SJ started eating cereal and was a pro both at eating it and making a mess with is. She has to be turned around backwards from everyone because she is so social she won't eat if she can see anyone!
Friday, December 21, 2012
Cereal, Sisters, and Superman!
Aside from the quick trip to VA and Thanksgiving, not much super exciting went on in our house. Just the usual mundane 2 kids, 2 dogs, 2 parents kind of things.
SJ started eating cereal and was a pro both at eating it and making a mess with is. She has to be turned around backwards from everyone because she is so social she won't eat if she can see anyone!
Doodle continues to be absolutely in love with her sister. As a mother, I thought I understood unconditional love, and I do. But seeing how Doodle immediately loved SJ from the second she met her has been incredible to watch. SJ can do no wrong in the eyes of her sister! A few weeks ago, Doodle was lying on the baby gym with SJ. Zoe decided to join them. So of course I tried to get a picture of all 3 of my girls together.
What surprised me about the picture when I looked at it was how much Doodle and SJ look alike from this angle. Since looking alike is great when you are 4 here is a picture of the girls in some "matches" given to us by a family friend.
In other SJ news, we continue to stunt our child's development. You see, I have very unhappy infants. They cry. A LOT!!!! And putting them on the belly for tummy time makes them cry even more. So, we give up rather quickly. I have been trying to be better about making SJ spend some time on her belly. On this particular day we started out great!
And then things started to go down hill very quickly!
And by the time all was said and done (3 minutes later), I had taken her out of the boppy and put her on the floor. And I was left with a screaming superman baby!
SJ started eating cereal and was a pro both at eating it and making a mess with is. She has to be turned around backwards from everyone because she is so social she won't eat if she can see anyone!
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Sunday, December 16, 2012
Dirty Dishes
When I was a kid, my Grandma Mantle used to come and stay the winter with us in South GA. I am sure it wasn't always easy to have her there for 3 or 4 months, but it allowed my brother and I to have a relationship with her that we wouldn't have otherwise had. I have an odd memory bank, and really only remember snippits of her times with us. I can vividly remember her helping me hand stitch a turkey for a project in my gifted class. I remember how angry she was the time I let a stranger bring me home after a bike wreck. And I remember clearing the table and cleaning the kitchen when she was around. She would constantly fuss at us for stacking the dishes. "If you stack the dishes, you will have to wash the bottoms too!" was her constant chorus as my brother and I cleared dishes and loaded the dishwasher each night. Her advice was falling on deaf ears as we knew nothing about hand washing dishes!
My grandmother died the summer I turned 10. Maybe that is why my memories are so foggy. It has been a long time! I do remember sitting in her apartment and going around in a circle picking things of hers to keep. I also remember my mom showing me the china that she had left me. My cousin Debbie was the oldest and my grandma gave this as the reason for letting her choose a set of china first. (she had 2 full sets so that she could maintain a kosher kitchen). I don't know what the set that Debbie chose looks like. I only know that the set that was left is beautiful and timeless. It is trimmed in gold and covered in bright flowers. I LOVE it! Each time it is used I think of her. Until recently, I haven't ever used it in my own home. Bubbie and I used it for Passover at her house, but never in my own home. That all changed over Thanksgiving this year. I sat on the floor and opened the cracked and faded china bags and lovingly found all the pieces I needed for our meal. I combined my grandma's china with the pattern that My Favoritest and I registered for when we got married. I think I did a pretty good job of complimenting the old with the new.
I know you think I have just ramble on and on, but I really do have a point that joins these two stories. Ever since my grandma's death, when I find myself flipping a dish over to wash the food off the bottom, I take it as a sign that my grandma is watching over me. I usually will even look up and give her a little nod. My cousin Jodi has seen a medium and had contact with our grandma, but this little reminder will have to do for me! After Thanksgiving dinner, I stacked all the china by the sink so I could hand wash it.
