Patiently Waiting

It is 2:18 on Tuesday. I just put Doodle in the bed for her nap. SJ will be screaming any minute. I have been up since 4:00. I should be swapping laundry, starting dinner, putting things away. I should not be blogging. But I needed to revel in my peaceful happiness for a few minutes. We had a rough morning. SJ was screaming (unless she was asleep in my arms) for nearly 4 hours. When she is so cranky, I am cranky. I am embarrassed to say that I am cranky with Doodle when SJ gets that way. I recognize that I let my frustration get the better of me. I am working on it. So, once we finally got SJ happy and asleep, I decided to spend some quality time with Doodle. We have several exciting things coming up in the next few weeks and I wanted a way for Doodle to count down to them. So I got out the construction paper and the stapler and we made a paper chain. We make 23 links and then Doodle wrote on smaller strips so that she would know how many more days to each event. Spending an hour and a half doing something fun with my kid did more for my spirit than I could ever imagine. I feel like I have spent a lot of time lately telling Doodle no, stop, quit, and later. I often feel like I don't have enough opportunities to say yes and be focused only on her. This chunk of time with her was just what we both needed!

Here is our paper chain to count down the days!

This coming Sunday we are meeting Speedracer, SpeedRacer's hubby, eldest, and youngest at the Canfield Fair in OH. We can't wait to see them and eat ourselves silly on fair food!

Then next Wednesday Doodle has her first day at her new pre-school

Equally exciting as the start of school is a visit from Uncle Hank. My brother is in PA working at a golf course for a couple of months. It's about a 3.5 hour drive each way and he is coming to spend the day with the girls and I. I am so excited to see him and for him to meet SJ!

Finally, in 23 days Jayburb is coming for his first PA visit. Doodle is so excited! She is already making plans of things to show him and do with him. I must admit, I am just as excited to see Sisterwife. I have missed my friends more than I could imagine. We can't wait to see them!

Doodle had so much fun working on our project! She has been really into writing her letters, and wanted to do more. We ended up putting some writing in the mail for Jayburb. As I sealed the envelope, I smiled the sweet satisfaction that only comes from the moments when you know all is right in the world even if it is just for a few moments!

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Pirate Picnic

In the midst of our swimming struggles, I promised Doodle a dinner picnic at the pool.  My Favoritest was on call and it was a perfect night for a picnic dinner.  Doodle napped (which was part of the deal), and as she watched a little TV, I gathered dinner supplies.  I was wrapping the hotdogs as the show was ending.  My timing was perfect.  I told Doodle I was heading upstairs to put on my "baking suit" (thats what we wear to the pool and if you correct my kid before kindergarten I will hurt you) and I'd call her when I was ready to help her get ready.  I got upstairs, pulled on my baking suit bottom and heard a quiet little snap.  And the night went down hill.  The elastic in my one and only maternity bathing suit snapped.  No pool for us.  Now to explain this to a uber excited 3 year old!  As I told her what happened she threw herself across a chair and said "but Mommy I was soooo excited to go to the pool"and then she started crying.  It broke my heart.  I had to think quickly.  Then I remember My Favoritest had taped Muppet Treasure Island for Doodle.  I quickly came up with a plan for a Pirate Picnic.  I threw the picnic blanket over a table, put the food out, turned on the movie, and had a happy kid:) 

June 14(329/365)

Noodly Doodle

So yesterday I posted about the Dinner Battle Royal.  That was a once in a while occasion.  Usually Doodle is a lovely dinner companion.  We have worked hard to eat meals at the table, teach her manners, and learn that meal time is a time for conversation and family.  As she has gotten older, we have all enjoyed her emerging conversational skills and dinner routines.  In case you don't have a 3 year old at your table, or if you are looking for new topics of conversation here are some of her favorite topics.  Think of her like "Coffee Talk" only more repetitive and less yiddish.


"Ignoring the Question"- This topic is adult initiated and thus not very successful.  "Doodle what activity did you go to at school today?"  Doodle replies "music with Grammie Jean."  Adult thinks this is going somewhere and continues "What did you do at music?"  Sighing, Doodle answers "we sing."  Adult thinks, sweet she answered again, I might find out the mysteries of music at preschool and presses forward.  "What songs did you sing?" Doodle squints her eyes shut and puts a bite of food in her mouth and says "I am eating and I cannot talk about this right now."  This is the equivalent to our 3 year old giving us the hand.  Conversation. Over. Now.


"Breakfast, lunch or dinner"- When this is the topic you must guess between two meals to decide what meal you are eating.  Mind you, the correct meal is never a choice, so this just ends in someone (usually an adult) looking foolish.  For example, at dinner Doodle will say "Mommy are we eating breakfast or lunch?" I will reply "breakfast."  She falls into fits of laughter, tells me I'm silly and asks again.  Loads. Of. Fun


"There's a ...... in your house"-  This discussion requires creativity by both parties.  The wee one says "Mommy, there is a lion in your house."  Grown one replies, "I don't hear a lion in my house."  Wee one makes lion sound (sometimes very creatively).  Grown up must then come up with a reason for that animal to leave the house.  "Lion, get out of my house.  You have a big furry mane and we already have too much curly hair hair in this house, so get out now!"  Wee one giggles and is silent for another 2.2 seconds while she thinks of the next animal.  


