More and more, Nia is learning the lyrics to songs that I like to jam to during the day. While they are not the explicit versions, there’s still something in me that says maybe I shouldn’t listen to such things when she’s in earshot. But then I remember singing things I shouldn’t have when I was little (Prince’s “Darling Nikki” for one) and not knowing what the heck I was saying. I’m just a little worried that she’s going to break out in one of these songs while we’re in a church-like crowd or while she’s in the child watch at the YMCA. I can just imagine the faces of the sweet, old ladies when she starts to rock. What’s worse about it all is that I still think it’s hilariously adorable (and I actually encourage her to sing it as the video will show)!
One Lady, So Many Roles
13 MayShe’s a Mother – so confident and in charge – able to raise her children through the hardest of times and able to discipline them just by shooting them a look – she’s proud to say her kids are well-mannered, well-behaved and well-kept (well, most of the time anyway) – she’s the one you don’t want to disappoint – endures much grief as her children go through the “you’re not being fair” or “I hate you” stage and still manages to love them with her whole heart
She’s a Momma – stops what she’s doing to respond to her child’s smallest request (“momma, could you put this dress on my Barbie?”) – acts goofy to get a giggle out of them and to hear them say “oh momma – you’re so silly” – lets you spit the food you just chewed and didn’t like into her bare hand – wipes your runny nose with anything she can find and sits up next to you on the couch after you threw up in your bed (that of course, after cleaning up the mess)
She’s a Mom – sacrificing her sleep on the nights you have friends stay over and sometimes joins in on the laughing and movie watching – she cooks up the tastiest food and making sure to whip up enough to feed anyone who shows up at the dinner table – she’s her kid’s biggest cheerleader, always talking about their accomplishments and never judging them for their failures or mistakes – she thinks you’re beautiful even with that perm and pimples
She’s a Mommy – always there to kiss a boo-boo and make it better – always there to cry with you when your heart is broken, suffering with you – shows you unconditional love and what it means to love someone more than you love yourself (ready to give her life to keep yours safe) – the first one you want to talk to when you are feeling sad – she soothes her children with her embrace or just by humming them a song – makes you remember you will always be her baby
Because of the Kids…
5 MayI hardly ever get to venture out by myself.
I don’t know how to act when I do get to venture out by myself.
I hardly ever have a moment (second?) of silence.
I usually have to clean up a big mess or pull a choking hazard out of the boy’s hand when I do get a moment of silence.
I have to pick up the stuff (toys/hangers/clean clothes/breakable objects) I just picked up. (And then pick them up again.)
I’ve lost weight from having to chase them and clean up after them all day.
I gained weight because I needed to keep them (and me) happy when they were in my belly.
My hair is super dark brown now and the grays are popping out like crazy. (Who/what else can I blame? My hair wasn’t this way before the kids!)
I “look like a mom.” At least that’s what a former high school classmate told me the night before our 10 year reunion.
I look like a mom and wonder “what’s wrong with that?!”
I cannot take a shower, go potty, talk on the phone or sit down for a meal in peace.
My showers, potty times, phone conversations and meals are more entertaining/interesting.
I do things I haven’t done since I was a kid – color, play Candyland and Memory, do cartwheels, blow bubbles, swing.
I realize I shouldn’t do half of the the things I hadn’t done since I was a kid.
I laugh and smile every day.
I rub my head and sigh every day.
I get the best good night kisses and sweetest hugs.
I get slapped in the face and tortured by tantrums.
My days are NEVER boring.
I couldn’t tell you what’s happening in the world but I could tell you what SpongeBob did or the words to the third Cinderella movie.
I couldn’t imagine life without them – because of them, I am me.
“Put Down the Toilet Bowl Brush!” and other things I find myself saying to a busy baby boy
1 MaySome days I can’t even believe these things are coming out of my mouth. What’s even more sanity damaging is how many times I have to say them to our 16-month-old boy – plus it’s not like he even understands.
“Get out of the doggy’s water bowl!” (After he’s already put his hands in the water and rubbed it on his face – bleh.)
“Don’t stand on that box/basket/toy! Danger!” (Said while he’s usually wobbling on a super flimsy thing he felt the need to stand on.)
“No hitting mommy!” (Painfully said after I’ve been slapped on the cheek or the leg.)
“Please stop turning on the bath tub water faucet!” (I cannot even begin to describe how annoying this is! He turns the water on full force then puts his hand in it so the water goes everywhere or if I’m not fast enough he’ll toss our scale in tub, drenching it.)
“No eating the crayon/barbie head/dog bone!” (Self-explanatory.)
“No calling China on mommy’s cell phone!” (Prying the cell phone from his tiny fingers requires great strength and determination.)
“Give me that soy sauce!” (The thing he ALWAYS grabs and puts to his lips when I open the fridge door. I keep telling him to lay off the sauce but he doesn’t listen to that either.)
Too Cute for Words
27 AprWhat Nia said after seeing Nate in his dinosaur print footed pajamas:
“Ah Momma, (giggle) he’s so ‘dorable.”
