Thursday, August 26, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Super Hero!
We sent Evie back to another week of summer camp (only 3 hrs a day) since she ended up absolutely loving the one week she had in June (Dinosaurs-themed). This week's theme? SUPER HEROES!
I told her to get in a "flying" stance for this picture... she loved it & posed for me.
Daddy is so proud.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Art: The new wing of VMFA
Since Evie has a "sore toe" after an incident with Miles & a door (she's really milking this one) we decided to embrace her lack of mobility by throwing her in the stroller and finally touring the new wing of the VMFA up the street.
Afterwards we had lunch at Banditos and Evie has at her peak performance for cuteness... she charmed everyone (even us!)
All in all, a great day was had by all.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
3rd Birthday Party - Theme and Set-Up
We decided this year's theme would be ladybugs!
The party was Saturday, July 3rd from 3-5PM. Typically this is a VERY hot time of year so we had sprinklers and pools set up outside... but thankfully the weather was forgiving and in the 80's!
I made up some fun invites with googly-eyes, scrapbook paper, and brads the allow its wings to open/close.
We had red balloons (one for each kid to take home... those that remained were "released" in the air after the party), red streamers and gift bags for each kid (complete with black spots, of course!). We served hot dogs, chips and pasta salad (and beer & sangria to the parent chaperone's!)
...And for the cake: ladybug cupcakes! Chocolate cake with red/black frosting. I bought black M&M's for spots and we used a strip of black shoelace licorice to "divide" the winds.
The party was Saturday, July 3rd from 3-5PM. Typically this is a VERY hot time of year so we had sprinklers and pools set up outside... but thankfully the weather was forgiving and in the 80's!
I made up some fun invites with googly-eyes, scrapbook paper, and brads the allow its wings to open/close.
We had red balloons (one for each kid to take home... those that remained were "released" in the air after the party), red streamers and gift bags for each kid (complete with black spots, of course!). We served hot dogs, chips and pasta salad (and beer & sangria to the parent chaperone's!)
...And for the cake: ladybug cupcakes! Chocolate cake with red/black frosting. I bought black M&M's for spots and we used a strip of black shoelace licorice to "divide" the winds.
I like your...
Getting out of the shower I'm greeted by a 3-ft admirer. "Mommy? I like your boobies!"
"Thanks. [pause] So does daddy."
"Thanks. [pause] So does daddy."
Friday, July 02, 2010
Happy Birthday
My baby turns into a 3 year old little girl today.
We are celebrating by having my parents watch her so we can have a date night.
When Evie was 1, we worried the people sitting Evie wouldn't understand the many nuances that are Evie's behavior and worried they may forget the many details that make her happy.
When Evie was 2, we worried that the people sitting Evie may not follow the many "rules" we were trying to establish and may break the routines.
Now, today is Evie is 3, and I just want the hell out of the house. If she's breathing when we return - its a win-win.
We are celebrating by having my parents watch her so we can have a date night.
When Evie was 1, we worried the people sitting Evie wouldn't understand the many nuances that are Evie's behavior and worried they may forget the many details that make her happy.
When Evie was 2, we worried that the people sitting Evie may not follow the many "rules" we were trying to establish and may break the routines.
Now, today is Evie is 3, and I just want the hell out of the house. If she's breathing when we return - its a win-win.
Evie's birthday - Trip to "Toys R Us"
We signed up to be "Toys R Us" members during our purchase of a large doll house for Evie's birthday. If you go in on your birthday you get a balloon, a crown and a $3 gift certificate. Not bad!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Best Friends.
While strapping Evie in after her second day of "summer camp" (camp is one week at the place she'll be attending this September for preschool), she looked up at me and smiled, "You're my best friend, mommy."
And, despite ALL the other times she tells me that she loves me in order to cover the act of doing something wrong/deceitful/destructive... I knew she meant it.
And, despite ALL the other times she tells me that she loves me in order to cover the act of doing something wrong/deceitful/destructive... I knew she meant it.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
NEW BEDROOM!
Butterfly wall above her bed.
Wall with pass-through door that actually cuts through to the kitchen pantry!
She better not get into midnight cookies!
Closet! The curtains will close-off the clutter.
Evie's reaction to her new room (note that she did her own hair and opted for sparkly shoes with PJs outfit).
I love this picture.
We spent the entire morning half of Saturday moving and relocating everything Evie.
It was challenging to find locations for things, moving things down the hallway without tripping over Evie who was running back/forth, and trying to get it all done... while still in my pajamas.
Who-hoo! It's done and we are all really happy with it!
Up next, repainting & fixing up Evie's old room to become Rob's office.... the musical rooms game continues....
Wall with pass-through door that actually cuts through to the kitchen pantry!
She better not get into midnight cookies!
Closet! The curtains will close-off the clutter.
Evie's reaction to her new room (note that she did her own hair and opted for sparkly shoes with PJs outfit).
