So it begins...

Before baby J was even born, we were told that someday soon he would know more than we do, or at least think he does. Well, it is beginning.

Yesterday we went to Legoland. If you haven't been, I encourage you to go at least once (but buy your tickets online beforehand). There is nothing that can't be done with a Lego. If you have a child with you who doesn't already own every Lego set known to mankind, plan to buy one on your way out the door several hours later. We did. We bought baby J his very first Duplo. It is a 62 piece set, which sounds like a lot more than it is, with a person, the makings for a house, alphabet blocks, 2 flowers, a cat, and a car base. I set them all out for hik so that he could play with them when he woke today. I even left out the single Duplo firetruck bought for him by a friend long ago.

I looked at all the pieces and wondered what he would create. His first task, of course, involved the car. He loaded the flowers on the base like a flat bed. I thought, "Wouldn't have been my first move, but okay." Then he took the person, put her in the firetruck. He put the cat on the back and attached it to the car base using the trailer hitch. You see, I hadn't noticed the hitch but he had formulated a creative plan in the split second that I set him at the table.

So it befan today. He is learning at a much greater level than I am. At this rate, he will know everything by the time he is twelve.

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Kissy Face (The Sequel)

In a previous post, I described baby J's "kiss" routine with all of his bath toys. Tonight, while bathing, he began handing me his toys. First, his rubber duck. "Kiss kiss". I gave his ducky a peck on the bill. Then his tug boat. "Kiss kiss". This time I gave a big smooch only to hear poppy warn, "He just peed in the tub."

No more "kiss kiss" with the bath toys.

Kissy Face

Sorry... I am very very sorry. I hadn't even realized that my last post was on June 28th. Yikes! It doesn't feel like it was that long ago.

Baby J reminded me today, though, of why I love to share little snippets of our life online. He was in the bath tub with all his Munchkin bath toys. He has a dozen or so and each is in the shape of a sea creature. He would gently lift each toy out of the water, rinse it under the faucet, give it a kiss on its mouth, then hand it to me and say "kiss kiss". This went on repeatedly until he and I had both kissed each little toy creature three times. While he was putting them all back in the tub for a fourth round, I unsuspectingly reached behind him and pulled the bath plug.

Then he climbed out of the tub and I bundled him in a towel. He walked towards the stairs and up towards bed. As he closed the gate behind him, his little pinky got caught. I quickly swooped him up only to hear "kiss kiss". And I did. Then he called poppy and asked for another "kiss kiss".

Before bed, he as usual gave us our individual hugs and "kiss kiss", then said his sweet "buh-bye" as we tucked him into bed.

I can't wait until morning. Then I will be able to have my morning "kiss kiss". I just can't get over my little kissy face.

so many things to do and so little time...

Over the course of one day, baby J becomes so many things...

the molder of Play-doh, (Due to his infatuation with all things in the shapes of balls, I taught him to roll a small clump of play-doh between the palms of his hands. He now endearingly refers to yet another object as "balls")

the maker of trouble, (the expression is "No... No." With as frequently as he says the word, people must think that we don't say anything but "No... No".)

the adventurous explorer of wetness,

the happy boy who wishes to play,

the boy who asks "Where is he?" and then playfully pops out saying "There he is!" (We would ask him this and when we'd uncover our eyes or come out of hiding, we would say "There he is!". So, if you are ever wondering why he looks cluelessly at you when you go "Peek-a-Boo", it was unintentional on our part. He knows the game, but plays it a little differently.)

the saver of pennies, (Hopefully we will instill in him the ability to be thrifty and content.)

 

and, of course, our cool guy.

I've lost baby J...

It seems that it was just 30 months ago that baby J began to form. He was my precious little stowaway.

I was a different person then. You might say that I was more of a person. But that mattered very little to me, for I had been given a gift, a little person to lovingly nurture. I had longed for that day for most of my life. As a little girl, I would wrap my dollie inside my dress and tie a ribbon around her so that I could have a "mommie belly". And when my blessing arrived, I knew very little about mommiehood; I still know very little.

That is how it began. It wasn't until today that this finally came to fruition. Honestly, how could something like this happen? One moment, you are grasping so tightly, and the next, something that you thought you couldn't live without is gone. I've lost baby J...










... I did mention that losing baby J is a metaphor for losing the weight equivalent to the little guy, right? 25 pounds down and I'm well on my way!!

Cabin Fever...

I wish that I had captured this on film, especially because it has become such a part of our daily routine. But you will have to imagine the scenario.

Imagine, baby J standing at the door or window, shoes in hand, saying "out... out". He has only grown more emphatic since inheriting a Fisher Price playhouse which at present resides in the far corner of our property. From the dining room window, he can clearly see its presence. So, he often adds to his reportoire "out... house... out". But since monsoon season so quickly approached, he doesn't understand that "out... house... out" isn't an option. And the toys inside have gotten soooo boring.

