Spitfire

Three years ago tomorrow, a beautiful little girl beat the doctor (and the anesthesiologist) to the delivery room. And when the nurse held up the umbilical cord to show the Hoos and me the "true knot" in it, we knew instantly that this little girl was not going to let anything or anyone hold her back.

I would say that she is like the Energizer bunny, except even Energizers eventually run out of steam. Not my AK.

This weekend she ran from bounce house to sprinkler to snack table in a circuitous route at a party. It made my head spin (and my stomach turn) just to watch her. And any thought of her conking out on the ride home would only lead to disappointment. And then after dinner, when we went on a family walk, the Hoos and I each pushing a stroller, LP enjoyed the ride and AK walked the entire 1.5 miles.

A petite powerhouse, AK actually thinks she is turning 5 like her big sister instead of 3. She idolizes LP and wants everything the same as big sister. Tonight we will be making a two-tiered, pink iced cake that looks just like the one LP brought to school last week. And tomorrow AK will get similar if not identical presents. And in a couple of weeks they will have a joint birthday party. Good think LP relishes the role of big sister and care-giver. Not to say they don't find ways to get under each other's skin, but at the end of the day they always give each other a kiss and a hug.

To say our family was not complete until AK arrived would be an understatement. Now if only she had come with some spare batteries for sharing...

The Nurturer

This is LP.

LP is FIVE.

LP is also loving, and smart, and beautiful, and going to be the most amazing woman.

She is nosy inquisitive.

She is observant.

She hears everything, understands most things, and teaches everyone around her.

She is the center of AK's world and a huge bright spot in mine (and the Hoos').

When I went to register LP for kindergarten and the principal asked me to describe her, I was momentarily speechless. How do you capture the spirit that is LP in words?

She may no longer have the chubby cheeks and deliciously pudgy thighs that were her trademark as a baby, but she instantly captured our hearts and that certainly has not let up.

What a Crack Up

Last night as I was putting AK to bed, I noticed she had a quilt laid out on the floor, "I sleep here," she told me.

"Fine, as long as you sleep," I said, closing the door.

A few minutes later I heard some banging and went in to check on her. I found her arranging herself and her stuff on the quilt. She had grabbed a mini-pillow and a cuddly friend from her bed and the banging was a result of her grabbing a blanket from her dresser.

She looked at me, didn't say a word and returned to assembling her bed.

When I went back downstairs, I told the Hoos not to be surprised if AK was sleeping on the floor.

"I bet she isn't sleeping," he responded.

Around 9:45 our suspicions were confirmed by some additional banging.

When I went upstairs, I found AK trying to stuff the blankets back into her dresser. Apparently she was ready to return to bed.

I also noticed that she seemed to have more and different clothes on then when I had last left her.

"AK, it is too hot for a sweatshirt." Again, she didn't say a word, just stuck her arms in the air so I could remove it. She then curled up on her pillow and closed her eyes.

When I went in at 10:15 she was sound asleep and I was able to remove the leggings she had also put on.

That kid cracks me up. Simultaneously hard to believe she is only three and almost three.

Dealing With It

Last week I took LP for her kindergarten visit.

Everything looked so small.

Except my daughter; she looked so big! How is it even possible that my round-cheeked, chubby-legged little baby is turning five in a few short days?

Another eye-opening thing at the orientation was how many stay-at-home moms there are. I know they exist, and while I don't envy them (to me, being a SAHM is way harder than a "work in the office" mom), I don't necessarily feel like I have a lot in common with them.

For example, there as one woman that was jumping out of her seat to be a Brownie troop leader.

There is also the challenge of after-school care.

The district we are moving into offers full day and extended day kindergarten. Despite the names, full day is school until 3:30 four days a week and extended day is school until 3:30 twice a week and until 1:10 three days a week.

The extended day option boggles my mind. If your kid comes home early do you play with them for an extra two hours? Take them to a music class or something? Are two extra hours of stimulation with other children too much?

LP (and AK) have been going to day care from 8:30 until 5 since they were 3 months old. The idea of having them home at 3:30 seems early.

I have already starting setting the stage at the office for a work schedule where I will be able to meet her at home from the bus. However, there is the sticky wicket of Wednesday. Every single kindergarten class ends at 1:10 on Wednesdays. I think this is a relic of the half day kindergarten days (thank goodness we don't have to worry about THAT) but I am really not sure of the purpose. Other than to make working parents run around like crazy people to get a strategy together.

Of course, my first option, after care at the school for two hours, is full. We are on a waiting list. My second option of having her bussed to the same center AK will be at for day care is cancelling its program for lack of interest. I am starting to think about hiring a babysitter to meet LP at the bus and hand out with her for a few hours. Of course, this is complicated by actually finding a babysitter. Further complicated by the fact that we will not actually live in the community for another 10 weeks.

ACK! It is enough to make my head hurt. A lot.

What sort of crazy machinations do they have in your town? What solutions have you come up with?

Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery

LP: "Mommy? Do you still have those wasps building a nest in your window at work?"
Me: "Yes, but my friend Tim is going to spray them so they go away."
LP: "Mom. Tomorrow you say to him, 'You can't spray them until my kids come in and have a chance to see them.' Okay?"
>>>>>>
AK: "I love you."
Me: "I love you, too."
AK: "No! Mommy! Do not say 'I love you, too!' I love you."
Me: "I love you."
AK: "I love you, too."
Me: "I love you, too."
>>>>>>>
LP (to anyone who will listen): "Wednesday is my kindergarten visit! Friday my grandma and grandpa are picking me up! And we're going to see the inside of our new house. And we are going to Chuck E. Cheese. And we are going to eat ice cream. And candy. And take a bath in the big bath tub with grandpa in his bathing suit. And have waffles with whipped cream. And play with grandma's neighbor Isabella. And AK and I will have a sleepover together. And..."

Twas the Day Before Mother's Day: A Photo Essay

Wearing her "soccer dress" - daddy's jersey.

This is how we glamorous girls play soccer.

Pooped after a long day of fun in the sun with Grandma and Grandpa.

Hello, Ma?!

How has it possible been two weeks since I blogged?

It is entirely possible that the time flew by because I have nothing exciting that I want to blog about. Not to say life is not exciting, because it is. In fact, life is really crazy in a lot of different ways, but that doesn't mean I want to blog about it.

Mostly it means I just want to talk to my mother about it.

Fortunately, I talk to my mother almost every single day. I realize that for many of you this sounds insane. To others it just makes me really darn lucky.

While I am likely at least a little bit of both, in this case I am actually really lucky.

Are there times when we drive each other nuts? Sure. Will she tell you about what an awful tantrum-throwing toddler I was? You don't have to ask her twice. She may even throw in a bit about the positive sunshine I radiated as a teenager (is the sarcasm thick enough on this one?).

But at the end of the day, we still have a great relationship. And I now have not just one, but two little girls aka payback. The good news is we know we will all make it out just fine.

Thanks, Mom! And Happy Mother's Day!