I love this picture.
We spent the entire morning half of Saturday moving and relocating everything Evie.
It was challenging to find locations for things, moving things down the hallway without tripping over Evie who was running back/forth, and trying to get it all done... while still in my pajamas.
Who-hoo! It's done and we are all really happy with it!
Up next, repainting & fixing up Evie's old room to become Rob's office.... the musical rooms game continues....
Sunday, June 06, 2010
The weekend that never ended...
Leading up to this planned weekend trip to Greensboro is my "mommy gets away from it all" weekend trip to Chicago last weekend (over Memorial Day Wknd. The trip out was supposed to involve my leaving late afternoon on Monday but storms caused me to have a cancelled flight... resulting in my midnight arrival home the next night (Tuesday). That night was then spent taking turns to check on a sick Evie followed by working from home on Wednesday. Wednesday night included me actually trying to sleep IN Evie's bed from 3:30-5:30AM while she howled for most of the evening... Thursday I went to work while Evie went to the doctor (diagnosis: ear infection and possibly strep throat). Thursday night was a late departure due to my not having packed the night before and having to wait for Evie's prescription fill. Then we road trip it for 3.5hrs rolling into Greensboro LATE Thursday night....
Friday I telework from Panara. All. Day. Long. By 4PM I'm batty.
Saturday we get the party started at 6:30AM. Rob's comic convention (Heroes Con) is on its 2nd day in Charlotte and I've agreed to stop in before then taking Evie & my mother to Discovery Place. After taking an exit to grab McD's breakfast for everyone, I end up not taking 85 South (which was also marked as "Future 73/74 Corridor earlier in the trip). Nope, I am now ON 73/74 South. One hour later, 1.5 hrs East of Charlotte, I figure out my mistake.
So, now I am pissed off and texting Rob. He, too, is pissed off at my mistake and I take this to mean I really should try and get there rather then simply give up and head to the zoo instead (which, is what I was going to do at this point). We drive all the way BACK up the highway, catch a connecting back road, and then back DOWN 85 South. It takes us over 3 hrs to get to Charlotte. It should only take us 1hr + 15 minutes.
We meet Rob at Heroes Con and he (proud papa) shows her off to some friends. Evie's a bit fussy from the car ride + being sick + the crowded atmosphere... but it all goes pretty well. Rob's forehead is covered in beads of sweat and I know its from the stress of me breathing down his neck about being lost, frustrated and dealing with a fussy (confined in a car seat) toddler. Rob's a patient man...
We figure out, from the aide of the Convention Center help desk dude, that Discovery Place is a mere 6 blocks away. He attempts to talk me into walking instead of moving the car. The man is clearly in his 60's. I point to Evie's head as she stands at my feet. "Six blocks.... with this... is a long walk." I begin thinking of how Evie can barely cross the street without wanting to be picked up and how hot it is outside. He continually encourages me even going to far as to promote the city blocks as being "short blocks" and the a free trolley may whip through for us to catch. He wins, we start walking... we make it across the green grass park covering the where our car is parked below ground. Evie stops, "Pick me up, Mommy!" I make it a half block before walking all the way back to move the car to our destination instead of wasting more time with this anchor on my hip.
We were supposed to arrive in Charlotte by noon, leave Heroes Con by 1PM, spend no more then 2hrs at Discovery Place and head home by no later than 3PM. We would be home in time for dinner and, ideally, Evie would nap the whole car ride home.
Instead, we arrived at Heroes Con by 1:45PM and left by about 2:45PM. We've had no lunch and Evie is beyond fussy. We are totally off-track and I am beginning to get Clark Griswald on my mother & Evie as I demand we press-on with the schedule as planned...
Discovery Place costs $38 for the three of us, plus the $7 parking, so I now I am even more motivated to press on and stay on as late as we can all stand it.
We watch a 3D shark movie immediately after paying for our tickets and I do everything to hold Evie down while she refuses to wear her glasses. Thank God it ends in 15minutes... we quickly exit.
The first room we visit involves this elaborate water/play table for the kiddies. Evie, who loves water like a cat loves milk, gets in on the action. We drag her around to a few more cool set-ups (a life size light bright wall, a set of instruments built into the wall, lego mini go-cart racers). We then decide to hit the elevator for the next floor up. Evie is either not listening to me or not understanding and becomes howling mad. I tighten my grip like an anaconda with its prey... we are going to have fun if it results in this child's untimely death.
