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Mommy’s Here

3 Jan

I just feel so special to get to say those two words. Tonight, I realized how much they mean to say and to hear.

Around midnight, Nate woke up screaming and crying.  Even though I was clear downstairs and had the television on – I heard him and went running to check on him. He was fine – he just had a stuffy nose which probably made him angry.  I was so thankful he didn’t have a fever or didn’t get sick in the crib – I was so thankful that all he needed was for me to wrap my arms around him and tell him “Mommy’s here.”  He laid his little head on my shoulder and his body was relaxed as I swayed with him and rubbed his back.

It’s amazing how you’re able to hear them over everything when they need you. At first with Nia, I was always worried that I wouldn’t hear her if she cried while I was sleeping – I mean the alarm blares right next to my ear and I don’t hear it – how was I going to hear her in the next room?  The fact that I can is so unbelievable and beautiful to me.  What’s even more precious to me is how you don’t ever lose that ability.

My mom just came down for a visit and during her time here she comforted me in that “Mommy’s here” kind of way – not by humming me a lullaby like I did for Nate – but just by being here to stay up late and laugh with me, by giving me a hug before bedtime, by cooking us delicious food, by making me feel better about the job I’m doing as a mom – I’m going to be 29 in a week and yes, I still need my mommy in many ways.  I only hope my kids will like me enough to want me around when they’re older!

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Turning One

26 Dec

Tomorrow our little angry man becomes a one-year-old angry man.  He is so hilarious – even when he’s doing something he totally should not be (pulling on the blinds, yanking the tablecloth off of the table, touching the night lights in the electrical sockets) it is hard not to laugh at him.

Andrew and I will yell “NO!” at him with the most mean face we can force to try and scare him away from the bad doing – that doesn’t work – he just smiles at us. We’ve even tried giving him a tap on the hand (because he could fry himself if he doesn’t stay away from that darn socket) – he LAUGHS at us and then tries to hit the object he shouldn’t be touching.  We are obviously doing something wrong with him.  We’ve tried moving him away from the object over and over again – NOTHING WORKS!

Last night at dinner Andrew tapped his hand to stop the boy from crashing our Christmas dinner on the floor – it was like a game to him then – Andrew and I had to cover our mouths and turn away from him so he wouldn’t see us laughing – it’s so funny because when he knows he’s in trouble he just looks at us with very wide baby blues and forms the teensy tiniest little circle with his lips – WHY DOES HE HAVE TO BE SO DARN CUTE?  I mean, he had spaghetti sauce all over his face and his eyes were huge and his mouth like Dr. Evil when he says “One Million Dollars.”  (An example of the face is in the picture below.)  It’s just so hard to be angry with him.  I’m sure that will change though…

Funny Face

I can’t wait to see the kind of little boy he’s going to become.  In his first 12 months I’ve already discovered that he is a major handful and a joy – a headache and a laugh – a terror and a sweetie – a screamer and a giggler –  and a 100% daddy’s boy.  I am so thankful for my precious little boy and all the moods/feelings he’s brought us and am anxious to experience what’s next.  Happy Birthday Nathaniel Robert – mommy and daddy (and big sister) love you so very much.

Busy Boy

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Please Forgive Us…

26 Dec

Telling her he won’t come if she’s naughty –
Telling her he’ll only bring her Little Mermaid Castle if she takes her naps and is nice to her brother –
Having her leave cookies and sugar for him and his sleigh-pulling friends (and then leaving a half-eaten cookie for her to see)
Causing her to love him so much that she runs up to the mall Santa without hesitation (even though I think he’s pretty skeevy)
Telling her he came while we were all sleeping (and her responding – “He was very quiet huh?  He tiptoed huh?” and then demonstrating to me just how he tiptoed – standing on her toes, bending her knees and back and putting her hands pointed down in the bunny hop position – I mean come on – how adorable is that)

I know it’s something a lot of parents tell their children – Andrew and I both believed and I hear he got pretty upset when he found out the truth – but there’s something about being the one who encourages the belief…  I don’t know – I just feel guilty.

Some fairy tale part of me still wants to believe – like maybe after we put out all the presents and go to sleep they’ll be one extra that no one bought or knows about – (and hopefully it won’t be a stinky candle or fruit cake).

I know it’s all about tradition and I know the fun of believing – I just dread the day when they find out the truth. I’m sure it will be a time they will never forget – many of us probably remember when/where/how we found out – I guess that’s all a part of the tradition too – I guess I just want our kids to just figure it out on their own because Andrew and I are such terrible liars – I just want them to understand the spirit of it all and that it wasn’t meant to hurt them.  Santa or not – there’s a beauty in believing.

So I Never Forget…

15 Dec

So far, mommyhood has already given me many sweet memories – moments I don’t want to forget. Since some of them have faded from my memory, I want to share some of the ones that have happened since we’ve lived in the “new” house (as Nia keeps calling it).

