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Our Alarm Clock(s)

16 Jan

The following is a rough account of waking up each morning. Since I am mostly still asleep, my accuracy may be off by an alarm or four.

The digital clock lights up 5:20 am and the alarm sounds. It’s mine. The radio talks to us or plays us the latest pop tune. We sleep. I finally hear it at about 5:27 after Andrew nudges me with his leg. Snooze.

The next alarm sounds from Andrew’s side of the bed at 5:35. It is an awful beeping alert that we somehow continue to sleep through until another alarm blares – his cellphone screams some military trumpet call to us. It doesn’t go off until he solves some math problem that unlocks the snooze. I now am awake, but I am cranky. It is 5:50. Ish.

This is the typical week alarm ritual. On weekends, our alarm is much more charming and the snooze button is a little trickier to figure out.

Nate’s little head greets us usually starting at 6:30. He tells us he had a “good sleep” and requests a large breakfast. (Eggs and sausage or ham are his usual menu items.) Today though, it was different. He asked us if the Falcons won the football game last night. Andrew sweetly told him no and Nate gave an “oh man” whine. Then he inquired, “How much did they have? And the other team?”  We assured him it was ok because he’ll still get to see the Steelers play. To that, he left the room and, knowing he was content and going to play cars, mommy and daddy dozed a tad more. It is the weekend, after all. Snooze.

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Surviving the Southern Snow

12 Jan

If you want to make days stuck in the house surrounded by unmelting, unsalted and unplowed snow really awesome, have your birthday during it.

I swear, I never wished for such a thing. Maybe it had something to do with me wishing for more time with the family. Snow made that happen. In fact, I’m so content on my family quality time that I’m pretty sure my next wish will involve a pedicure or massage.

It’s not that it wasn’t nice to be together. It’s just it was really together. For three days. Stuck in the house. For three days.

The first day was my birthday and they surprised me with the cute Jessica Simpson purse I wanted. I woke up last and Nia asked me for something out of my purse. When I went to get it, I saw the new one in the old one’s place. Fun! The rest of the day featured an attempt to explore the snow (it was sleeting so we made a quick exit), Wii hilarity with Nate and Andrew, a 500 piece puzzle completed by all of us (Nate rocked it), some Yahtzee playing and tiny burgers (that Andrew grilled out in the snow) that served as my cake.

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The second and third days can be summed up like this: board games, video games, Barbie school day, iCarly watching, fort building, car playing, help me in the kitchen training (Nia peeled half a potato) and we actually got to get out for a bit and enjoy (risk our bones on) the slippery ice-covered snow:

If I had one regret about the snowed-in time together, I wish I would’ve stopped for longer to see it all through the kids’ eyes. For me (and probably other grown-ups), it was a little bit of wow mixed with stir-craziness, inconvenience and stress. For them, it was five days off from school and carefree spirits. They weren’t “stuck in the snow” or “surviving it”, they were happily “snowed-in!”

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Sleep Time Struggle

4 Jan

After last night’s battle around bedtime, I am now sitting on the steps trying to Super Nanny style Nate to sleep.

So far, he’s ventured out three times. The first time, he said he had to tell us something. I just walked him back to his room, tucked him in and said it’s night-night time. The second time, he acted afraid and said he heard a noise. I walked him back, said nothing and tucked him in. The third time, he came out crying about his finger – telling me to “look at it!” This was harder to not acknowledge. I did it though. Said nothing and tucked him in, again.

I know he is fine because I haven’t heard a peep from him since but I have a feeling he’s not finished with his anti-sleep schemes. This is tough. I hope it works. It’s hurting my heart and my bottom. (The carpet and padding on these steps are worn.) I’d love it right now if someone told me to go to sleep. I know I wouldn’t get out of bed. Mommy sleepy.

*He got out of bed again around 11:00. I think he had fallen asleep and woke up thinking, “I’m supposed to get out of bed again.” We still didn’t speak to him…

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Powerless to the Vomit Ploy

4 Jan

It seems our sweet boy has discovered my weakness and is using it against me. He’s been saying he doesn’t feel well at very opportune times for himself.

  • When he doesn’t want to finish a certain veggie or different kind of dinner.

  • When he doesn’t want to clean up his toys.

  • When he doesn’t want to go to sleep.

Last night, he even got out of bed and actually made hurling sounds into the toilet. I went running to his side and nothing. Not a hint of hurl. Instead, he spills the beans that he just wants me to rest with him and sing. I told him about telling fibs and why it’s wrong but I don’t know if it got through to him.

I am just so powerless against the sickness claim. I mean, what if he really is sick and I ignore it because I think he’s just trying to get out of something? I’m damaged now. I always want to baby them when they say they don’t feel well but now he could be smiling over my shoulder as I hug him to comfort him. I guess I should prefer that to vomit over my shoulder?

