trying coaxing mechanism in the book, but even the fact that I was staying with her wasn't comforting her in the least. After about 20 minutes I got her in the door. It was hard for maybe the first 5 minutes in the room...and, I think all the colorful walls, play areas, books, and a trip to show her the playground piqued her interest. She started calming down.
We were called to circle and given a scavenger hunt game to do with the kids. P turned into an excited, interested little girl. She couldn't wait to find the teddy bears, the crayons, and the puzzles. It was fun! Then we had a tea party, played with dolls, and then we sat in circle as the teachers read a Clifford book. The teachers asked prompting questions throughout the book and my little P was the one who spoke up - not shy in the least! Who was this child that was sitting in the corner mere minutes ago? We took a trip to the playground where she played with new friends in the sandbox and then it was time to go!
The next week it was much easier. This time I took her to class and then went to a coffee across the hall for an hour. The teachers had to remind her to say good-bye - she was so happy to be there she didn't even care if I was in the room! Uhm...okay. Well, there you go.

Since then, each day of preschool she gets so excited. This passed week I didn't even walk into class to help her wash her hands, she did everything herself. I just waved....she didn't see me. Guess she loves it. That makes me happy.

She is a much better artist than I am....

Smitten

I love how smitten hubby is with P (bubbies, too) - she really has his heart. He loves the little things she does and when we are winding down for the night, he reflects on his kids and talks to me about them. Tonight John and Geni were leaving and P wanted to see their dog. We walked her out and before they left P said "let's kiss the dark!"

I mentioned to hubby that I was so happy he remembered little times like that, or pointed them out to me. I don't remember those little cute things...b/c for me they happen all day long. I need to keep better track of this stuff, though, b/c I forget those special little sayings or moments.

And it begins...

"It has started! You'll be going to things for the rest of her life. " says my mom as we discuss P's preschool orientation. I was telling my mom how nervous I was and how I couldn't believe the time had come to ship my daughter off to school. We both agreed she would love it and was clearly ready to handle preschool at her tender age of 3. I think I am the one not ready to handle it!

I went to P's preschool orientation for the parents last night and was thrilled with what I saw. I loved her teachers, the director, the classroom. It was all too perfect. She'll be in a class with 15 other students and two teachers, who both have over 17 years experience in teaching preschool. They are the type of women that if you met them on the street you would probably guess they work with children or a charitable organization. They were so sweet, smiley, and thorough with what to expect from the first day and throughout the year. They discussed the fun stuff, the snack stuff, the potty stuff, but my favorite part was when one of them said: "After just a couple of weeks, I assure you, we will have fallen madly in love with your children." I could tell she meant it. I knew then that I had chosen the perfect place for my little P. I want to remember the sweet smile hubby gave me when I looked to see his reaction.

It felt like such a special place. As you walk up there were raised boxes full of veggies - I assume the church garden for food donations (growing some fall lettuces, root veggies, tomatoes on the vine). The room was colorful, playful, full of books, a wall with each child's name and birthday individually placed on a flower or a tree, and most importantly, the feel of love and respect. A very nice lady selling book bags for the students that she will personalize and have ready for the first day of school. I bought one for P that has a princess on it with a purple and pink tutu, and her name...hope she isn't disappointed because she told me she wants a Princess or a Dora backpack.

such a dreamy experience...I feel so sappy right now....

Adding to the mayhem.

I think I am either depressed or putting myself in a depression, and I need to snap out of it. Things just keep happening - on top of everything else.....

The kids and I were playing in the big grassy area behind our house and a man was walking his dog. He was the nicest man and his enormous German Shepherd was the nicest dog I've ever met, except for my old trainer's dog Rain. This dog was so docile and sweet, and loved playing ball with my kids. Well, the kids got tired and started walking for the gate to get in our backyard. I didn't realize P was about to open it and my two dogs charged out after the German Shepherd. They started attacking it and chasing it. My dogs are minute in comparison to the German Shepherd, and I think the German Shepherd understood that. She thought she could just outrun them, well, as she ran my dogs kept jumping up and attacking her. I couldn't get them and the kids kept running toward the action. I was sick with fear of a dog fight and sick with fear that whoever won would be in a rage and hurt my children.

I yelled at the kids to stay back and tried running to get my dogs - dumb, b/c I can't keep up with a running dog. The man got his dog to finally come to him and I snatched Piper and he immediately went into a submission. I carried him back home, disgusted. Loki ran off.