And as I flipped the first plate over to wash it, you know what I found! Food on the bottom.
And I knew she was watching over us and I hope she is proud of the woman, wife, and mother I have become. (And I hope she missed the bacon in the marinated green beans in one of her kosher serving pieces)
My grandmother died the summer I turned 10. Maybe that is why my memories are so foggy. It has been a long time! I do remember sitting in her apartment and going around in a circle picking things of hers to keep. I also remember my mom showing me the china that she had left me. My cousin Debbie was the oldest and my grandma gave this as the reason for letting her choose a set of china first. (she had 2 full sets so that she could maintain a kosher kitchen). I don't know what the set that Debbie chose looks like. I only know that the set that was left is beautiful and timeless. It is trimmed in gold and covered in bright flowers. I LOVE it! Each time it is used I think of her. Until recently, I haven't ever used it in my own home. Bubbie and I used it for Passover at her house, but never in my own home. That all changed over Thanksgiving this year. I sat on the floor and opened the cracked and faded china bags and lovingly found all the pieces I needed for our meal. I combined my grandma's china with the pattern that My Favoritest and I registered for when we got married. I think I did a pretty good job of complimenting the old with the new.
I know you think I have just ramble on and on, but I really do have a point that joins these two stories. Ever since my grandma's death, when I find myself flipping a dish over to wash the food off the bottom, I take it as a sign that my grandma is watching over me. I usually will even look up and give her a little nod. My cousin Jodi has seen a medium and had contact with our grandma, but this little reminder will have to do for me! After Thanksgiving dinner, I stacked all the china by the sink so I could hand wash it.
And as I flipped the first plate over to wash it, you know what I found! Food on the bottom.
And I knew she was watching over us and I hope she is proud of the woman, wife, and mother I have become. (And I hope she missed the bacon in the marinated green beans in one of her kosher serving pieces)
Table For 3 Plus 1
Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. I am a fat girl at heart, so you know it has a little to do with the food:) But more importantly it has to do with consistency. As a military brat, there weren't many things in our life that were celebrated the in the same place with the same people year after year after year. Thanksgiving was the exception to that. The first year we lived in Valdosta (when I was 4) we were invited to "The Farm". It is the family farm of our adopted family, and we have gathered there almost every year since! Since my Favoritest and I got married, we have swapped years between his family and mine. Last year we didn't go anywhere, our parents came to us. This year, we didn't go anywhere, and we didn't have anyone come to us. I will admit, I put on a brave face to my mom and told her we would be fine. I was secretly sad and dreading the loneliness that I knew would creep in. And even though we missed all of our family, I will be the first to admit it was a wonderful day!
The weather was fantastic.
The kids were happy.
We had lots of spin time as a family!
Doodle helped me make stuffing like her Granny does (even though she didn't eat more than her required 3 bites)
We put SJ to bed early and had a nice dinner. I busted out the china and crystal. Doodle ate from my grandmother's dishes and my heart smiled.
It was a far cry from Thanksgiving last year when I spent the entire weekend worried about SJ! We have so much to be thankful for!
The weather was fantastic.
The kids were happy.
We put SJ to bed early and had a nice dinner. I busted out the china and crystal. Doodle ate from my grandmother's dishes and my heart smiled.
I even used the china soup bowls from my Aunt Reva.
Although I am sure kraft mac and cheese was not quite what she imagined me serving in them!
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Misses and Makeups!
So, I am going to jump backwards a little bit and talk about our failed DC adventure. To put it mildly, it wasn't at all what I had hoped for! The entire trip was a suprise to Doodle. And that is the only part that actually did work out! Here is a video of her when she realized that Bubbie was at the hotel! (I can't figure out how to put the video directly in here, so I had to use a youtube link)
I can't even remember what night we arrived at the hotel, because we only stayed one night! Stupid Super Storm Sandy ruined our plans! We did manage to have dinner with my cousin Jodi and it was worth the trip just to see her and have her meet my girls! Here are a few pictures from our one night stand in DC!