Today we will venture out in search of an indoor version of what he loves so much. If you call or come by and we aren't available, sorry. We are "out... out".

The Joy of Pulling Weeds

I always thought my mom was a little crazy- okay, a lot crazy. If you had awoken by chance at 4 in the morning, you would find her outside contentedly with a cup of coffee while sitting on the ground with a large pile of weeds next to her. Who, in their right mind, would find such joy in pulling weeds? Nevermind the fact that the sun itself has barely risen?!?

Now that baby J is 19 months old and into (literally) everything, I have either gone crazy or found my mom's key to sanity. There is very little satisfaction in cleaning the house when you have little ones. As soon as a project is completed, a typhoon mysteriously appears in another place. So, I have given up trying to attain a neat home and settled for the fact that it is messy, yet clean.

The garden, however, is another story. The amazing thing about weeds, is that once you've pulled them, you can satisfactorily gaze upon your hard work and feel a deep sense of accomplishment. The next day, a few might have reappeared, but with a simple bend of the waist, it's gone!

As spring is making its grand entrance this year, it has opened my eyes to a whole new world. I now see that it is a splendid opportunity to become immersed in nature and feel the sense of accomplishment that is often missing in a mommie's mundane life.

Thank you mom for passing along this secret sanity that you possess.

Why we need to eat fruit...

http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S26/91/22K07/
With so much publicity about high fructose corn syrup, I was curious about the facts. If baby J can get all his servings of fruits and vegetables from juice, why not? Especially considering that fresh fruits and veggies contain fructose naturally (we can't eat too many of those, right?).

So I asked the doctor. The explanation was surprisingly simple. Here are the facts.

Fruits and vegetables contain fructose. True. They contain the same amount that you'd get by consuming a serving of them in any other form. The difference is that in their whole form, they are high in fiber. This is important because fructose is digested differently than other things. It is digested in the colon. For proper digestion, the fiber must push the fructose past the stomach and into the colon. Without the huge amounts of fiber, it isn't digested properly.

And undigested sugar and fructose becomes....

.... fat!

This is how a lack of fiber contributes greatly to obesity. And childhood obesity isn't a joke. Juice is a fun treat, as are other things containing fructose, but are never a healthy replacement for their substitutes.

This is yet another reason why we need to be grateful for the natural supplements our Grand Creator gave us. Enjoy an apple today. (BTW- studies indicate that eating a whole 200 calorie apple 20 minutes prior to a meal will cut the number of calories significantly during that meal).

Read more about the research being done at Princeton University.

Naptime buddies

Baby J always naps especially well when he has someone to cuddle. And Lyli is always looking for some extra love. It seems they have dreamt up the perfect pair.

My little garden helper...

                                                                  There were leaves

                                                     to rake,

dirt to shovel,                                                           

                                                                 and rocks to move. 

But the result is always worth the hard work.

We are going to have a

lovely spring together.

Blah blah blah log

My own mom called me yesterday. She had a confession. She confessed to me that she has an addiction, one that she has not been able to satisfy for 16 days (17 days today). She is a junkie of my blog. And everyday she logs onto her computer to check for updates. Well, before she brought it to my attention, I hadn't even realized that I haven't blogged in that long. And she is having serious withdrawal.

Being so far from family and friends, I forget that my daily routine can be kind of exciting. That the new little things that the little man does are new. But, sometimes I just get tired of hearing myself talk. While thinking about this, I came to the conclusion that "blog" is actually a combination of the words blah blah blah and log. Nonetheless, I will try with due diligence to blah blah log more frequently.

Here goes....

... thinking to myself... What to talk about? Oh, baby J (can anyone think of a better nickname for my little man? He isn't really a baby anymore, but toddler J sounds strange. And I am already acquainted with another blogger who calls her little guy "the toddler". Suggestions would be appreciated.)

Where was I? Oh, baby J and a friend of ours, Tony, were sitting together reading a book last Monday. Tony did the reading and baby J turned the pages. After papa and Tony left for work, I overheard baby J talking in his bedroom. Granted, he doesn't say many words yet, but he says a lot. When I peeked in on him, there he sat on the floor with a book on his lap. He was turning the pages and pointing at the words. As he was pointing, he was saying "this this that this this that this this that". I'm so glad that I have an avid reader already!

You can dress 'em up...

... but you can't take 'em out.

In anticipation of one of our annual Bible conventions, I purchased baby J this suit. I was so excited because it just seemed so classic. The little tie has grey sailboats on it. When I dressed him in it, I couldn't get over how adorable he looked, my little guy. But recently, I have found that the best way to stave off the morning meltdown is to give him a pair of shoes to wear. I handed him his little beige wingtips to play with. Guess what he decided he wanted instead?!? As is evident by the photo, his black Batman snow boots. I can list at least 5 ways that these were so wrong for the outfit- # 1) black, # 2) rubber, # 3) Batman, # 4) it was nearly 50 degrees outside, and, of course, # 5) not what I would've picked out.