The kids were scared to death. I was scared to death. The man laughed and said "well, this isn't a very nice way to end a very nice evening." really?! ya think? I had the kids with me and we had to hunt down Loki. P pretended she was on a quest, and that was cute enough to break the horrible angst I was feeling over the situation. Luckily, Loki didn't get too far, but I had to carry her fatty boom-battiness back to the house. I had been worried about the dog, and for due cause.

Saturday morning the man showed up at our doorstep. Seems his poor dog has lacerations on her face, paw, and body. He stopped by to make sure our dogs had their shots. We told him that he should get her checked out in case she needed stitches and that we'd pay their vet bills. I also asked him to keep us updated on her healing progress. I was seething at my dogs when he left. I couldn't even look at them. So, we now need to wait and see if the German Shepherd is fully okay.

Then....Big stops by and informs me there is a dead robin on my front patio furniture. Seems it flew into our big new window and died. Well, I am superstitious and I know that a dead bird on your porch means bad luck. As much as I want to think that is silly is as much as I am feeling the bad luck. I ended up being in a such a poor mood and plain tired that I skipped my reunion. My house smells like dust and paint and I am having a hard time breathing. And, just found out my stroller has a recall notice from the CPSC. Nice.

I am being short with my kids and that makes me feel like a horrible mother.

Seriously, I need to snap out of it.

So, yes, now it is getting to me.

Seriously, I am OVER it today. I am so tired of not having a kitchen or living room, everything dusty and in shambles, never being able to find anything, and changing poopy pants. My car had a leak in one of the back shocks, is making a lovely noise when I drive it (which I am told is just "cupped" tires), and now my dryer is buzzing all the time and someone has to come look at it. I missed getting P into tumbling, and have to go shopping for my 20 year class reunion. I have nothing to wear and I suspect shopping for something is going to be as dreadful as poking myself in the eye with a pencil.

My chest is tight all the time with anxiety and getting little help from hubby with the kids lately b/c of all the work. And to top it off, I am told to not expect things to get done really soon. "We have to wait for the contractor's schedule, then we have to order the countertops, which take a while to get in. You can't have a sink until we have countertops." Why can't it just be "next week the contractor lays the floors and sets up the kitchen. We'll order a dishwasher so you have it to help with dishes and get the stove in so you have someplace to cook other than the toaster oven and hot plate."

If it was just hubby and I complaining would be useless because we could handle it....AND I'd be at work most of the day and not in this pile of rubble. Throwing two very young children in the mix makes me feel overwhelmed and annoyed at the situation. Also, the fucking fire alarm keeps going off each time I use the toaster. One more thing, if hubby calls one more day and asks if we are out having fun when the baby has naptime I am going to lose my shit.

ahhhhh......

Now that the volcano has errupted, the mountain can settle.

Little hiccups

Being my age....hrumph, ahem..., I have found that life is full of u-turns, stop lights, wrong turns, and those nasty speed bumps that make you slow down. I look back on choices I made and sometimes wish things were different. What if I went away to college? What if I majored in voice instead of history? What if I chose polos instead of black leather biker jackets? What if didn't move to NYC? What if I didn't befriend that girl that truly needed me? What if I stayed one hour later? What if I didn't go at all?

Then the questions of "what if I truly stuck to my guns to never marry?" Did I truly want to grow old alone? Then, could I possibly want to not only grow old alone, but grow old without my children by my side?

Ewe. No. The most important things in my life right now are because of my choices - right or wrong. My "what ifs" can be quietly stowed away in one of the files of my brain. I'll put them in a box and look back on them when I have time. Right now, my time is for the precious joys I have in my life...and they ride the highway.

Miss P's First Summer Camp

P went to her first summer camp this week. She is doing a performance art camp with Open Heart. When I read through all the camp would entail, I thought it would be perfect for her. She loves to sing, dance, and dress up....all the things the camp offered. It was only three days for a little over two hours each day.

The first day of camp bubbies and I stayed the whole time because I thought she "needed" me there with her. When we first got there she said she wanted to go home and kept walking towards the car. I had to talk her into staying and show her that mommy was having a great time, which meant that she could too if she gave it a shot. She ended up loving it. It was a fun day of puppets, dressing up, and playing. I actually was having a tremendous time, but I wasn't the person it was for...ahem...so I tried to back off and watch my little girl do her thing and wrangle the boy. P did great. She loved hanging out with Anima & Pete, the puppeteers/actors, and loved Heidi, who is the owner/creator of the camp. She was thrilled that she was going to get to go back and play with everyone again when Wednesday rolled around.