We arrived home from DC safe, sound, and sorely disappointed. I perked up and celebrated Halloween, but all the while sad for our missed adventure to DC and the trip to VA that was supposed to follow. To make matters even more somber, My Favoritest was studying for his pediatric cardiology boards. Otherwise known as his "we paid a bazillion dollars for you to take this test and it is only offered one day every TWO years and you really need to pass so we have a job and it is causing unbelievable stress in our house boards". So after much discussion (about a 5 minute conversation) Sisterwife and I decided the only prudent thing to do was evacuate the premisis so My Favoritest could study.
When traveling with an infant, time revolves around feeding and sleeping. Anything else falls by the wayside. Because of SJ's schedule I knew we would be arriving in VA a little to early to head to Sisterwife's house (she had some previous plans). Since we were going to have a little time to kill, I sent a text message to my friend Julie and we sort of invited ourselves to her house for a quick visit. Julie was Doodle's teacher when she was two, and we both fell in love with her! If you want to know why read this. Julie and I developed a friendship that has grown as challenges have crept up for us both. When I sat in the hospital on mag and movers at my house, Julie came and kept me company. When she has been dealing with issues with her kids, I hope I have been a supportive ear. Julie has a beautiful home with a million billion dollar view. She lives down a road at the top of Afton Mountain. I often drove past the road and thought you'd have to be carzy to live down that road! Or have an awesome piece of property with a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains that will make you look out your window each day and know that God exists! It is that beautiful! Anyway, I digress. We stopped for a visit with Julie and her family. She has twins (Cole and Maddie), who Doodle thinks are the coolest kids in the world. Lucky for Doodle, they think she is pretty cool too. Lucky for me that they are super sweet, generous, and responsible kids who took Doodle out to chase chickens and play on the swing set so Julie and I could visit. It was a great start to our trip and my only regret is that we forgot to take a picture of the kids!
We spent a lovely few days in VA. Upon our arrival, Trouble started running a fever. For some folks this might put a damper on the visit, but not us. All it did was force us to slow down and stay home! Jayburb and Doodle had the best time playing. They did nothing but play for 2 whole days! Doodle went with Sisterwife and Jayburb to vote. She may or may not have voted against her Zayde's ticket, but she had a very nice civics lesson and will make sure you know not to ask who people voted for! Anyway, long story short, we had a great visit and took home lots of memories and Trouble's bug that we still haven't gotten rid of!
I can't even remember what night we arrived at the hotel, because we only stayed one night! Stupid Super Storm Sandy ruined our plans! We did manage to have dinner with my cousin Jodi and it was worth the trip just to see her and have her meet my girls! Here are a few pictures from our one night stand in DC!
When traveling with an infant, time revolves around feeding and sleeping. Anything else falls by the wayside. Because of SJ's schedule I knew we would be arriving in VA a little to early to head to Sisterwife's house (she had some previous plans). Since we were going to have a little time to kill, I sent a text message to my friend Julie and we sort of invited ourselves to her house for a quick visit. Julie was Doodle's teacher when she was two, and we both fell in love with her! If you want to know why read this. Julie and I developed a friendship that has grown as challenges have crept up for us both. When I sat in the hospital on mag and movers at my house, Julie came and kept me company. When she has been dealing with issues with her kids, I hope I have been a supportive ear. Julie has a beautiful home with a million billion dollar view. She lives down a road at the top of Afton Mountain. I often drove past the road and thought you'd have to be carzy to live down that road! Or have an awesome piece of property with a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains that will make you look out your window each day and know that God exists! It is that beautiful! Anyway, I digress. We stopped for a visit with Julie and her family. She has twins (Cole and Maddie), who Doodle thinks are the coolest kids in the world. Lucky for Doodle, they think she is pretty cool too. Lucky for me that they are super sweet, generous, and responsible kids who took Doodle out to chase chickens and play on the swing set so Julie and I could visit. It was a great start to our trip and my only regret is that we forgot to take a picture of the kids!