The second floor at Discovery Place is rather awesome. Emily and I ditched school one day to come out here and play... we were in college. The science experiments are seriously very cool but also a wee bit too complex for Evie. We skip around the wooden building block towers, the "build your own fort" corner, the section about what germs live in/on your body... we wrap the whole day up with the room that is designed for kids to make a mess. I know its time to go when, rather then be excited by the translucent pipes that shoot air straight up (kids can put wads of paper here and watch it blow around way up in the air), Evie is picking up the foam blocks kids can interconnect & put on a conveyor belt that moves them to the ceiling. Evie is also now getting very bossy about putting away these said pieces and taking them from a teenager, "Put them right 'dere! [pointing to a box]"
I scoop up Evie like a sack of potatoes. Evie then does what I have heard other kids do... but this was a first for her. She screams BLOODY MURDER in my ear and AT the room we are exiting. I turn around to offer a weak smile of both embarrassment and disappointment that my child has become ONE OF THOSE. The room is filled with faces looking at me.... the look on all the parent's faces is that of complete pity. I want to shirk off in the corner and die. Don't get me wrong, she's had meltdowns... but never of this magnitude. She is growing stronger and more defiant with age. I'm internal shaking to the core with the thought of, "If its this bad at 3... will I survive when she's 13?!." I shudder.
We walk past the water playroom again and I decide its better to end on a high note... and I turn her loose. She's smaller than the boys that soon show up at the water table and she actually lets a little boy rip the plastic watering can from her hands. I do nothing. I decide its better she learn to defend herself. I'm now contemplating if I have made the right move or not. I help Evie gather play boats (feeling guilty not having rescued her moments before) and she then loses those to an older girl. Fortunately, the watering can has now been abandoned and Evie descends upon it... she's back to having things her way. She asks for a snack and, seeing this as the perfect moment to advertise the benefits of going to the car to leave, I suggest we get the goldfish I left in the car.
Thank God grandma packed a banana (have I mentioned Evie only wants carbs or meat and nothing else to eat these days) and its gone faster than I can peel it. Evie devours a huge bag of goldfish and one granola bar. The drive home then gets bumpy as Evie decides to resuming the moment where she LOST HER FREAKIN' MIND back in the room where she screamed. She gets my attention by showing half her shoe (faux Crocs) with her foot still inside... IN HER MOUTH. I rip it from her teeth and through it in the car, "Are you CRAZY?" I ask... knowing full well that the answer is "yes."
For 20 minutes Evie repeats the phrase, "Mommy! I want my shoe back! Mommy! Mom? My. Shoe! I want it. Back. Mommy. I. Want. My. Shoe. Back. Mommy!" My mother bores a hole in the side of my head with her one eyebrow raised. She contemplates appeasing her granddaughter at the expense of her daughter attempting to discipline. A fight ensues when I explain to her that the tantrums will only getting longer, stronger and more violent in nature if I give in now. We "enjoy" the screams. I watch my mother go to a mental place she uses when moments like this occur.
The drive lasts from 5PM - 6:30PM. Many arguments, freak-outs and tantrums occupy most of this pleasant car trip... mostly from me. I'm on total. Eff'ing. Burn out. I have managed to drag everyone around to complete my "plan" for the perfect afternoon at the expense of every one's sanity. Once again, I am proving to be a bad mom.
The evening wraps up with dinner waiting at the house. Evie, of course, opts for eating nothing.
I run an errand and come back in time for teeth brushing/storytime. Evie eats the toothpaste, again.... I am anxious to get through the 2 books I have picked with little debate. Night-night, kiss-kiss.
I.... grab a beer. Tomorrow, is Sunday.... another day to fill with activities.
Friday I telework from Panara. All. Day. Long. By 4PM I'm batty.
Saturday we get the party started at 6:30AM. Rob's comic convention (Heroes Con) is on its 2nd day in Charlotte and I've agreed to stop in before then taking Evie & my mother to Discovery Place. After taking an exit to grab McD's breakfast for everyone, I end up not taking 85 South (which was also marked as "Future 73/74 Corridor earlier in the trip). Nope, I am now ON 73/74 South. One hour later, 1.5 hrs East of Charlotte, I figure out my mistake.
So, now I am pissed off and texting Rob. He, too, is pissed off at my mistake and I take this to mean I really should try and get there rather then simply give up and head to the zoo instead (which, is what I was going to do at this point). We drive all the way BACK up the highway, catch a connecting back road, and then back DOWN 85 South. It takes us over 3 hrs to get to Charlotte. It should only take us 1hr + 15 minutes.
We meet Rob at Heroes Con and he (proud papa) shows her off to some friends. Evie's a bit fussy from the car ride + being sick + the crowded atmosphere... but it all goes pretty well. Rob's forehead is covered in beads of sweat and I know its from the stress of me breathing down his neck about being lost, frustrated and dealing with a fussy (confined in a car seat) toddler. Rob's a patient man...
We figure out, from the aide of the Convention Center help desk dude, that Discovery Place is a mere 6 blocks away. He attempts to talk me into walking instead of moving the car. The man is clearly in his 60's. I point to Evie's head as she stands at my feet. "Six blocks.... with this... is a long walk." I begin thinking of how Evie can barely cross the street without wanting to be picked up and how hot it is outside. He continually encourages me even going to far as to promote the city blocks as being "short blocks" and the a free trolley may whip through for us to catch. He wins, we start walking... we make it across the green grass park covering the where our car is parked below ground. Evie stops, "Pick me up, Mommy!" I make it a half block before walking all the way back to move the car to our destination instead of wasting more time with this anchor on my hip.