When we got home the first day we talked about what she did, how she liked it, and how she got to dress up in a princess ballerina costume (that alone made it pretty worthwhile). I wasn't worried about taking her back on Wednesday, but I was worried about how I was going to handle it because I wanted to drop her off and leave. Part of me thought it was good practice for preschool, but part of me struggled with leaving her. I didn't want to leave her but I kind of felt I had to. I mean, c'mon, it was only for two hours. Yeah, two hours. Two very long hours for mama.

I spoke with Heidi and she assured me P would be fine and she would do everything she could to make her comfortable. Heidi told me the last thing planned was snack-time, so I told P I'd pick her up after snack. Friend Susan just took her daughter to preschool camp a few weeks ago, and said to tell P something concrete such as "I'll pick you up after snack" rather than "I'll come get you in a couple of hours." They don't really get time at this age - but they will remember that mommy will get them after they have a snack. It worked! P was more than happy to stay with Heidi, gave me a hug good-bye, and an enormous hug hello when I picked her up. I really missed her for two hours...and I cried off and on for those two hours b/c I missed her so much and hoped she was having fun. I know she'll read this one day and say "mommm - you're a dork."

Kitchen and living room construction

So it begins.

We moved into our home in the fall of 2001. We looked and looked all over Clintonville (I had lived there for years), Beechwold, Grandview (hubby lived there for years), Worthington, and even the Dublin area for a suitable abode. Suitable meaning a decent house that fit into our price range and could be inhabited without having to do immediate repair work. We had a realtor, but hubby was the one who found the home where we currently live. I loved it immediately. The big trees out front, the clean look. When I saw the inside I loved it too - hardwood flooring in the bedrooms, bright kitchen in front room, and lower living space with a laundry room that wasn't in a deep dark basement that would eventually scare me, and a private bathroom in the master bedroom (barely big enough to turn around in, but I am not a jacuzzi type, anyhow). It was great.

We even got a great deal on the house. Mainly because the owner lived in Colorado and was renting out the home to Honda employees for years. He wanted to get rid of the property so he didn't have to keep coming back to Ohio to do repair work...which was shotty, as we have been finding out over the years.

The house was soooo obviously built in the early seventies. The lower level had a bar with fake wood beams surrounding it for ambiance, paneling painted white that covered the walls, parqued flooring that was full of asbestos, and a bathroom decorated with gold wall paper. That was the first to go as far as we were concerned. We totally gutted it and replaced everything but the ceiling. The next was the deck. We had water flooding the basement, coming into the walls of the downstairs bathroom, and pooling right outside the back door. It had to be taken care of. We tore out the concrete patio and built our deck. Then we knew we wanted kids and I got pregnant with P. She needed a decent room, so we did her nursery. Then along came bubbies, so we did his nursery. Next was the laundry room - it was dank, dark, and disgusting. You can see my update from a previous post here. All along we were wishing we could do the kitchen!

Well, we finally have the money and have decided to redo the kitchen. Not only redo the whole kitchen, but take out the wall between the living room and the kitchen to open up the whole space. Everything must go. We are getting new cabinets, an island, hardwood flooring, new windows, new slider, all new appliances, new kitchen table, and a more liveable space. I feel better when a space flows, and right now it doesn't. When you walk in, the only way to the kitchen is around a big wall, and then while in the kitchen the long counter creates a barrier between getting to the fridge and getting outside. I can't wait to demolish it all!!!!!

Where we are now is....we have the new windows in and the cabinets were delivered yesterday. Today hubby is picking up the flooring and then tomorrow a couple of friends and hubby will be taking up the tile. good- bye awful white tile, may you RIP.

Another poopy update

Man, P is random, random, random. Yesterday morning she totally went poo on the potty for daddy - and announced it to the guys that were putting in our new windows. She was so proud of herself. She got to wear her leotard and tutu AND her ballet slippers for that one. But then....

We had to stick around the house all day because were getting windows put in. I decided later in the day that since were we hadn't been out I'd take them for Frosties and the park. We drove through Wendy's to get two baby Frosties and went over to the park with the little picnic table. They enjoyed sitting there eating their little frozen delights, which they really each only at about 1/4 and wanted to put them in the trash can, and then they ran to the swings. We swinged, we took the magic lane to the open field and ran up and down the hill. It was so fun. P even saw a couple of boys without their shirts on playing tennis. She promptly yelled - hey, why are you boys naked?? They just laughed, it was cute. I did a cartwheel, even.

