The Crazy Lady

Ok, this is just a rant...

So yesterday I was picking the girls up and we were at the daycare center where Olivia is. Along the path to the school there is about a foot wide section of small rocks/pebbles along the bottom of a retaining wall. So we are walking along the path. Emma is walking behind us and walking along the pebbles (scuffing her feet so that some of the rocks went onto the sidewalk - seriously maybe 6 or 7 pebbles). A mom of Olivias friend stopped to talk to me so as we were standing there talking this other mom interrupts me and asks me to stop Emma from walking on the pebbles as the pebbles that she has displaced onto the sidewalk are a tripping hazard. I seriously just looked at her in disbelief. She then proceeded to put all the pebbles back in their place (I am sure to demonstrate what a serious issue this was and to recognize that there was no way in hell that I was going to do this).

Ok, seriously, a tripping hazard??? I have been trying to think who would trip on one individual pebble (maybe 1/2 inch in diameter). I dont think I ever have and I dont imagine that Olivia would do so either.

I guess the other thing that pissed me off is that she interrupted my conversation to say this. Can I not exchange two complete sentences to another adult without being interrupted? I get that enough from my kids. I dont need an adult spouting moronic requests at me at the end of the day.

Oh, I asked Emma what she thought of that request and her response was... "I think she is a maniac." Nicely put, Emma.

Ok, I am done.

Things I will miss

I wanted to make a list of things that the girls say and do that I will miss if and when they grow out of these things:



Emma

• Saying "pachitos" for chetos


• Saying "more better" rather than just saying "better" (we think it is so cute that we dont correct her)


• Saying "mommy-daddy" "daddy-mommy" (like we are interchangable)


• Saying "I'm not tired" and then rolling over and going to sleep immediately


• Her obsession with her huge penguin that she got at the hospital (she sleeps with it every night now)


• Her ability to go to the playground and meet a new child and have them be her "best friend"


• Not seeing a friend from camp since last summer, but still referring to her as her "best friend" (childhood friends are so sweet)


• What a drama queen she is (ok, I am not confident that this will pass as she grows older or, if it does, that I will miss it all that much)


• Being so incredibly patient with her bossy little sister (hopfully she will not grow out of that)
• I remember and miss her calling her necklaces her "neckies" and her ponytails and barettes her "pretties"

Olvia

• Calling her blanket a "night night"


• Calling a cat a "meow"


• Saying things like "eat eat", and "mo, mo" (for more)


• Her obsession with saline nose spray


• When she grunts and points to her mouth - indicating to us "put food here" (note: she can say "eat")


• Calling a slide on a playground a "weee"


• Thinking everything (dirt, food residue on the floor, on her hands, etc.) is "Eeewww"


• Wanting a cookie and saying "meow" (the box of cookies we had once has a cat on the box, hence the meowing


• Olivias obvious love of her friend Arimay at school (she just bursts into a smile when her name is mentioned)


• Calling the potty a "poppy"


• Being so bossy (i.e, "move Emma", "move dog")


• Throwing food on the floor and then getting upset when the dog comes over and eats it (she knows that is what happens!)


• Her obsession with baby dolls and how incredibly caring she is with them

I am sure I will think of more and add them to this list.

Finding Balance

So for a while now Aaron and I have been trying to figure out how to make our lives less crazy. Between us we work two full time jobs and two part time jobs so that clearly plays a significant role. I am wondering if our expectations are too high. I think back to when Emma was Olivia's age. It was pretty crazy then too - just having a little one who depends on you so much clearly is also at play, right?

I was thinking today that part of it also has to be that I am just thinking that other families have it together more. There is a couple down the street from us with a 20 month old and a 3 year old. I see them all jogging together or going for walks together to the park when I am just coming home from work. She is a stay at home mom though. I don't know if I could do that even if we could swing it financially to be perfectly honest. I am sure that their lives are really crazy too right?

How do others find balance? Do you even ever do things you enjoy? I have promised myself I am going to take a class starting in April (I haven't taken one in almost 3 years). I am desperate to start exercising again (I am entirely too lazy to do something like jog - I need someone forcing me to do it like in an aerobics class - which is clearly another problem I have). Do you start having a life when your children reach a magical age like two (I don't remember)?

I am curious how others make choices to simplify their lives and to find balance. Any suggestions?

Catching up

So it has been forever since I last wrote. Here is the low down on what has happened over the last few months... 1) teething, teething, and more teething (by both girls); 2) illness (ear infections, fevers, etc. etc.), hospitalization (of Emma for more illness); travel to Rochester at Christmas (which involved a lot of sleeplessness, but was fun); and the return of sleep training. Oh, and my favorite... I finally colored my hair again (of course that is only of interest to me).

Here are some photos - Olivia is getting huge and kind of skipping a lot of toddler stuff to do what her big sister is doing. Emma is doing so much better in school. We just have to make it through a few more months with this teacher.

Here is Olivia drinking beer (am I going to get into trouble for this?)...

And Emma and Olivia in their wagon...

I love this one...

Post-Thanksgiving

Aaron made a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner with a Carmel Chocolate Pecan Pie. Here is Emma "hugging" it.

Other photos from the weekend... Olivia signing "Help" (hands on chest) and trying to play peek-a-boo (not quite grasping she is supposed to cover her eyes).

Also, here is our tree... note the total lack of ornaments at the bottom. When Emma was a toddler I was really bummed out about not being able to decorate the tree and house. I have now accepted this and am fine with our naked tree (it is real - Aaron cut it down himself).

Oh, and most importantly - I cut Emma's hair (she loves it - she thinks she looks like a teenager).

Potty

This may fall into the too much information category but Olivia has officially started using the potty (for number 1 and 2)! Have I mentioned that she is 15 months old?? I know saying this will jinx me now and she will be in diapers till she is 4 1/2.

Ok so this picture has nothing to do with using the potty, but I thought it was cute.

Date Night!

So, after 6 1/2 years of parenting Aaron and I decided that we need to make getting out without the kids a priority. This past weekend was the second time we went out. We decided to go to a real grown up restaurant that was not child friendly. We went to Mrs. K's Toll House in Silver Spring (we drive by it all the time and have always been curious about it).

We had the babysitter come at 3 to maximize the amount of time we had out post-Olivia's nap and pre-bedtime. So this meant that we needed to find someplace to go and hang out (and preferably have a drink) before dinner. We decided to go to the Piratz Tavern down the road from the restaurant. Ok, so it was a little high on the cheese factor, but the food was good and the drink that I had (it was called a "666") was awesome (I am totally going to be trying to make that one here).

Dinner afterwards was fantastic! Delicious and romantic. It was just refreshing to get out and have an adult evening!