We were supposed to arrive in Charlotte by noon, leave Heroes Con by 1PM, spend no more then 2hrs at Discovery Place and head home by no later than 3PM. We would be home in time for dinner and, ideally, Evie would nap the whole car ride home.
Instead, we arrived at Heroes Con by 1:45PM and left by about 2:45PM. We've had no lunch and Evie is beyond fussy. We are totally off-track and I am beginning to get Clark Griswald on my mother & Evie as I demand we press-on with the schedule as planned...
Discovery Place costs $38 for the three of us, plus the $7 parking, so I now I am even more motivated to press on and stay on as late as we can all stand it.
We watch a 3D shark movie immediately after paying for our tickets and I do everything to hold Evie down while she refuses to wear her glasses. Thank God it ends in 15minutes... we quickly exit.
The first room we visit involves this elaborate water/play table for the kiddies. Evie, who loves water like a cat loves milk, gets in on the action. We drag her around to a few more cool set-ups (a life size light bright wall, a set of instruments built into the wall, lego mini go-cart racers). We then decide to hit the elevator for the next floor up. Evie is either not listening to me or not understanding and becomes howling mad. I tighten my grip like an anaconda with its prey... we are going to have fun if it results in this child's untimely death.
The second floor at Discovery Place is rather awesome. Emily and I ditched school one day to come out here and play... we were in college. The science experiments are seriously very cool but also a wee bit too complex for Evie. We skip around the wooden building block towers, the "build your own fort" corner, the section about what germs live in/on your body... we wrap the whole day up with the room that is designed for kids to make a mess. I know its time to go when, rather then be excited by the translucent pipes that shoot air straight up (kids can put wads of paper here and watch it blow around way up in the air), Evie is picking up the foam blocks kids can interconnect & put on a conveyor belt that moves them to the ceiling. Evie is also now getting very bossy about putting away these said pieces and taking them from a teenager, "Put them right 'dere! [pointing to a box]"
I scoop up Evie like a sack of potatoes. Evie then does what I have heard other kids do... but this was a first for her. She screams BLOODY MURDER in my ear and AT the room we are exiting. I turn around to offer a weak smile of both embarrassment and disappointment that my child has become ONE OF THOSE. The room is filled with faces looking at me.... the look on all the parent's faces is that of complete pity. I want to shirk off in the corner and die. Don't get me wrong, she's had meltdowns... but never of this magnitude. She is growing stronger and more defiant with age. I'm internal shaking to the core with the thought of, "If its this bad at 3... will I survive when she's 13?!." I shudder.
We walk past the water playroom again and I decide its better to end on a high note... and I turn her loose. She's smaller than the boys that soon show up at the water table and she actually lets a little boy rip the plastic watering can from her hands. I do nothing. I decide its better she learn to defend herself. I'm now contemplating if I have made the right move or not. I help Evie gather play boats (feeling guilty not having rescued her moments before) and she then loses those to an older girl. Fortunately, the watering can has now been abandoned and Evie descends upon it... she's back to having things her way. She asks for a snack and, seeing this as the perfect moment to advertise the benefits of going to the car to leave, I suggest we get the goldfish I left in the car.
Thank God grandma packed a banana (have I mentioned Evie only wants carbs or meat and nothing else to eat these days) and its gone faster than I can peel it. Evie devours a huge bag of goldfish and one granola bar. The drive home then gets bumpy as Evie decides to resuming the moment where she LOST HER FREAKIN' MIND back in the room where she screamed. She gets my attention by showing half her shoe (faux Crocs) with her foot still inside... IN HER MOUTH. I rip it from her teeth and through it in the car, "Are you CRAZY?" I ask... knowing full well that the answer is "yes."
For 20 minutes Evie repeats the phrase, "Mommy! I want my shoe back! Mommy! Mom? My. Shoe! I want it. Back. Mommy. I. Want. My. Shoe. Back. Mommy!" My mother bores a hole in the side of my head with her one eyebrow raised. She contemplates appeasing her granddaughter at the expense of her daughter attempting to discipline. A fight ensues when I explain to her that the tantrums will only getting longer, stronger and more violent in nature if I give in now. We "enjoy" the screams. I watch my mother go to a mental place she uses when moments like this occur.
The drive lasts from 5PM - 6:30PM. Many arguments, freak-outs and tantrums occupy most of this pleasant car trip... mostly from me. I'm on total. Eff'ing. Burn out. I have managed to drag everyone around to complete my "plan" for the perfect afternoon at the expense of every one's sanity. Once again, I am proving to be a bad mom.