Other less interesting topics include How Was Your Day, Best Part of Your Day, and What Did You Do Today.  These are much more common and much less entertaining.  Sometimes, our dinner gets a little silly and a little playful, but My Favoritest and I both hope that she will remember family meals as a special part of her childhood.

January 18 (181/365)

On Her Own

Independence.  So hard.  Until I became a parent, I never realized all the amazing, little, tiny things we learn to do as we grow.  Little things are sometimes harder than the big things.  Lately around our house I have been trying to encourage Doodle to dress and undress herself.  I want her to be slightly more independent when Poppy arrives, but don't want her to notice that anything has changed.  So we are slowly making her do more on her own before the baby comes.  The biggest challenge of this whole process is not the kiddo.  It's me.  I have had to force myself to sit on my hands.  I have had to plan extra time for her to do it herself.  Most of all I have had to stifle a lot of giggles and snorts as she figures things out herself.  She may not do it the conventional way, but in the end she usually gets where she wants to be.  Even if it means rolling on the floor to take off her coat!

January 11 (174/365)

In the Details

So it seems the closer I get to keeping up with this blog, the farther behind I fall.  Oh, well.  Here's a couple of pics and thoughts to help me catch up a little. 




Here's the last picture from our recent trip to Bethany Beach DE.  

August 25 (35/365)

This is Doodle's shadow.  It was taken while she was jumping off a step.  Imagine, Doodle jumping! The picture itself wasn't very interesting.  But the shadow was really cool! The funny thing is, I brought the camera out for a totally different reason.  We had silly string for the kids.  Sisterwife and I bribed the kids with a really cools surprise if they would take a nap.  We thought it was a cool surprise.  The kids, not so much.  Funny how that works out.  They weren't strong enough to push the nozzle.  Doodle didn't like the way the string felt.  She was more entertained by tree climbing attempts.  Being moms that never give up, Sisterwife and I just kept spraying, 3 cans worth of silly string.  Then we spent a good 10 minutes cleaning up the mess.  The kids thought this was.... not so fun at all!  I guess we get points for trying.  

Sadly our time at the beach came to an end, and we headed back to Crozet.  Along with a million other people evacuating Irene.  It took what seemed like forever to get home.  We hit the road with 2 cars, 3 kids, and one dog at 6:00AM.  By the time we pulled into the parking lot, it was a little after 2:00.  I was exhausted and my camera was the last thing on my mind.  I put Doodle to bed, and unloaded the car.  On my first trip in, I noticed a butterfly on the door.  While I got the camera the butterfly moved.  Good thing I had such easy inspiration, or I might have missed a day!

August 26 (36/365)

Mommy! Hey Mommy! Mommy Hey!

This has been the constant stream of words coming out of my toddler's mouth.  I once had a teacher who told us that we had diarrhea of the mouth when we talked too much.  That is the situation in my house.  And the volume is constantly set on loud with the balance set on squealy-squeaky-high pitch!  It has almost sent me in search of a silent convent and a habit, and I am Jewish!!  Sunday night,  Doodle Skyped with The Bubbie and The Zayde, she was looking through Parenting magazine looking for Elmo.  They have an advertisement in the back.  She was so absorbed in her search for Elmo, that she almost ignored her doting grandparents.  Not only that, but for a few minutes, I didn't hear my name screamed.  It was beautiful.  And then I had a brilliant thought pop into my head.  I grabbed her magazine, and ran to the art supply drawer.  I took a couple sheets of Elmo stickers and put them in random places in the magazine.  Gave it back to her and told her to look for Elmo and his friends.  It worked!  There was peace and quiet for a good.... 10 minutes! I must remember this idea for later!

August 7 (16/365)

So I am a total slacker, and never remembered to get back to this posting.  I was feeling slightly guilty about this.  I was also trying to think about what else I could share with the world in future posts.  Thankfully, lightning struck twice and I had yet another brilliant mommy moment!  I know, don't have too much shock and surprise.  If you have recovered, I will now share my fantastic idea #2!

Doodle got a couple of foam puzzles for her 2nd birthday.  It was a thoughtful gift, Doodle loves puzzles.  And she has loved these puzzles since she got them.  She also hates them.  She can't quite figure them out.  I have tried to put them away but she always finds them.  Yesterday morning when she pulled them out, I sighed the big sigh.  Then, lightbulb!!!  I got the camera, and took a picture of each puzzle. ( yes, I am counting this as my picture for the day.  I know it is a copout and I will try and do better, but I took a picture so it counts!)  I printed the pictures and spent a little bit of time showing Doodle how to look at the picture and look at the puzzle.  Miracle of miracles she could put the puzzle together!  This was an even more important achievement because she didn't nap AGAIN which meant not TV AGAIN and she lost her "little friends" on of her favorite toys.  Between the magazine and the puzzle and a good dose of the angry Mommy eyes, we enjoyed a whine free afternoon!  So here is my copout picture of the puzzles and a copout picture of her playing with them this morning:)

August 8 (17/365)

August 9 (18/365)