What Nia said when I asked her if she loved Nate:
“Uh-huh. I don’t want another brother.”
What Nia said after Joey scared the breath out of all us after barking at NOTHING:
“That was not necessary.”
What Nia said when we asked her if she knew what that meant:
“It means stop doing it. It’s Spanish.”
Baby Sometimes, Action Star Always
22 Apr“He’s only 20 pounds!” That’s what Andrew tells me when I cry to him about how Nate pushes me around the kitchen as I’m trying to cook or do the dishes. He may only be 20 pounds but – that boy is STRONG. He actually has made me lose my balance a few times. Pushing isn’t the only way he likes to show he’s a tough guy – he also loves to slap my face – not with just one hand – nope, I’m so special that I get the double slap. He does it in a sort of sneak attack way – he’ll be all loving, even giving me a few kisses, when all of a sudden – WHAM on both sides of my face.
He’s just such a little tough guy. He’s constantly climbing things and he will fall ALL of the time but he never gets discouraged or afraid…he just goes back for more! Andrew and I have tried to keep his feet on the ground but he always finds a way to put them where they shouldn’t go! Just watch the movie below to get a small idea of what I’m talking about…(and please don’t worry, I would have sacrificed the camera for my son – I just wanted to capture his craziness so he’d know what a heart-stopping child he was)
If this is what he’s like now at only 16 months – I am so not looking forward to the skateboarding and bike stunt years. Ugh…
My Antonia
11 AprShe came into the world with her daddy a world away in Iraq.
Now, almost four years later, her daddy is cuddling with her on the couch watching “Mulan” again.
Our little Nia is only a few weeks away from becoming a four-year-old. Watching her grow up has been a blessing and blast. Her birth made me feel love like I could never have imagined. She spoiled me while she was in my belly (I LOVED being pregnant with her), she spoiled me by deciding to leave my belly on her due date (she must have known how much of a planner I am), she spoiled us by sleeping through the night, taking her naps and hardly ever making a fuss (I can totally brag about this now since her babyhood is over – she was such an easy baby! I know this especially after having Nate – I guess it’s what we get huh?!?!), every day she amazes us with her intelligence and humor and touches our hearts with her super sweet personality.
I’m not going to say it’s been all happiness and joy – there have been plenty of times when she’s tested our patience and won but really when I think about it those times weren’t as bad as they could have been. Whether she brought rough times or easy times, she is the most incredible adventure I have ever been a part of and I am so excited to begin the next part of our growing up journey.
Our Little Comedian
31 MarEver hear a 4-year-old tell a joke? It goes a little something like this…
“Momma I have a joke.”
“Ok sweetie what is it?”
(These are all delivered with perfect inflection.)
“There was a spoon and it fell in the sink and then it was yucky!”
“The doggy laid down and then he sneezed!”
“Nate has a diaper on!”
(I was told several more “jokes” during the day but I think you get the point – they all pretty much state the obvious…)
What makes the super-sweet jokes even more funny is how Andrew laughs at them. He lets out the loudest, craziest laugh – it’s so ridiculous that is is HILARIOUS. I hope she always wants to make others laugh. Our little comedian.
Betrayed by Our Dog
21 MarOk – I know I need to get a grip and forgive and forget already but every time our dog Joey barks now I fill up with disappointment/disgust/disbelief – feelings that are just plain silly to feel for poor old Joe-Boy.
I can’t help it though. He barks at NOTHING but won’t bark at the criminal jerks who broke into his dad’s car?!?! He barks at people who are supposed to be/allowed near our house but not at those who are not? I mean come on! Part of my frustration is due to the fact that his bark sounds so mean and is so loud – you can hear him several streets over from ours – but it did us zip when we needed it most.
You may think I’m overreacting – maybe I am – but maybe if you had a better idea of what I witness him bark at on any given day – maybe then you could at least somewhat understand why I feel the way I do. Here’s just a few of the things that he feels the need to let out his heart-stopping, breath-taking bark at:
- The UPS truck that comes three to four times a week
- The mail lady every time he sees her white truck driving down our street
- Nothing
- The neighborhood dogs
- Birds flying
- Someone’s car brakes squeaking blocks away
- Nothing
- Andrew when he comes home from work
- Us when we leave the house
- The neighbors he sees everyday coming and going from their houses
- A doorbell/dog/cat on television
- Nothing
He doesn’t bark at:
- Things/people he should!
Please don’t get me wrong – I love our dog so very much. He is a big, soft, cuddly, lovable bear of a pup and he’s super good with the kids. It really bothers me to feel this way and I know I will get over it soon – for now though I can’t help but curse about him under my breath every time he woofs when he doesn’t need to. Nia even screams at him to be quiet when he barks! Sometimes I even think horrible things like – someone better be trying to get in the house. Of course I don’t really mean it – besides he wouldn’t bark at them anyway!
Are You Zhazha? 
Say what?