The evening wraps up with dinner waiting at the house. Evie, of course, opts for eating nothing.
I run an errand and come back in time for teeth brushing/storytime. Evie eats the toothpaste, again.... I am anxious to get through the 2 books I have picked with little debate. Night-night, kiss-kiss.
I.... grab a beer. Tomorrow, is Sunday.... another day to fill with activities.
Friday, June 04, 2010
He's not heavy...
En route to Greensboro for the weekend, car conversation:
Evie asks something and my response is, "...because daddy's old."
Evie replies, "He's not old, mommy! He's bigger!"
Evie asks something and my response is, "...because daddy's old."
Evie replies, "He's not old, mommy! He's bigger!"
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
sweet sentiments
While snuggling on the couch watching the news,
"Mommy? I love you... I go poo-poo," off she slides and into the bathroom she runs.
"Mommy? I love you... I go poo-poo," off she slides and into the bathroom she runs.
Late night arrival calls for a late night wake-up
My flight got in last night around 11PM. By the time I got home, it was just after 11:30PM.
After having not seen Evie since Friday morning (5 days!), I just had to peek in on her. When I touched her head, I had to hold her.
I picked her up out of a very deep slumber (it was actually, technically, very selfish of me. I realized this after her arms started beating like a butterfly)... she must have started dreaming she was being attacked so I held her real tight, rubbed her head and told her it was me over and over again.
Evie settled into me but quickly started yelling out phrases of "Get it daddy! Git it! Git it!" and then a bunch of babble. I started to put her back down and sneak out. She then requested the covers. My kid, who LOVES to be covered top to toe in a hot house (her body feels like a sauna rock) wants to be covered. I negotiate half covers and ultimately give in when she starts to get fussy.
I start to leave the room, again. Now she wants socks. "Socks! Socks, daddy! Mommy. Socks!" She is still asleep, I can tell, but she sure seems awake. I put on socks, and ask her, "Do you know who this is? Do you know who is putting on your socks?" I wanted to see how asleep she was.
A very, faint whisper in a confident tone, "mommy."
Then, all of a sudden, Evie's eyes pop open, she holds out her arms like a preacher with outstretched arms, palms up, "You're here mommy! You're here! I miss you. I love ... you are here! You were playing with Nonnanie? Now you home."
I give her big hug again and this time she hugs back.
I tell her I love her and missed her... she replies with similar affections. I rub her head and tell her to come wake me in the morning, she agrees before rolling over.
It was awesome.
After having not seen Evie since Friday morning (5 days!), I just had to peek in on her. When I touched her head, I had to hold her.
I picked her up out of a very deep slumber (it was actually, technically, very selfish of me. I realized this after her arms started beating like a butterfly)... she must have started dreaming she was being attacked so I held her real tight, rubbed her head and told her it was me over and over again.
Evie settled into me but quickly started yelling out phrases of "Get it daddy! Git it! Git it!" and then a bunch of babble. I started to put her back down and sneak out. She then requested the covers. My kid, who LOVES to be covered top to toe in a hot house (her body feels like a sauna rock) wants to be covered. I negotiate half covers and ultimately give in when she starts to get fussy.
I start to leave the room, again. Now she wants socks. "Socks! Socks, daddy! Mommy. Socks!" She is still asleep, I can tell, but she sure seems awake. I put on socks, and ask her, "Do you know who this is? Do you know who is putting on your socks?" I wanted to see how asleep she was.
A very, faint whisper in a confident tone, "mommy."
Then, all of a sudden, Evie's eyes pop open, she holds out her arms like a preacher with outstretched arms, palms up, "You're here mommy! You're here! I miss you. I love ... you are here! You were playing with Nonnanie? Now you home."
I give her big hug again and this time she hugs back.
I tell her I love her and missed her... she replies with similar affections. I rub her head and tell her to come wake me in the morning, she agrees before rolling over.
It was awesome.
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
CRASH! Shatter....
So, I'm on vacay... in Chicago.
A longish trip.
Rob's been left with Evie once before... about this time of year... I was in a conference in Kansas City.
I was to be in Chicago Friday-Monday (but due to a flight cancellation on Monday, my trip is extended to Tuesday).
On Sunday morning I called the house to see what was on the agenda for the day. I asked, "how's it going?" Rob replies, "You don't want to know." Which, of course, now I HAVE to know.
He fills me in," Well, I was taking out the trash and Evie locked me out."
Lemme back-track a little. We closed off our back door when we did the addition to the house. The side door, which we maybe used... twice... was suddenly now our back door. This door is original to the house and hangs at a most horrible angle. This horrible angle causes it to NOT latch closed and swing open by 2 inches. So, we leave a key in the door. We lock it shut to keep it latched closed. Evie, who is almost 3 years old and OBSESSED with keeping all doors closed at ALL TIMES, loves to immediately lock the door anytime it remains open for longer than a minute. Fortunately, one of us is usually in the house when she does lock one of us out. Unfortunately, I am in Chicago.
