Archive | October, 2006

Much More than a Bowl

31 Oct

Tonight, I watched a little girl entertain her little brother with a bowl. The laughter I heard coming from that baby was a sound that made me remember how truly beautiful life can be.

Every night we just kind of go through the motions – get home from work, feed the kids, feed ourselves, give kids baths, get kids ready for bed, put kids to bed, clean up mess from dinner/playtime/living, watch tivo’d shows until we both fall asleep in the living room.  I usually get stressed out when the kids make a bigger mess than usual because that means more work I have to do – but tonight as the kids were tearing apart my Tupperware cabinet – tossing bowls and lids across the floor and even into the next room – I just sat there and watched and laughed.

I saw a 10 month old follow his 3 year old sister’s every move. He then began letting out this sweet baby laugh when she put the loudest bowl on her head, spoke some ridiculous gibberish and then dumped her head to let the bowl clank to the floor.  This happened over and over again  – each time he laughed a little harder and each time the gibberish got a little more ridiculous.  (Something like, “ridabiga-ridabiga”  I’m not really sure how to type it since I really didn’t understand what she was saying.)

At first I just watched wondering why on earth he thought that was so funny – then I realized it doesn’t really matter and began laughing too.  It was a moment that I thought – I wish I had this on camera – but then I thought – I don’t want to miss any of it!

I know the next time I go to use that bowl for some leftovers I will remember how my sweetie used it to make her baby brother and her mommy so happy.  Maybe it will even make the food taste better!

Tags: , ,

Our Little Tattletale

20 Oct

Nia, Nate and I were on the way to school when it all began.  We hadn’t made it 3 minutes from home when Nia says “Momma, baby spit up.”

I immediately find a safe place to pull over so I could get out of the car and assess the damage.

Poor little guy – he was such a mess.  I was kind of hoping for both of our sakes that all I would have to do is take off the bib and tuck it away until later, but this mess required a complete change of clothes and a baby wipe bath.

We got home and I had to carry him really awkwardly because I didn’t want to have to change too.  I managed to get him cleaned up and dressed and began scrubbing the yucky clothes as I tried to keep Nate away from the toilet bowl or shelf that can tip over on him – then I hear a little girl voice from the hallway, “Momma, where’s doggy?”

My eyes roll backed into my head and I thought – obviously somewhere he shouldn’t be because why else would she be asking me that.  I mean, if he was sitting right next to her I’m pretty sure (hopeful) she wouldn’t ask me where he was.

I opened the laundry room door that leads to the garage and there was Joey – halfway down the driveway.  I yelled his name in a panic and he froze.  As I was leading him back inside I tried to teach Nia why we just can’t let the dog outside like that but then I had to dive for Nate to keep him from taking a dive into the toilet bowl.

As I was driving the same route I just had 20 minutes earlier, I realized how lucky I am to have a tattletale child.  If she hadn’t told me – Nate would have had to sit in that yuckiness and the dog would be long gone.

Selective Sweet Tooth

15 Oct

What kind of 3 year old picks and chooses candy?  It really is unbelievable.  I mean, when a pinata breaks – you’re supposed to go running like wild to the pile of candy, grabbing handfuls and shirtfuls so you get more than the other kids who are insanely collecting any piece of sugary goodness they can. Not our kid though.

Today we were at a costume/birthday party and after what felt like 30 minutes of kids swinging aimlessly in the air at the pinata – the candy finally spilled out on the grass.

While the other children dove on their hands and knees to attack the assortment – Nia calmly walked around the children – looking for the candy she wanted.

She chose some Runts, several lollipops, some Dots, Nerds – she left behind all the small stuff individually wrapped and I think Bottlecaps – which are pretty yummy.

This isn’t the first time her selective sweet tooth showed itself – at her 3rd birthday party we over-stuffed a pinata with an array of choices – even then she still strolled around everyone – picking only the pieces that pleased her.

Tags:

“I’m not Nia…

15 Oct

I’m Little Mermaid!”

This is what I heard every time I tried to correct “Little Mermaid” today for not listening – being too rough with her brother – throwing a fit…

The first few times it was kind of cute – after hearing it more times than you can imagine – it was more than kind of annoying.

I tried telling her – “Little Mermaid wouldn’t do those kinds of things – princesses don’t act that way.  When you act that way I will call you Nia.”

To that – of course – she replied – “But I’m not Nia, I’m Little Mermaid!”