We spent a lovely few days in VA. Upon our arrival, Trouble started running a fever. For some folks this might put a damper on the visit, but not us. All it did was force us to slow down and stay home! Jayburb and Doodle had the best time playing. They did nothing but play for 2 whole days! Doodle went with Sisterwife and Jayburb to vote. She may or may not have voted against her Zayde's ticket, but she had a very nice civics lesson and will make sure you know not to ask who people voted for! Anyway, long story short, we had a great visit and took home lots of memories and Trouble's bug that we still haven't gotten rid of!
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
I'm Still Waiting!!!
"I'm still waiting!" is the sentiment I have heard from my new friend New Sarah no less than 4 times regarding this post! You see, a few days before Stupid Sandy, and Halloween, and Make-up Halloween, we met up with New Sarah and her girls Boo and Bear at the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh for their Halloween party. Boo goes to Izzy's school and is a year older than Doodle. Bear is about 6ish months older than SJ (who is still awaiting a proper nickname). Doodle was super excited to meet her friend at the museum and even more excited that she got to wear her costume! Long story short, the girls had a great time, SJ was at the end of her hot mess phase and was a hot mess. My Favoritest got there late (as usual). Everyone left happy but exhausted. Not bad for a Friday night out!
Clearly Doodle wasn't the only one who was excited to be there!!!!
And because they were just too cute when we were leaving.....
Clearly Doodle wasn't the only one who was excited to be there!!!!
Hopefully by the time she is really ready to drive Doodle will learn to keep her eyes on the road! Or at least face the road and pretend that she is paying attention!
A little see-saw fun with Daddy!
Now because both Doodle and Boo were so excited about their night time Halloween playdate, I rarely managed to get a pictures of their faces. Good thing they have such cute tushies! Here is a picture of each of them playing on one of the Tough Art exhibits. It is a giant basket of giant yarn that is meant to resemble a place for cats to play! The girls had lots of fun flinging themselves onto the yarn balls!
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Homesick Halloween!
This story has two parts. Part one started about a week ago when Doodle and I were talking about Halloween. She decided that I should dress up like Hallie Hippo from Doc McStuffins. I was happy to dress up, but had a hard time coming up with the costume. I convinced her to let me be Chilly (the snowman) instead. She was perfectly satisfied with that idea. So I had every intention of dressing up with her. What she didn't know what that I was planning a surprise trip to DC to see Bubbie and Zayde followed by Halloween in our old neighborhood. In the hustle of that plan, I didn't quite get my costume together. I figured she wouldn't care about me once she realized that she got to see Jayburb. So, I didn't get a costume together.
Fast forward a week and Stupid Superstorm Sandy (SSS) ruined my surprise visit with Jayburb and Halloween in Crozet. It also meant that I had no costume. As luck would have it, the week was kind of crazy and I didn't get around to the whole costume things. As I was putting Doodle to bed last night, I mentioned that I didn't have a costume to be Chilly. I could tell that she was disappointed. She told me I had to dress up to go Trick or Treat!
So of course, I come downstairs guilt ridden and start trying to come up with a Chilly costume I can make in a couple of hours. And I did manage to make something that was pretty cute in a ridiculous sort of way. It only took a couple of hours, and I had everything around the house! And part two of this story made me so grateful that Doodle guilted me into making a costume.
Part two of this story took place at our dining room table as we were eating lunch today. Doodle was asking what time we were going to Trick-or-Treat. I reviewed the afternoon's events with her and she looks at me and says, " And are all my friends coming to trick or treat?"
I said "what friends are you talking about?"
"You know mommy, my friends."
"I'm not sure what you mean baby, what friends are you talking about?"
At this point, she slams both hands down on the table and says "My friends from Crozet and my friends from school!"