Fast forward to Sunday morning.
I ask Rob about how he managed to get in the house.
"I told Evie to get back and broke the glass with a brick."
*sigh*
Well, at least we now have one of those here's-one-of-the-many-bullsh*t-things-you-did-as-a-kid stories to tell her when she is 16.
A longish trip.
Rob's been left with Evie once before... about this time of year... I was in a conference in Kansas City.
I was to be in Chicago Friday-Monday (but due to a flight cancellation on Monday, my trip is extended to Tuesday).
On Sunday morning I called the house to see what was on the agenda for the day. I asked, "how's it going?" Rob replies, "You don't want to know." Which, of course, now I HAVE to know.
He fills me in," Well, I was taking out the trash and Evie locked me out."
Lemme back-track a little. We closed off our back door when we did the addition to the house. The side door, which we maybe used... twice... was suddenly now our back door. This door is original to the house and hangs at a most horrible angle. This horrible angle causes it to NOT latch closed and swing open by 2 inches. So, we leave a key in the door. We lock it shut to keep it latched closed. Evie, who is almost 3 years old and OBSESSED with keeping all doors closed at ALL TIMES, loves to immediately lock the door anytime it remains open for longer than a minute. Fortunately, one of us is usually in the house when she does lock one of us out. Unfortunately, I am in Chicago.
Fast forward to Sunday morning.
I ask Rob about how he managed to get in the house.
"I told Evie to get back and broke the glass with a brick."
*sigh*
Well, at least we now have one of those here's-one-of-the-many-bullsh*t-things-you-did-as-a-kid stories to tell her when she is 16.
Friday, May 28, 2010
No, I am serious, WTF?
Someone I used to work with (geez, like 10 years ago now!) is pregnant with baby #2 and due Dec. 12th.
Like, seriously.
I know I am hyper-sensitive to this all but ... really?
I mean, really.
If I could bottle my insane rage at this point I could power enough electricity to light up 140 homes for 1 month.
Its so hard to "let this all go," too, no matter how hard I try to keep this open mind in enjoying my life as it is... to stop trying... blah-blah. I am not seeking out these people's info, it just keeps coming up! Either I hear it from a friend, read it online, run into them at a store... what am I supposed to do, hide under the covers?
Hmmmm, I might be on to something.
If anyone needs me, I'll be under the covers.
I'll come out after December 2010.
Like, seriously.
I know I am hyper-sensitive to this all but ... really?
I mean, really.
If I could bottle my insane rage at this point I could power enough electricity to light up 140 homes for 1 month.
Its so hard to "let this all go," too, no matter how hard I try to keep this open mind in enjoying my life as it is... to stop trying... blah-blah. I am not seeking out these people's info, it just keeps coming up! Either I hear it from a friend, read it online, run into them at a store... what am I supposed to do, hide under the covers?
Hmmmm, I might be on to something.
If anyone needs me, I'll be under the covers.
I'll come out after December 2010.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
A new room for Evie
We are moving Evie over into our old master bedroom (since we have the new fancy-pants addition now).
Her current room is something like 10' x 8' and her new room will be something like 12' x 9'. So, she'll gain some space not to mention she will now be at the end of the hallway (closer to our bedroom) and she'll get a much larger closet (the girl LOVES SHOES). We then plan to move Rob's office down into her old room and turn Rob's old office (which is the room right off the living room) into a play room.... essentially, the living room and the play room would be like one large great room.
So, here's what I have achieved so far in all this.
I said I would have Evie's room done by June so I have actually STARTED this past early May in order to obtain that goal (when I was pregnant throughout April I didn't touch any activity in this house!).
I did some plaster work under a window that suffered water damage from a leaky window air conditioning unit. I also removed old curtain road systems and vinyl blinds (filled holes). I caulked all the windows (ugh, old wood windows really do look like shit up close despite their charm from far away). I painted the walls a light dusty lavender color called "Bad Lands". I created vector art butterfly graphics which I printed out, traced in pencil on the walls and painted white to create a airy cluster over where her bed will go ( I did sprinkle in a random butterfly on another wall, too).
I have curtains rods waiting in the wings to go up and limey green curtains on order.... I will give the trim a fresh coat of white paint before hanging the curtains and then we move her over! I'll update with final pics when I get them.
Oh, and did I mention the radiators??? Ugh, the radiators in the house (which we bought 6 years ago) were horribly flaky and chipped. The one in this bedroom was the 2nd worst in the house and I simply ignored it (till now). I take a hammer and "chisel away" centimeter by centimeter (can you picture tiny metallic-like chips of paint flying in your face, in your eyes, and up your nose for hours on end while you make very slow progress? Yes, you are picturing it correctly then...) until after a collective 7 hours I was finished. I then drape the walls in plastic and heavy tape everything around the feet of the radiator so as not to ruin the floors with paint. I spray the inside and back with white paint (I use high performance Rustoleum) and later paint the fronts with a can of the same paint. Its grueling and oh so f*cking messy. The paint goes everywhere and the house is so stinky. Honestly, its probably the stupidest thing a person can do and I will most likely suffer lung cancer in 10 years... but doesn't it look great?!.