Well, then it happened. We were walking back to the car to get the big ball to kick around, and suddenly she decided to hide under the gym set. OOVVVVFFFF course there was no place I could get her to quickly to poo, so she did it in her pants. I was SO mad. All I could think was my car is going to be ruined. Luckily, I put a diaper on over her panties and got her home. I didn't talk to her all the way home. I acted like it was a mission to get home and get her cleaned up. She could tell I was upset. This is it, though, and this is the part that ticked me off.....she sat in her car seat, looked directly at me and said "SQUIIIIIIIIISH. SQUIIIIIIISH." while she moved her butt into her seat. As if the poo was a big joke. She had already peed her pants earlier and didn't tell me, nor did she listen to me when I said we had to get changed. Did I breed a newspaper-for-pants kind of girl?

Anyhow, I made a decision that I am not proud of, but now I have to follow through with it. I told her she needed to earn back her tiara and princess dress. I put them away and told her she needed to poo and pee in the potty for one week to earn them back. I put a chart on the fridge and everything. She cried and cried - it totally broke my heart. But, nothing has worked up to now, so I am hoping this will work. If not, I am just a big mean mom.

Potty Training the Girl

Potty training is like pulling out eyebrow hairs - painful, inconsistent, and if you don't keep on top of them they just do their own wild and unruly thing.

I have been potty training P since before she was two...and she is now three. This means for over a year I have been cleaning up accidents, begging, pleading, bribing, cheering, flushing, and rewarding. I can't even write how many times I have cleaned up turds off the floor. I even have pictures of turds in random places in my house. The one by the play kitchen was my favorite because the thing sat in front of the oven like it belonged there. Yes, turds in the house. I am just very, very thankful the dogs never wanted to indulge. They just eat their own from time to time.

We had an awesome day on Saturday. The girl pooed in the "Elmo" potty. We have two potties: Elmo, which is a seat on the big potty, and the "Froggie Potty," which is a little kids potty you have to empty into the big potty. She prefers to poo in Elmo and pee in Froggy...whatever floats your boat, I guess. Her pooping in Elmo was a huge triumph for us because she would rather poo in her underwear or hold it than to poo in the potty. It has been a struggle for me because it is really gross to clean up, and it is frustrating when I know she can do and just doesn't. She has pooed in the potty countless times....why can't she do it everyday? She knows how, and she has been rewarded BIG time for doing it.

On Saturday when she pooed she got a tiara and a princess dress. She had been holding it for three days and trying and trying to poo. She kept complaining about her tummy hurting and I told her to just go. She refused. Then finally, she did it - and I had to go over the top in hopes this was the beginning of consistency.We went to Target and she went around telling everyone she saw "I got a sparkly tiara and a sparkly dress because I put a big snaky poo in the toilet." Yes, folks, everyone. She even stopped two little girls to tell them and their mommy. She told the cashier in a very loud voice what she did too. It was really funny, but kind of embarrassing for me. My kid yelling about that she did a big snaky poo made me laugh nervously.

Look, Mama! I pooped!

I thought we were on the road to pooing-in-the-potty land, and then we went to our friend's for dinner. I heard the other girls yelling "ewwe! gross! she pooped in her pants! It is everywhere!" My heart went into my shoes. I knew what happened and I was really upset. I was upset because she pooed her pants, it was a friend's house and got all over their floor and the playhouse, and because she didn't tell me she had to go. It was so embarrassing for me, but not for her! She needed a bath, new clothes and a pull-up because I didn't bring anything. It didn't bother her in the least - she was excited to play with the other girls' bath toys. We were only going for dinner and I thought for sure if she had to go she'd tell me. Not so...and I have learn a lesson that I need to be prepared for those types of accidents.

I seriously hope she never does that in public. I don't know what the heck I would do! Thankfully my friend was understanding.

She asked that bubbies stand next to the poo and take a picture, too.

Ah, melanoma

I went in for my (supposed to be 6 month...oops) skin check-up and seems I had a new weird looking mole on my left breast. They suggested I remove it because of its shape and color. The odds are that it is not melanoma, and chances of it being abnormal are 50/50. If it is abnormal I will have to remove more tissue around the area in question. I am praying for a clean scan so I don't have to undergo more stitches (I hate stitches), but I'll do whatever I need to do.

Right now it is a small incision of only two stitches - easily covered with a Nemo water-proof bandage. I could have chosen Pooh, but P likes Nemo better. I have to wear a sports bra all day and to sleep in for three weeks. Now, sports bras don't typically bother me, but being "tied down" for 24 hours sucks. They recommend the bra to lessen the scarring from the incision. Because of the location, the skin will open up 40% causing a stretched scar already, and keeping the girls from juggling about should help keep it from opening further. Sounds kind of gross, doesn't it? ha!

