“Mini-Me”

22 Jul

Many kids look like one of their parents. Resemblance among family members is a pretty common thing. You hear things like, “You have your mother’s smile.” “… your dad’s ears.” “… your grandpa’s balding pattern.” What Nia hears is a little different.

Strangers sometimes act floored when they see us together. One of our CVS clerks can’t get enough of how much we look alike. When Nia isn’t with me at the store, the clerk asks where my “mini-me” is and then proceeds to announce to her coworkers, “her little girl looks JUST like her!”

Sure, I can see a resemblance but I also see her. I see Nia. Not me. She is uniquely and adorably herself and it’s hard for me to believe I could be as precious. When she hears, “You look just like your momma,” what does she feel? Right now, probably nothing. But what about when she gets older? What if she grows to resent it?

I also never know how to react to people’s reactions. I respond politely. I thank them. Tell them my genes beat my husband’s. Smile. Then, I turn to Nia and say, “You look like you. Don’t you Sweets?” Beautiful, beautiful Bean.

Mommy & Bean

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Smoothie-licious

20 Jul

Smoothie-licious

You want it with strawberries? You got it. Some melon? No problem. How ’bout some pineapple? It can add a nice touch. What really makes it yummier than any other smoothie I’ve ever had though is a splash of Sunny D, Andrew’s not-so secret ingredient.

The boy is a smoothie master, always choosing all the right fruit to mix into the non-fat yogurt. He’s made smoothie monsters out of some of our family members. In fact, they even wanted their own Magic Bullets to make the smoothies as easily as he does.

Today, I woke up to find a prepared smoothie and some coffee all ready for me. It’s better than any smoothie/coffee shop I’ve sampled. It also costs a lot less. To that I say, sip until the annoying straw noise is made.

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Excuses, Excuses

19 Jul
  • I’m too tired after I get home from work and do all that I need to do in the evenings.
  • I can’t seem to wake up in the mornings.
  • Besides, gym showers give me the heebeegeebees.
  • I don’t want to get all sweaty yuck during my lunch break.
  • It’s too hot.
  • I have a headache.

Have a suggestion about when I can squeeze in some exercise? I have a reason why I cannot. It. Is. Ridiculous.

I’m through with it. I need to exercise. I am a mush. I feel terrible and grumpy and will not let myself dodge working out anymore. I love to do it. That’s not the issue. I lack motivation and self-discipline. I give a bag of chips I’m eating to Andrew so that he can get them away from me because I don’t have the will power to close the heaven-filled bag.

Tonight, I actually said, “I’m going to go running,” and I did it. Well, I walked some too but it’s a start! No more excuses. Nia and Nate need a healthy mommy. That is motivation enough.

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Ninja Warrior In-Training

18 Jul

Apparently, I missed the parenting memo that said it’s ok to scale the furniture if your son is “being a Ninja Warrior.” (It’s an obstacle course tv show that Nate watches with Andrew.)

I caught Nate climbing over the back of the couch tonight and quickly corrected him. He replied, “But I’m being a Ninja Warrior, mommy.” His daddy thought his feat and response to me should be praised. Andrew gave a big laugh and told Nate, “I love you buddy. You know that? I love you.”

Yes. It was beyond precious. It stole my heart. I’m just afraid of what’s in store for Nate’s safety, the furniture and how far the training will go.

Scaling the house is off-limits.

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I used to write a sex column…

17 Jul

so why am I such a prude and conservative when it comes to certain things? Those things all involve the upbringing of children in the areas of sex and violence.

Let’s start with what sells – sex. It’s fantastic, right? Talking about it, thinking about it, watching it, having it. Great stuff, that sex. I just am finding it difficult to deal with how even the most common children’s cartoons demonstrate sexual attraction. What Nate is learning by watching these cartoons is that when he sees a pretty lady he’s supposed to call her hot, whistle, pop his eyes out of his head, make that arooga noise and pant. I know male cartoon characters have been portrayed like that since before our parents were kids but I find it, well, STUPID. I can tell Nate, it’s not the best idea to act that way when you see a beautiful girl but if popular culture says it’s ok, does my small voice matter?

The same is true for violence or how anger is handled on tv, movies, music or even during a skit at a baseball game. Someone make you mad? Give ’em a knuckle sandwich, push them down, kick ’em where it counts, play a nasty trick on them and call them names the whole time. I counter with a, “That’s not nice, is it? Here’s what you should do instead…” But again, how long will my voice win over what they continually see as acceptable behavior? Heck, sometimes the fighting is cheered. Yay! Go get ’em!

I find myself even having to correct commercials now. For example, it’s not nice to stick your tongue out at people. Right? This mom says so and it took some time for us to get that through to Nate. When we finally did, what do we see? A mini-van commercial where a little boy outsmarts some other kids then sticks his tongue out at them. That little tongue-sticker-outer is the “good” kid. Great.

It is my responsibility to raise my children to the best of my ability. I take that on wholeheartedly. I do not expect movies, cartoons, commercials or songs to teach my children proper behavior and I don’t want to shelter my children from them. I just wish they didn’t contradict me all the time. I guess my cartoon would be pretty boring.