Sunday, May 09, 2010
A Mother's Day Post
Dear self on Mother's Day one year from now,
I notice that sometimes you forget a few things and I'd like to take a moment to remind you... that you are awesome.
Sure, the house is not as clean as it used to be, but you also have a very active little girl, a husband, and an elderly dog. Sure, these three elements drive you crazy sometimes (Evie wipes her hands off on the couch cushions when eating cereal, Rob leaves socks everywhere in the house, the dog sheds half his weight annually) but keep in mind - these are the very things you always wanted. You simply must stop forward thinking to when Evie will stop making messes, Rob will organize his stuff better (and out of your line of vision!) and the dog won't be here to shed. All you are going to want at that time are all these gloriously awesome moments of today... you'll flip through photos of all the happy memories you are in the process of making right now wishing you could go back and enjoy it more. Sometimes you get so caught up on focusing on how things TODAY are not quite as PERFECT as YESTERDAY that you completely forget about all the things you have achieved along the way. You forget that you didn't have many of the things you have now. You forget that, even then, you still thought 5 years prior to that were easier... somehow better. Life does get more complicated. Those complications can be stressful. The "to do" list does keep growing... and it only will forever and ever, amen. You need to prioritize and reevaluate sometimes. You'll feel better.
I'm not telling you to stop trying to set and achieve goals (to stop moving ahead with breakneck speed like you famously are known to do!). Goals are great. You really are master at achieving the very things you set your mind out to accomplish. But, often, you forget that watching a show with Evie IS something. Eating an ice cream cone on the front porch after dinner. Splashing in the mud. Making a mess while eating a new food in a new dress. Skipping bath night to stay up late at an outdoor event. Skipping the healthy choices for convenience. Sitting at the table coloring while we wait for the water to boil. Evie grimmacing when you look back at her in the car (ok, you know you love that moment, I snuck that in to remind you of just how picture-perfect that moment is when it happens). Evie grabbing your face (ack! My make-up, her dirty hands!) to make your lips stick-out like a fish while she throws her head back in giggles. Sitting in a pile of newly drawn chalk drawings. Getting water thrown on you during bathtime. Wiping a butt in the middle of the night when (who poops in the middle of the night anyway??? Evie's strange) nature calls. Getting woken up at 6AM to a jingling moo-cow blankie, "Get out yer bed, mommy!" And, the famous, tshirt turned hankie moment.... this is it. This is what people look back on and MISS! This is the stuff that doesn't make it in the list of goals. It's these little stepping stones that happen daily that lead to the big stuff. And, yes, the big stuff is big but its these little unique mini-moments that become what you and Rob REALLY talk about and look back on fondly.
You look great. I mean that. You don't look like you did when you were a senior in high school (straighter teeth, no grays, tighter abs and a tan). But you hated how you looked then, too.... no shape, chubbier cheeks, too many freckles and smaller boobs. You don't look like you did when you were fresh out of college, either. You don't look as great as you did the day before you got pregnant at 29. Nope. But you look AWESOME for you, right now, at this very moment. Someday you'll look back on when you were in your early thirties and say, "Egads, I looked fine and I was so preoccupied with thinking I was fat, out-of-shape and too old to rock anything that showed off my figure. What was wrong with me? I looked great! I'd love to look like that now!" Yes, some women can rock a hard body their whole lives... but many more don't. So, enjoy what you have now and be comfortable with yourself, finally. Won't you? This body has seen many things, traveled many places and made a human... cut yourself some slack and finally enjoy what you have, please! Geez, if you need further proof, go and ask your husband right now what he thinks. Cause, as it stands right now, he thinks you do look just as awesome as you did 9 years ago and damned... are you ever lucky to have a love-blind husband. Now go enjoy that, too!
Lastly, stop beating yourself up for what you call "failures." You often wringe your hands over wondering if Evie should be eating something better for her. If she should be going to a better, expensive school. Should Evie be involved in sports? OR belong to some gym class? Should I sign Evie up for some programs? Should I be teaching her a foreign language? Should she be encouraged to do more crafts? More challenging risks? Should I take her to museums? Is she ready for going to bigger all-day events? Hikes?!. Ack. Stop. It. Repeat after me: You will never be all things at all times and Evie will not miss out if she misses some things. You have plenty of time and kids should be kids. Each day she learns more about herself and each day you learn more about what she likes. So stop questioning if you are not challenging her enough and whether or not there should be more, more, more! Just go to the fridge, make an ice cream cone and go sit on the porch while you watch chocolate fall on her lap and then offer your sleeve for her to wipe her face on. All will be right with the world.