But he was content for the entire one-hour commute. Hopefully, he eventually outgrows the uncoordinated phase. Until then, at least we can halt a meltdown as easily as giving him a pair of Batman boots.

Attention All Mommies; I'm Calling a Truce

As children, we are always eager to do our best and gain acceptance and approval. When we become teenagers, while we pretend that we want to be individuals and thrive on excelling, it is the security of genuine love that gives us strength. While single, young adults, we have no one to think of but ourselves and feel lost. Then we marry, have babies, and sacrifice much of what we are to offer our sprouting young ones the best.

With this in mind, it is no wonder that we dote, spoil, and place these little replicas of ourselves on pedestals.

Since the birth of our little replica, I've noticed a pattern. I love him more than I ever imagined I could love someone. I know that all mommies and daddies empathize. With all these factors in mind, a competition seems to ensue.

And so, I'm calling a truce. Whether you breastfeed, bottle feed, formula feed, work outside the home, work at home, stay at home, co-sleep or don't. If you have a child who is off the charts, average, below average, silly looking, a Gerber baby, looks like the wrong gender, eats Play-Doh, has shaggy hair, or no hair at all, this is to your advantage.

Let's all just be happy for each other. No more snide remarks or comparisons. Let's all remember that we are in the same boat. We all want our children to grow into loved, well-rounded adults. So, if someone offers uninvited advice, please smile say thank you. Because they're just trying to help.

Happy Truce Day! May we all enjoy these precios moments of child-rearing which will pass much too quickly.

Snow Days Are Fun!

For toddlers, snow days aren't nearly as exciting as for older kids. All they know is that they're housebound. Since papa had a job in Mount Prospect, he offered to let us tag along. This may not sound like much fun to most, but we knew what he intended. So, we headed in the general direction of the job and stopped at the big blue and yellow building along the way. Ikea on a snow day is a perfect solution for mommies and babies. We ate lunch; then papa headed to work. Baby J and I went to Smaland to play in the blueberry ball basket. What fun! Before long, it was time to head out. I fed him his snack, packed him up in the truck, and shortly afterwards, the tuckered out tot was asleep.

Hope eveyone else is enjoying their snow day!

PS- My hubby says hola to all!

You might be a sleepy mommie if...

... You've already been awake for several hours and it's only 6 am.
... You've purchased a freezer, gone grocery shopping, and decided which suit on Overstock to buy your husband and the sun has just risen.
... You're awake so early that you now require "second breakfast"
... The morning is the most productive time of the day for you.
... 8 am is naptime.
... You rise earlier than the sun.
... You know people you can call before 8 am but not after 8 pm.
... You want to nap when the baby does.
... You want to nap when the baby does but have to reassemblethe house after Hurricane [insert child's name here].
... You're eyes are growing droopy because this is the closest thing to a grown-up book that you've read in months/years.

I know it's Superbowl Sunday, but make sure to take some mommie time with a warm bath and glass of wine.

Becoming A Big Boy

Baby J turned 16 months old last Friday. I suppose that while he is my baby, he isn't really a baby and friends will soon start correcting my reference to him as such.

He is walking (sprinting, in fact), climbing, hurdling, jumping, bouncing, and chatting. His curiousity is abounding with nearly constant 'ats dis? (loosely translated as "what's this?") and dat (translated "that"). He is infatuated with every sort of animal and anything with wheels.

The realization grew even more apparent as he had his third (yes, third) haircut in 3 months. I love his naturally highlighted locks and how as a baby he could get away with the shagginess. But the struggle that ensued each time the scissors grew near his head caused great anxiety. True, a bowl of popcorn and his own comb calmed the situation, but the anxiety was still present. So, in an effort to reduce the number of occasions to pin him down to have his lovely locks snipped, poppy and I agreed to a shorter cut. While he still maintains the pudgy cheeks and the tiny nose of a baby, he has begun to look like a boy.

While it is inevitable, does it have to creep up so rapidly?

Oh my, these are big shoes to fill.

Sorry that the picture is blurry, but he moves so fast these days! Even with an instant shoot digital camera he's blurry.

