I think this says it all

Any questions?????

Crazy Hair Day

 Last week on Friday it was Crazy Hair day at Lily's school. On Thursday night Lily took a bath then I braided her wet hair into probably twelve little braids. In the morning we took the braids out, put in a top pony tail and viola! Crazy hair. She loved it. It was so cute to watch her walk into her classroom kinda shy- but excited to show it off. Notice the cute outfit she picked out herself as well. Guess where she learned that "pose"? Haha. What a great kid.

I love how she is changing and turning into such a big girl but at the same time it is so hard to see her so "grown up." It happens too fast I tell ya!

30 Days of Truth: Day 17

From my mom: How do you like being a parent? Is it what you anticipated?

Being a parent has given me the highest highs and lowest lows of my life. It is a never-ending blindfolded roller coaster. Is it like I anticipated? No. I could never have fully prepared for this- because everything about being a parent is so split second. Did working in childcare for 7 or 8 years help? I think so because, especially at first, it gave me confidence. I had experience with small children and new pretty much all the "physical" basics...so in that way I guess I was prepared...but emotionally? No way. Everyday is still a challenge in one way or another.

One of the hardest things for me right now is finding the balance between letting Lily (and Kendra) figure stuff out on their own and just me getting it done. I always help Lily get dressed in the morning- not because she can't do it but because that is just the routine. Lately I have been trying to have her do more of her morning routine on her own. The more she does on her own, the less I have to do and the later I can wake up. Its a win win for me, right? Oh and uh so she can become more independent, yeah, that too. But it feels like a constant tug-of-war. Help or don't help when they want it or when they don't. This weekend Lily and Kendra asked if they could clean their bathroom. Um...YES!!! Except I left them to it and came back to puddles of water on the floor and bar soap being used to "clean" the counter. Lesson learned. Awesome they want to help, but they still need supervision.

I think they are both doing great but parenting- even really well behaved kids-is seriously mentally exhausting.

Even so...I try to enjoy where they are at today because I know tomorrow or in an hour it could all completely change.

Bath Time

I always sit in the bathroom while Lily is taking a bath. Every once in a while I may run out really quick to grab my phone or a towel or something but never for more than a second or two. And recently I have been cleaning other parts of the bathroom while she is in there (you know, the whole two birds with one stone thing). Last night all of her bedding had been washed (don't ask) so while she was in the bath instead of sitting with her, I decided to put her all her bedding back together in her room. Now that I am writing it, it really sounds like no big deal but it kinda was. She did a great job- I just came back in when it was time to wash her hair and to help her get out of the tub.

Today I went online to see if there were any kind of guidelines for having kids bathe on their own...and apparently all kinds of kids her age shower (alone!) and even shampoo their own hair. Not all of them for sure- but Lily wouldn't even know what to do in a shower all by herself.

Have I been too much of a helicopter parent and I didn't even know it??? I've been sitting with her and helping her in the bath tub for so long it never even occured to me that it might be ok to leave her alone in there already- and to let her do it. She just seems so tiny to me still- like when I picture her trying to wash her hair in the shower it seems silly 'cause she's just my little baby...but I guess she's really not.

Any thoughts on helping her transition from Mommy washing her in the bath to taking showers on her own??? I think I am still in shock.

On the other hand. The bath thing still works for us. Maybe I should just wait until it doesn't work for her anymore.

Quotable Lily

Lily: When I cough or burp my ears are farting! (residual from the ear infection?)

Lily: Kendra and I have matching stuffed animals! Now we're like sisters!
Mommy: You are like sisters!
Lily: Yeah but that's not the way you planned it, huh mom?

(During kinda scary part on the movie we are watching)
Lily: I'm just gonna go pet Fiona for a long time... until this part is over!

(Earlier, Martin told Lily she needed to sleep to "recharge her batteries")
Lily: Mommy, Martin says I have batteries! Silly Martin, I don't have batteries!

**********************

I have work to do but seriously lack any motivation to do it. So tired...must rest...and read failbook...hehe.

Jan '09- Whatever happened to that cute sweater of hers? No idea. Love this picture though.

Silly Lily

Mommy: Goodness! Scooby Doo is a little scary don't you think?

Lily: Mom it is just a movie. What are you so scared of? It is only scary if you are inside the movie.

***************

Lily: I don't know what I'm going to be like when I grow up.

Mommy: Me neither!

Museum of Flight

Last weekend we took the girl's to the Museum of Flight. We had fun- I liked looking at the old WWI and WWII planes- also seeing one of the retired Air Force One planes was very cool. Martin had lots of fun with EVERYTHING I think- he was by far the most um...interested ; ). We all liked the control tower section where you get to look out over Boeing field and hear the real tower giving instructions. The girls did lots of running around when they could- and enjoyed some of the more interactive exhibits. I think we'll have to take them again in a couple years when they know how to read and can absorb more of the information along with the planes and stuff to see.

 I hadn't been there since I was probably 11 or 12 maybe??? Kind of weird the things you don't really do in your own city just because you live there. It is like the Seattle Underground Tour we did a couple months ago. I learned so much about the city I never knew- and I grew up here! It also reminds me I want to go and listen to some more Utah Phillips. He was a folk singer/storyteller who collected all kinds of early days stories- many of them originating in the Northwest. His stories are about the people and the working class rather than the big names you get in the history books. Very interesting- plus he's very funny. I was so sad to hear he passed away a few years ago. 