So I explained that all her school friends would be getting candy in their neighborhoods. And sadly explained that our friends in Crozet are too far away to come tonight. As I looked across the table at that sweet face, I promise you there were tears in her big hazel eyes. It broke my heart! And right then I was so glad that I had crafted a costume! As the afternoon went on, Doodle continued to be a little melancholy, so to cheer her up I let her in on a little secret. I told her that we are going to Crozet in the morning! It helped lift her spirit and let her enjoy the rest of Halloween.
Chilly and Doc walked to chilly streets of our neighborhood for an hourish. The neighbors give full size candy bars and there are plenty of houses to knock at, but it was missing something. It was missing our friends. It was missing the white picket fences of PSV. Charlie Brown was not playing on the side of a house. And, I didn't see one single parent with a beer! Basically, it wasn't our Halloween as usual. Just another thing in the long line of adjustments. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great either. It was new and different, and I did my best to make it fun for Doodle!
So, between the guilt of not dressing up and the guilt over moving Doodle far from "home", I have never been so glad to look like a fool in all my life. And now, the moment you have been waiting for! Pictures of our Doc McStuffins crew!
We had to stop back by the house for had and gloves. It was very chilly! The penguin hat was the only one I could find in a hurry and it completely confused people!
Fast forward a week and Stupid Superstorm Sandy (SSS) ruined my surprise visit with Jayburb and Halloween in Crozet. It also meant that I had no costume. As luck would have it, the week was kind of crazy and I didn't get around to the whole costume things. As I was putting Doodle to bed last night, I mentioned that I didn't have a costume to be Chilly. I could tell that she was disappointed. She told me I had to dress up to go Trick or Treat!
So of course, I come downstairs guilt ridden and start trying to come up with a Chilly costume I can make in a couple of hours. And I did manage to make something that was pretty cute in a ridiculous sort of way. It only took a couple of hours, and I had everything around the house! And part two of this story made me so grateful that Doodle guilted me into making a costume.
Part two of this story took place at our dining room table as we were eating lunch today. Doodle was asking what time we were going to Trick-or-Treat. I reviewed the afternoon's events with her and she looks at me and says, " And are all my friends coming to trick or treat?"
I said "what friends are you talking about?"
"You know mommy, my friends."
"I'm not sure what you mean baby, what friends are you talking about?"
At this point, she slams both hands down on the table and says "My friends from Crozet and my friends from school!"
So I explained that all her school friends would be getting candy in their neighborhoods. And sadly explained that our friends in Crozet are too far away to come tonight. As I looked across the table at that sweet face, I promise you there were tears in her big hazel eyes. It broke my heart! And right then I was so glad that I had crafted a costume! As the afternoon went on, Doodle continued to be a little melancholy, so to cheer her up I let her in on a little secret. I told her that we are going to Crozet in the morning! It helped lift her spirit and let her enjoy the rest of Halloween.
Chilly and Doc walked to chilly streets of our neighborhood for an hourish. The neighbors give full size candy bars and there are plenty of houses to knock at, but it was missing something. It was missing our friends. It was missing the white picket fences of PSV. Charlie Brown was not playing on the side of a house. And, I didn't see one single parent with a beer! Basically, it wasn't our Halloween as usual. Just another thing in the long line of adjustments. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great either. It was new and different, and I did my best to make it fun for Doodle!
So, between the guilt of not dressing up and the guilt over moving Doodle far from "home", I have never been so glad to look like a fool in all my life. And now, the moment you have been waiting for! Pictures of our Doc McStuffins crew!
Our Little Lambie
Doc McStuffins herself!
Doc and lounge lizard Lambie
The McStuffins Crew!
(Please remember, I made my costume in a couple of hours and used things from around the house!)
After pictures, Doc and Chilly were off to get candy!
We had to stop back by the house for had and gloves. It was very chilly! The penguin hat was the only one I could find in a hurry and it completely confused people!
Just call me the candy inspector!
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