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Forever a Fan

15 Jul

Many of us have something we cherish from childhood. Whether it is a memory with a loved one we hold onto, a favorite stuffed animal or book, or a movie or song that takes us back. But what happens when you grow to dislike the thing you treasured so much? It happened to Andrew, with his love of baseball.

He tells stories about being little and watching Cal Ripen, Jr., his ultimate favorite player. He talks about how he detests the Braves because they beat the Pirates out of going to the World Series in 1992. He collected baseball cards, player figurines and helmets from games. He almost caught a foul ball from a regular season Pirates game but a man stole it from his 10-year-old hands.

It’s hard to believe that all that love for something could fade but a baseball strike and the steroid scandal that plagued the sport for years really wore on his respect for the game. The atmosphere changed. The integrity. The desire to play because you love the game. Not because you want to make more money or break records.

Andrew may have continued to feel that way if it wasn’t for his little boy. Nate has a pure, untarnished love for baseball. The sport brings him shear happiness without any of the politics and controversies to cloud it. He asks his daddy questions about the game, teams and players. He asks his daddy who to root for and who to boo. He asks his daddy to play. His spirit is contagious and Andrew loves watching the sport through his son’s eyes. It’s helped him find the fan he used to be.

I love being a spectator to their baseball bond and am so excited to share in their love of the sport.  (And spoil them with gear proudly displaying their favorite team.)

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Does this scrunchie go with my outfit?

13 Jul

What? What do you mean it’s not fashionable to sport scrunchies anymore? Well, I guess that’s good info to know. I likely won’t respect that rule though.

I think I’m just too darn lazy to be a fashionista or concerned with the latest styles. It’s something I’ve come to realize as I experience more situations that call for me to make vital fashion decisions.

For example:

  • My idea of getting dolled up is attempting to wear some eyeliner and remembering to don some of that costume jewelry I have thanks to my mom and sister.
  • I’d also rather not subscribe to fashion magazines because I don’t want to know how many faux-pas and don’ts I’m committing.
  • I don’t just fail at clothes and jewelry though. I’ve never used the most feminine “grooming” products.  (Some cringe when I tell them I use the cheapo razors to shave my legs. Add the fact that I rarely use shaving cream and they think I’m barbaric.)
  • I don’t take care of the hair on my head like I should either. It is never trimmed within the range of fashionably acceptable.
  • I’ve had the same makeup for months (it’s years for lipstick). I’ve never followed the rule of replacing makeup every so often. In fact, how often am I supposed to replace it?
  • As for nail makeup, I rarely remove my toenail polish to apply a fresh coat. Nope. I just try to fill in the chips. Like I said, lazy.

When I think about it though, I guess I’m not as lazy as I think. Being lazy didn’t contribute to my favorite article of clothing – my holy jeans. I had to work to make all those holes. That’s a style I’m proud to wear.

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A Love All His Own

11 Jul

It’s hard not to pass on your love of something to your children. The same applies for your dislike of something. For example, I loved Disney movies growing up and I still do. I’m sure it played a part of Nia’s love for them. I am not a fan of the Bratz dolls. That’s probably why Nia only has two of them compared to her entire toy store aisle amount of Barbies. Andrew and I enjoyed collecting the Thomas trains for Nate. It was inevitable that it would lead to Nate’s love for the cheeky engine. There’s pretty much only one love that we didn’t pass down to our kids, Nate’s passion for baseball.

His Favorite

The little man loves this sport and it’s all his own doing. He watches it on tv. He acts like he’s pitching, catching and hitting without a ball. He wants to play all the time. He actually intensely watches the players when we take him to a game. He proudly states that he’s going to play for the Gwinnett Braves when he grows up. (He doesn’t quite understand yet that he may want to shoot for the Major League team but that’s ok.) He mimics the real players in his stances, head tilts, wind up and hat adjustment.

The only part of Nate’s passion that Andrew did influence is his love/hate for certain teams. Because Andrew’s favorite team is the Orioles, Nate loves the Orioles. Because Andrew detests the Yankees, Nate boos the Yankees. Hey, why not? The boy needs some guidance.

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Bye-bye Bean

10 Jul

Nia is now a plane – on her way to be spoiled until she may break. In fact, I’m a little worried we may never undo the amount of spoiling she’s going to be blanketed in when she returns from West Virginia. I love it.

She is so excited to spend the next 11-12 days with her grandparents and family and friends. We will miss her beyond words and will spend the time without her preparing to spoil her with hugs and kisses when she returns.

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My Do-Overs

7 Jul

If I knew then what I know now I would have:

  • Worn a bikini more than I did
  • Kept my hair long for longer (I wasted so many “young” years with a short ‘do)
  • Not jumped out of that moving car that one time
  • Taken a home economics class so I would know how to properly set a table
  • Said no to that perm I got in 7th grade
  • Paid more attention to the breathtaking cross-country road trips I got take with my dad, Kris and Mel
  • Learned how to properly apply makeup so I wouldn’t be clueless at age 32
  • Not wasted so much time worrying about certain boys
  • Cut back on the brewskies during the Ben Folds Five/Beck concert so Andrew could see Beck (sorry about that Andrew!)
  • Paid more attention during my Spanish classes (the cheat sheet didn’t help either)
  • Worn a bikini more than I did (this sentiment is the inspiration behind this post)

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