– After about an hour of bouncing back and forth across the room and tearing into the boxes I was trying to sort through, Nate makes a turn my way to crawl under my arm and wiggle into my lap so he could cuddle up next to me letting me know – hey mom – I’m worn out – can you put me in my crib now?  The warmth I felt from his affection was so amazing – he never acts that cuddly – he’s usually such a fighter and tough guy – I guess he has a soft spot after all!

– Nia telling me “I love you a lot Momma.”  Or the day she told me I had a big heart. I’m not sure if she meant because I’m bigger than her or not – it really doesn’t matter – it was so precious and innocent.

– The first time Nia did something cute/funny with her brother or the dog and told me “Take a picture Momma.”

– The giggles I heard when Nia put on Nate’s Flounder Halloween costume and used the nose to bump Nate’s head.  Why this was so funny I don’t really understand but she did it to him like 20 times and he kept laughing out loud every time.

– Right now, as I’m trying to type this Nia is sitting on my lap and moving the mouse around and trying to push buttons (I mean she .is pushing buttons) ..this means it’s time to make more memories away from the computer!

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Pants on Fire

20 Nov

When do we learn how to lie? How do we learn how to lie?  Doesn’t 3-years-old seem a little early for trying to pull a fast one on mom and dad?  It’s something I didn’t think I would have to worry about until hormones started raging – but it seems a napless day has the same effect.

Today Nia threw a toy after Andrew told her not to throw it.  He and I both saw her chuck it but still we had to be parents and ask the question we all knew we knew the answer to, “Nia, did you just throw that toy?”

“No.”
“Are you lying to me?”
“No.”
“Well then, how did it get all the way over there?”
“It just moved there.”
(It was really hard for me not to laugh after that one)
“Nia, tell me the truth – you threw it right?”
“Ah-huh.”

After this conversation we had one about lying and how you shouldn’t do it.  She said she understood – or was she just lying?

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Our Little Pick-Pocket

8 Nov

The following is written by Andrew (it’s my first blog):

This morning at 7:15, I was frantically looking for my wallet.  I looked on the nightstand where I usually leave it every night…not there.  I looked on the kitchen counter where I occasionally leave it when the kids are hectic coming home from school with me…not there.  I looked in the pants I wore yesterday just in case I left it in my pocket…not there.  I even looked in my car before I left just in case I took it out of my pants while in the car…not there.  I think we are seeing a pattern.  The thought crossed my mind that one of the two beautiful girls I live with moved it in cleaning or playing but they were both sleeping and I thought it did not matter too much at this point since I had to get to work.

Anyway, today is election day and I did not realize the consequences of a lost wallet until it was nearly too late.  I had no way to prove I was who I claim I am at the voting booth.  And just so everyone knows, your cell phone is not a “utility” to qualify for a “utility” bill and prove your existence, but your bank statement proves your existence.  So I did get to vote.  Beyond that, it was relatively uneventful.  I did need to find my wallet before tomorrow as I will be driving to Atlanta for work and it will be tough without a driver’s license and cash for gas.  So I told myself I had to find it tonight.

Well, when the kids and I got home, I laid Nate down for a cat nap since he was sleeping in the car and asked Nia if she wanted to help me find my missing wallet.  She politely said, “Sure!”  I looked in the same places as this morning: nightstand, kitchen counter, pants, car with the same result as this morning (I hear that insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results).  So I added to my search: under the bed, under the couch, under the end tables, under the nightstand, in the bathroom, in the hamper, in the garbage bags containing clothes to take to Good Will.  Then Nia says, “Maybe it is in your closet?”  I thought she was just being 3 and went off to her room.  Back into our room she comes, wallet in hand and says, “Look what I found!”

pick-pocket

I ask where she found it and she excitedly replies, “In MY closet!”  I make her show me and it was in her closet in her toy mailbox (it’s that thing with the butterfly on it).
mailbox

Turns out Nia had given one of the toy letters to Nicole last night – I guess kind of like a trade.  Let’s see – my wallet filled with credit and cash and proof that I can vote or her toy piece of mail.

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From the Mouth of Nia

7 Nov

“Momma/Daddy, I want you to turn around/go away so I can eat my brownie.” (She’s supposed to eat her dinner first.)

“But he likes it.”

“I don’t want you to yell at me.”

“Are we going to the circle store?”

“Momma, I want coffee.”  (don’t worry I just get her chocolate milk with whipped cream)

“Pinky.” (when wanting to watch one more Tom and Jerry cartoon)

“Bynastics.” (instead of gymnastics)

“Momma/Daddy, turn around/go away so I can make stinks.”

“Can I have my magazine?” (while on the potty)

“Oh, thank you.” (after you tell her you love her)

“Is this 3T?” (while shopping for clothes)

“Are you zha-zha?” (to Nate)

And of course…

“I wanna listen”

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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!

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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.

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