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Party Plans and a “Pinana”

2 Jan

Nate had big plans (and worries) for his 5th birthday party:

  • He kept reminding us what day his party was on – even if he had the day wrong because he didn’t want to wait until Sunday. On Wednesday, he told us that his party was on Friday. I guess he just wanted to make sure we didn’t forget it was coming.
  • He was concerned that we might discipline his friends. While Nate was taking a shower one night, I saw him peek out of the curtain and tell Andrew, “If my friends are bad at my party, you don’t give them spankings.” Not sure where that one came from but it made us chuckle.
  • He wasn’t happy until he was sure Joey wouldn’t bother his friends during the party. Before bed one night he asked, “Can we put Joey outside for my party? I don’t want him to bite anyone or bark at anyone.”
  • Black olives and pickles were a must on the menu. (And Honey made plenty of pigs-in-a-blanket, his new favorite snack.)
  • He wouldn’t rest until he knew his friend Madeline was coming. “Did you call Madeline yet, mommy?” “Did you call Madeline’s mommy yet, mommy?” (Thank goodness she came!)
  • He planned and announced over and over again that Madeline and his other special friend, Ella Grace, would sit next to him for cake and ice cream. (A picture below will show this came true.)
  • At first, he wanted to wear church clothes to his soiree. That eventually turned into a tie, with Super Mario socks stuffed into his shoes. (He said the tie would make him look handsome.)
Nate and His Necktie

"Pinana" Time!

Andrew also had big plans for Nate’s party. He constructed the pinata (or as Nate kept calling it, a pinana). He made it out of paper mache and it was intense. So intense, the strings on it broke. The kids still got their goodies though and it seems they had some fun when they got to swing at it. We let Nate finish it off, of course.

From the weeks before it to the hours after, Nate seemed to really love his party. He gave everyone hugs and would yell their names when he opened the door and saw them. Sweet, birthday boy. I’m so glad you loved your party. Now, we have a whole year to plan your next one. (Andrew, you may want to think about stronger string.)

Tie Off = Party's Over

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“I’m 5 today!”

27 Dec

He woke me up at 6 am-ish, frantic that I need to call one of his friends to invite her to his party.

This is my first memory of Nate’s 5th birthday. Even as a baby, he was intense. He waited a week past his due date to say hi and when he did, he struggled his way out through an emergency c-section. Now, he’s a wonderful mix of tough and sweet, competitive and sensitive, fighter and lover.

In fact, my second memory of his big 5 day is him running to me (when I actually was awake) for a giant hug and yelling, “I’m 5 today!” He then added with the same excitement, “I can play football now!”

The next memories involve requests for a “big kid breakfast” and two bagels because “that’s what big kids eat.” (He got one but became very happy when he saw it was cut into 5 pieces.)

Nathaniel Robert, you may be 5, but you’ll always be our baby boy and little brother.

 

Loving Little Brother

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Cookies and Health Tip for Santa

24 Dec

When Santa arrives at our house, he’s in store for a plate full of cookies, a glass of eggnog and an important message about his health. Nia’s note to him features a thank you and a fit tip.

 

Um, Santa, I don't mean to be blunt but...

Hope he’s not too offended. We did provide (tempt?) him with ample cookies to sample:

And Nate’s note is full of thanks – without  any round reference:

To Santa, Love Santa

The kids even left reindeer food (oatmeal and glitter) on the front lawn. They wanted to leave cookies too but then something about weight was brought up again.

Now, where are those cookies?

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“But it’s special to me.”

24 Dec

I’m so proud of Bean. She and I spent Christmas Eve afternoon going through her older toys and she was so giving and honest. Her giving pile grew and grew and at one point she said, “I don’t want to look back at the give away things because then I might change my mind.”

I know this is hard for her. Usually we’ll go through things and each time I hold up something she’ll say, “But it’s special to me. So-and-so gave it to me.” This time though, she told me it was special then said, “It will be special to another kid now.”

Maybe she knows Santa is watching? Sounds like a Christmas Eve tradition has been born!

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Can’t buy holiday greetings like this

14 Dec

The kids signed their holiday cards tonight and their artwork featured many popular festive sights, plus a few that brought out a giggle or two. I couldn’t help but chuckle at “Santa’s Leg.” Nia laughed too and insisted it was supposed to be Santa sneaking around to deliver toys. (Until she finally admitted she tried to draw a stocking but messed up. From there, Santa’s Leg was born.)

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Tiny snowman in window scene

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She loves the rounder reindeer scene

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It's a Spiderman Christmas scene by Nate

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Sweet wishes scene

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It's a stocking scene

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This is Santa's leg and boot. You see it, right?

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I love the duck in her D

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The Toys That Remain

28 Nov

Barbie McDonald’s: More than 20 Barbies served and 20 pieces lost and then it closed for business.

I loved that unhealthy themed toy. It was red and yellow and came complete with a soda dispenser and a Big Mac container with tiny bun and burger circles. That’s all that remains of that beloved toy. The Big Mac container.

It, like so many other things I hold dear in my memory, are gone. Either given away or sold at a garage sale. At the time, I didn’t care. I had outgrown them and didn’t realize how much I would want them in my nostalgic years. My She-Ra dolls and castle. My three-story doll house that had working lights. My Legos that I built with my Grandpa. My Barbie and the Rockers’ stage shaped like a guitar.

On the flip side of that list is the list of those toys that remained. My Barbie and Muppet Colorforms. My Fraggle Rock and Muppet Babies’ puzzles. My, now unscented and half-dressed, Strawberry Shortcake dolls in their strawberry carrying case. A huggable Strawberry Shortcake baby doll, along with my Rainbow Brite and Cabbage Patch dolls.

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And then there is my most favorite toy of all – my Barbie Dream House. The house that I found hidden under blankets in the basement. The house that revealed the truth about Santa to my young mind. The house that helped me create soap operas and romances for my Barbies that would never be possible in real life.

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This house now welcomes new, young guests and offers them hours of fun at grandma’s. I’m glad it’s still a part of my childhood home but even when it’s not, it will always reside in my memory and heart. Right there with the doll-sized Golden Arches.

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