Floyd and Miss Fiona are home today together- for the first time we didn't separate them while we are gone for the day. I am a little nervous to come home to tufts of fur all over the apartment from a cat fight though. We leave them out together at night and haven't had an issue but Fiona has hissed and taken a few swipes at Floyd when he got too close. I think he just doesn't know how to read her "I'm grumpy" warning signs. Which, as I told Martin, "What guy does?"  I think in time they will get along just fine...I just hope they avoid each other for today.

PS Thanks Mom for responding to my plea for card ideas! I've got the design going already. Anyone else want a card? Just let me know...

30 Days of Truth: Day 16

My Mom asked "Why  God made you a gift to this earth and to your parents what do you think his plan for you is? We are all here for a reason, what do you think your reason is?"

       I often struggle with the idea of God and how "personified" "he" actually is. I think I believe more in a kind of life spirit than an actual sentient kind of God. But honestly there is no particular semi-belief/idea I have that I see as complete truth. I have ideas but I don't know know. Around Christmas time I always go through my thoughts about Christianity again and what it means to me- even though I am not a practicing Christian I still grew up that way and do feel it has shaped me at least to a point. I know this is a bit round-about and I'm sure it is not exactly what my mom wants to hear- but when I think about a "plan" for my life I just can't even begin to guess what that might be. Even if I did believe in the same God as my Mom I don't think I could be that presumptuous to think I knew what "he" had in mind for me or my future.

       So here is what I think- and I can't exactly attribute it to God-but am not ruling out the possibility. I think everything happens for a reason- this or that person comes into my life because it fulfills something somewhere for someone and they may or may not leave when that purpose is filled. Some people come and are meant to stay and others are meant to pass through. However it happens we affect each other in some way- big or small- and I guess I don't think it all happens by chance. Though I am not sure of the force behind it. I think the instance that best exemplifies this idea is about Lily.

I worked in childcare for quite some time (7 or 8 years?) I took care of a roomful of toddlers EVERY DAY. I think I was pretty good at my job. I had a lot of fun and was able to teach (and hopefully influence positively) many children. There are probably several hundred children I had a hand in "growing." I am proud of that and that experience- so when I found out I was going to be a mom- I really felt like I was prepared for the challenges of caring for a baby/toddler/child. (Don't ask me how prepared I feel for the teenage years though.)

      Then came Lily. She has been a challenge from day one- though always the love of my life. Let it be known that I had (have) a very high needs type of child. At one point when she was 2 1/2 or even 3 I was particularly frustrated with her and her behavior- and my ability to deal with it. But...that was the age group that I had worked with the most through my time in childcare. I felt I should be exceptionally good at dealing with her at that age- but I wasn't. I was frustrated and alone and lost my patience frequently. One day at the daycare I was venting a bit to her teacher about this particular frustration. Why on earth could I handle a room FULL of toddlers but couldn't get my own toddler under control? Her teacher's response, "Maybe Lily was given to you for a reason. Maybe God wouldn't give you more than you could handle."

      Maybe Lily needed someone like me for her mom because anyone else just wouldn't be able to do the same job. Maybe I am uniquely qualified to be Lily's mom. Maybe that is one of my purposes on earth- maybe Lily, because she is my daughter, is going to grow up and do something important, affect someone else in an important way. I really have no idea, but the more I think about it the more connected it all becomes.

Inspiration

Hey all! I really want to break in my new Cricut but I am having a creative mental block. I don't have any deadlines looming so I keep putting my crafting off. Does anyone want a set of cards made?? I just need some kind of jumpstart/goal to get me going again...oh and I won't charge you anything. I could make a single card (birthday, new baby, congrat etc), a set of thank you cards or invitations...I've made baby shower favors too- and you can totally have input in the design. Any takers? First commenter gets it : )

Hehe.

This blog is very funny. Very very funny.

hyperbole and a half

Just had to share : )




P.S. Like my new signature???

30 Days of Truth: Day 15

From Lindsey- What do you do at the end of one of those "I've had it days"? How do you deal/unwind?

Sometimes I am completely unsucessful at not being snarky and mean at the end of the day.

Some days I am just so freaking tired!

Most days 7 1/2 hours of sleep is just not enough.

Some days I need a drink.

Some days I put on my headphones, play on the computer and ignore EVERYBODY!

You might even find me doing the dishes or cleaning the bathroom like a crazy lady.

Other days I just go to bed rather than deal with the frustration.

But...

Sometimes I need a good snuggle and a movie.

Maybe some chocolate.

And sometimes all I need is to see Lily's smiling face

My New Year's Resolution-ha!

For the love I need to finish 30 Day's of Truth sometime this year!! It was a good idea and all at the beginning but now the topics are seriously throwing me off... You know what, though? This is my blog. I can do what I want. So for the last 15 days...I am asking you...what do YOU want to know about me and/or my family and/or my life? Don't hold back, seriously.  I will also think of some of my own questions because I am totally dreaming if I think I am going to get 15 questions from you all.

***crickets chirping***



Thanks! You are awesome! Please please send me a question : )
If you are having trouble commenting...email me...or facebook message me...anything!

(Thanks Lindsey for being the first and only one so far!)

Oooh I just love being an Auntie!

I got to hold Deven!!!! He is so tiny even though he is almost 6 pounds already. I can hardly remember Lily ever being that small- even though she started out at 6 pounds 8 ounces. It would have been so easy to sit in that rocking chair all afternoon and just stare at his cute little face and fingers and his chubby neck. I am so so happy he is doing so welll and I hope for our next visit he'll be home where he belongs.