Start loving yourself more, fretting the details less and take the time to enjoy life's imperfections.
Love,
yourself.
I notice that sometimes you forget a few things and I'd like to take a moment to remind you... that you are awesome.
Sure, the house is not as clean as it used to be, but you also have a very active little girl, a husband, and an elderly dog. Sure, these three elements drive you crazy sometimes (Evie wipes her hands off on the couch cushions when eating cereal, Rob leaves socks everywhere in the house, the dog sheds half his weight annually) but keep in mind - these are the very things you always wanted. You simply must stop forward thinking to when Evie will stop making messes, Rob will organize his stuff better (and out of your line of vision!) and the dog won't be here to shed. All you are going to want at that time are all these gloriously awesome moments of today... you'll flip through photos of all the happy memories you are in the process of making right now wishing you could go back and enjoy it more. Sometimes you get so caught up on focusing on how things TODAY are not quite as PERFECT as YESTERDAY that you completely forget about all the things you have achieved along the way. You forget that you didn't have many of the things you have now. You forget that, even then, you still thought 5 years prior to that were easier... somehow better. Life does get more complicated. Those complications can be stressful. The "to do" list does keep growing... and it only will forever and ever, amen. You need to prioritize and reevaluate sometimes. You'll feel better.
I'm not telling you to stop trying to set and achieve goals (to stop moving ahead with breakneck speed like you famously are known to do!). Goals are great. You really are master at achieving the very things you set your mind out to accomplish. But, often, you forget that watching a show with Evie IS something. Eating an ice cream cone on the front porch after dinner. Splashing in the mud. Making a mess while eating a new food in a new dress. Skipping bath night to stay up late at an outdoor event. Skipping the healthy choices for convenience. Sitting at the table coloring while we wait for the water to boil. Evie grimmacing when you look back at her in the car (ok, you know you love that moment, I snuck that in to remind you of just how picture-perfect that moment is when it happens). Evie grabbing your face (ack! My make-up, her dirty hands!) to make your lips stick-out like a fish while she throws her head back in giggles. Sitting in a pile of newly drawn chalk drawings. Getting water thrown on you during bathtime. Wiping a butt in the middle of the night when (who poops in the middle of the night anyway??? Evie's strange) nature calls. Getting woken up at 6AM to a jingling moo-cow blankie, "Get out yer bed, mommy!" And, the famous, tshirt turned hankie moment.... this is it. This is what people look back on and MISS! This is the stuff that doesn't make it in the list of goals. It's these little stepping stones that happen daily that lead to the big stuff. And, yes, the big stuff is big but its these little unique mini-moments that become what you and Rob REALLY talk about and look back on fondly.
You look great. I mean that. You don't look like you did when you were a senior in high school (straighter teeth, no grays, tighter abs and a tan). But you hated how you looked then, too.... no shape, chubbier cheeks, too many freckles and smaller boobs. You don't look like you did when you were fresh out of college, either. You don't look as great as you did the day before you got pregnant at 29. Nope. But you look AWESOME for you, right now, at this very moment. Someday you'll look back on when you were in your early thirties and say, "Egads, I looked fine and I was so preoccupied with thinking I was fat, out-of-shape and too old to rock anything that showed off my figure. What was wrong with me? I looked great! I'd love to look like that now!" Yes, some women can rock a hard body their whole lives... but many more don't. So, enjoy what you have now and be comfortable with yourself, finally. Won't you? This body has seen many things, traveled many places and made a human... cut yourself some slack and finally enjoy what you have, please! Geez, if you need further proof, go and ask your husband right now what he thinks. Cause, as it stands right now, he thinks you do look just as awesome as you did 9 years ago and damned... are you ever lucky to have a love-blind husband. Now go enjoy that, too!
Lastly, stop beating yourself up for what you call "failures." You often wringe your hands over wondering if Evie should be eating something better for her. If she should be going to a better, expensive school. Should Evie be involved in sports? OR belong to some gym class? Should I sign Evie up for some programs? Should I be teaching her a foreign language? Should she be encouraged to do more crafts? More challenging risks? Should I take her to museums? Is she ready for going to bigger all-day events? Hikes?!. Ack. Stop. It. Repeat after me: You will never be all things at all times and Evie will not miss out if she misses some things. You have plenty of time and kids should be kids. Each day she learns more about herself and each day you learn more about what she likes. So stop questioning if you are not challenging her enough and whether or not there should be more, more, more! Just go to the fridge, make an ice cream cone and go sit on the porch while you watch chocolate fall on her lap and then offer your sleeve for her to wipe her face on. All will be right with the world.
Start loving yourself more, fretting the details less and take the time to enjoy life's imperfections.
Love,
yourself.
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