Venting

I decided to take a detour from our routine. Wanting to replace my stolen coat and take advantage of a sale, I went to Old Navy. I was cutting it close in relation to naptime but was ecstatic upon finding what I needed. Baby J wasn't though. He was growing sleepy at an alarming rate. The line seemed to be progressing slowly, which I attribute mostly to my perspective. When I was second in line, I quickly realized that I didn't have an overactive imagination, but the clerk really was having troubles. The manager assisted her through every item. Then the manager left the register. Baby J was now nearly inconsolabe but we persevered... until she got to me. She had trouble ringing the coat up so she set it aside and rang up my other items. Then she attempted again to ring the coat up. She asked the manager for assistance but the manager apparently thought thus was the best time to teach her to fendfor herself, so she nonchalantly stayed five feet away and told her to "try something else". By this time, my boy was furious so I cancelled the transaction, rudely thanked the manager for not intervening and left. I should've been more patient and exhibited more self-control, but things like this seem to becoming much more common. And, not as a means to justify, my husband and I are going it alone. While we have many friends, my village is non-existent. I'm made to feel as if I must call in favors for such small daytrips or beg for help with projects. I know that I'm not alone, but after dozens of these encounters, I really wish for practical assistance.

Hopefully a good night's sleep will provide feelings of renewal and a more positive perspective. If not, for your own protection, please avoid my cynicism.

Everything I Know, I Learned From Being A Mommie

You think you know everything, until you become a parent...

Then you realize how little you really know.

I had heard it a million times before. Parents would make comments and I would smugly think, They have no idea who they are talking to. I knew from my vast knowledge of how the universe works that breastfeeding past one year old was only to prolong a mother's emotional attachment to her child, that diapers should be changed every 2 hours, that children should sleep in their own beds from birth, that people carrying their children in carriers were hippies, and that I would be the best parent on earth.

To be fair, I thought I would be the best parent on earth, mostly because I never thought that I would be a parent. I had often imagined myself with offspring and that I would be as nurturing as educating. My child would grow to be a highly functional, well-developed asset to society. Ha!

Each day I am reminded how little I know about the universe, nevermind the miraculous workings of a small child's rapidly developing heart and mind. So, despite my worst efforts, I am now the BF, CD, CS, BW mommie. And I love it! Parenthood is a delightful learning experience.

The Great Oil Spill of 2009

It isn't often that the media doesn't report a story. It is usually a sign of a cover-up or that the general population has little interest in the subject. But when it is a subject of oil pollution, they are usually on board. The story you are about to read is completely true. The details are being reported accurately. Some of the details may be too upsetting for those with queasy stomachs.

The story begins in a small suburb in Illinois just miles off the coastline of Lake Michigan. I became privy to the story by being present for the event from beginning to end, although I was not presently aware that the drama was unfolding. I ventured out to take Baby J to the doctor in Gurnee, IL for his routine 15-month well visit. As usual, the doctor reviewed his development and general health. We left with a good report.

We left the facility at approximately 9:30 am and ventured naively into our day. A friend would be meeting us shortly for some shopping, but there was still time to drive the short distance across the tollway to the Starbucks for a coffee. My senses were delighted and I felt suddenly awake and more coherent as I slowly sipped the Caramel Macchiato.

We arrived at Target at 10:11 am. We were a bit late, but still excited to begin shopping with our dear friend Heather. Very little happened and we did not find what we had been anticipating. We left the store promptly at 10:50 am and drove to the TJMaxx at Entry J of Gurnee Mills Shopping Center. There were very few crowds, as the shopping day had barely begun. We perused the racks and found exactly what we anticipated. We even found a fleece dinosaur hat for Baby J during these frigid months.

The time was approximately noon. We settled into a table in the Food Courte. Heather and Baby J waited patiently as I rallied together a meal for the little guy and myself. Then Heather hunted for her next meal. We calmly ate, enjoying the company and the small talk. On the way out, Baby J noticed that the corridor we were leaving through was lined with mirrors. We stopped to let him play with his reflection, still not knowing what was about to happen. As I picked up my beautiful Saffron Roll Boxy Backpack by Petunia Pickle Bottom gifted by my dearest friend and adopted sister, the chaos began.

Dripping from it was a lemon-scented substance. I presumed that it was some cleaning product that had been used in the Food Courte. And, when we arrived home, I thought, What can I do about it right now? What's done is done. So, I laid down for a nap with Baby J and neglected the clean-up. The rest of the day was business as usual and the bag was left to marinate.

The next morning, Baby J and I woke early. I gathered the diaper bag and began emptying it only to find an empty bottle of lemon-flavored cod liver oil. Oops! This cannot be good!!

I deserted the entire contents of the bag into the washing machine. Five times it was washed, each time with a different concoction. Insanity, I thought, is doing the same thing over and over again and hoping for different results. The results, sadly, remained the same. Cod liver oil and the lemon scent wafted throughout the house. It was too late. The bag and its contents were destroyed. It now rests in peace in the shallow grave of our garbage can.

It was a beautiful bag, but only a possession. It is just sad that it had to become the damaged mediator between myself and the cod liver oil. Lesson learned.