The doc suggested a scar cream which is a mere (har har) $50/small bottle. I spoke with hubby and he said "why? do you really mind your scars? I sure don't!" Good friend Heather said the same kind of thing - she said she never even questions the scar on my arm. It is just a part of who I am. I am grateful that I am a 10 year cancer survivor and hope that I have tens of years before I have to ever face that beast again! I was so lucky too - no chemo, just a few stitches on my arm. I can't wear anything on that arm like a watch or a bracelet because it still hurts to this day, but that doesn't bother me in least. At least I have an arm - at least I have a life and my melanoma was just a minor bump in the road.

Cute! Cute!

I have been really watching my kids lately, or should I say "observing" them. Both of them have certain things they do and I grab them and kiss, kiss, kiss them. They get so annoyed with me sometimes, but I don't care - I can't take not smothering them with love when they push the love button.

For instance:

• bubbies saying "chuuuuzzz" and giving an adorable toothy grin when you pull the camera out to take his pic. I have learned that smile and can pick it when I look at pictures. P's "cheese" is pretty obvious...take a look:
• He waves like it is the last time he'll ever see you again. It is a big all-arm wave with a big smile that just melts my heart everytime I see him do it.
• The walk and nod. When he is singing to himself he takes big steps and nods his head back and forth while looking at the ground.
• Speaking of singing - he is trying to talk and sing. Right now I can make out Baa Baa Black Sheep and he requests My Bonnie when I put him to sleep.
• Miss P and chapstick...or lipstick as she calls it. Before bed I'll read her books and then she hops off my lap telling me she'll be right back. She goes into my make-up drawer and puts on her "lipstick" and then proudly says that NOW she is ready for bed. If she comes in to sleep with me in the middle of the night she stops in my bathroom to put on her "lipstick."
• P uses words such as huge, gigantic, freakin' me out, gorgeous...I love her vocabulary.
• She knows we are at the zoo b/c she reads the sign. She can spot certain words now...if I worked with her more I could quite possibly have an early reader on my hands. She has been writing the letters "L", "O", and "T"....like I mentioned, if I work with her more....
• P likes to change words in songs, but ever so slightly. Songs that have a boy doing something we change it to a girl doing something, or as in White Coral Bells we change the last verse to the "fairies WON'T sing." not sure why.

Now, say "cheese!"

The latest

I seriously need to start using my iPod touch recorder....especially since that is the main reason hubby bought it for me. I want to record myself reading to the kids so they have a copy of me reading books to them or singing our favorite songs. I also want to record them singing, talking, etc. We have tapes from when my Grandma B. taped us. She had this incredible recording "studio" in her house. It was pretty advanced for the time.

She would play her favorite records and then dub in her voice so it sounded like she was singing the song. The music with her singing would be recorded on a cassette tape that we would then play in the car on our excursions to the grocery store or the pool. I used to think it was the best thing EVER. She was so awesome. Her favorite singers were Ann Margaret and Sheena Easton. damn I loved that woman.

I have a tape somewhere of me singing "Sugar Town" by Nancy Sinatra when I was 9 years old. I used to sing that song and "You Light Up My Life" for talent shows throughout school and my acting classes with Steve Anderson (who now, I believe, heads up Phoenix Theater Circle). I also LOVED the The Beatles. We sang a lot of "I Wanna Hold Your Hand."

Anyhow - vocal recordings are wonderful to listen to later in life. My cousin and I laugh our asses off at some of the stuff Grandma B. recorded us doing. I love having that memory and the audio cassettes to listen to...if I could find a cassette recorder anywhere...ha!

No jogger is safe

No jogger is safe from harassment when my daughter is around. I was walking the kids in the stroller this afternoon and a nice man jogged passed us. He said hello and gave us a smile and went on his merry way. P noticed he was not wearing a shirt, and proceeds to yell:

"Hey you are naked. Put your shirt on."

"Hey, man, did you hear me?"

"mommy, that man is naked." I explained it was hot and men sometimes exercise without their shirts. She yells:

"my mommy said it is okay you are naked. now run faster"

"faster, run faster"

"mommy, why won't he run faster?"

Then we pass him again. She sees him coming our way and promptly puts the lid down on her stroller and screams:

"there is that naked man again!"

He just smiled. I smiled and shrugged my shoulders.