Little Mermaid

 

Tags:

Crazy Starts With…

13 Oct

As part of the development of Nia’s young brain – each week her teacher has the students bring in something that starts with a certain letter.  While this seems like a simple project – for some reason it drives me crazy.

The first time was something that starts with F.  I “f”orgot about it though – so being the “f”reak I am – I tore apart my car looking for anything that would make sure my kid wasn’t left out.  It was so awful too – I was walking in with her when I heard other parents rubbing it in – “We brought in a frog”  “We have a flag” and then there was the showoff (I’m super jealous for not thinking of it) who brought “food” to share with the class.  What did Nia end up bringing? Fingernail polish from my purse and a glass frame from the day care’s office!  I told the teacher I should get an F for failing as a parent – letting my kid basically bring poison and a breakable object to class!  What’s wrong with me?

To make up the “f”(ing) day – I made sure we tackled the next task just as nicely done as the one showoff kid.  When asked to bring in something round – we had cookies ready to go!

On “t” day I kept thinking of more dangerous objects – tools, toenail clippers (I think fingernail polish was still on the brain) – we ended up bringing in a stuffed turtle.

That brings us to today.  “H” day.  I knew she would take in a stuffed horse she has.  It’s pretty funny though because when I showed her what she was taking she yelled with excitement, “Pony!”  Ok – so technically it was a pony – but for the purposes of “h” day it was a horse!

So- all of this letter talk has Nia curious about what everything starts with – which is great – I’m glad she’s learning more – at the same time though – it’s exhausting. Driving to school today this is what I heard from the backseat-

“Momma – what’s baby start with?”
“What’s bottle start with?”
“What’s Nia start with?”
“What’s coloring book start with?” (That’s a trick question – I had to tell her a c and a b – try explaining that one)

The questions continued on – leaving me to think to myself with a laugh – what’s crazy start with?

For me there are two answers to that question – of course the letter c – but also it all starts with letter day!

Crazy Nia

Tags: ,

Nia & Nate’s Daddy

4 Oct

There are so many wonderful stories I can tell about this man.  So many times I’ve watched him be a great dad and I’ve told him I think so – but it just seems to mean more if he really sees what I see.

There is nothing more sweet than seeing your little girl light up when daddy walks in the room.  Hearing her say “My daddy’s home” and seeing her run over to him to wrap her tiny arms around his neck.  It is the most comforting and secure feeling and was one of the hardest things to have to come to terms with when those call-up orders came last December.  I just kept thinking about our Nia and how different she would be without him here.

He’s always there to cheer them up when they’re sad – never hesitates to make himself uncomfortable so they can be more comfortable – forgets about eating a bowl of cereal/any food/drink by himself because our little mooch Nia will want some – always lends a hand by giving the boy his bath and night time bottle – leaves work instead of me sometimes when the kids need to stay home or go to the doctor – – –

He makes them giggle like no other person can.  It’s the little things he does – either by tossing them up in the air and catching them (making me worry about head injuries or broken bones) or by rolling the boy back and forth using his head to push Nate around (making me worry Nate’s going to get angry).  Andrew always knows what’s best – he just shakes his head at me like I’m a worry-wart and then tells the kids “Momma’s silly huh?”  Nia, naturally, agrees with the one who’s making her laugh and says, “Yeah, momma’s silly.”  And the boy, well, anything his daddy does is pretty cool with him.  He just smiles and lets out a big baby laugh whenever daddy’s involved.

When Andrew gets angry though – boy oh boy – you don’t want to miss what might come out of his mouth.  I thank his dad because I’ve heard he had some great lines – but I think Andrew had the BEST one EVER the other night.  It was a warning to Nia who hadn’t taken her nap and was out of control – he said, “You’re going to make me so mad you won’t even believe I’m me.”  Granted – she’s only 3 and I think that was a little too deep for her to grasp – but I thought it was brilliant!  I repeated it a few times so I wouldn’t forget it.  “you won’t even believe I’m me.”  Wow.  And, I truly believe he is the one to blame for the “I wanna listen” line.  I mean nothing I could possibly even think to say could have spawned that one.  I think he might have said something like, “Do you want me to get angry? Well then listen.”  See?  As Nia would say, “Daddy did it!”

I think about the kind of dad he’ll be when the kids are ready to date/drive/get tattoos and I can’t wait to experience all of it with him. I’m so very thankful for him – as the father of my children and the love of my life.  Every day I wonder what I did to get so lucky.  I know I would not be the mom I am if I didn’t have a dad like him on my team.  I’m just glad he and I are in this parenting thing together.

Naptime Daddy