Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Putting it Together
An awesome thing about being a mom is watching your kids put it all together - bringing things they have learned in the past, at school, from family and friends to bear on current situations. I still can't really get used to it.
Yesterday as I drove the girls home from school we passed a home that had been razed several months ago. We call it "the knock down house." I pointed out to LP that there was a truck (a bulldozer maybe?) on the lawn, meaning that the home was going to be rebuilt soon.
"Mommy, I wish our house was knocked down so that we could have a truck." When I replied that we wouldn't have a place to sleep if our home was knocked down her quick response was, "Well, mommy, then we could sleep in a sukkah."
For those of you out there wondering what a sukkah is, it is a temporary shelter, built for Sukkot, a Jewish holiday that starts this Friday and celebrates (among other things) a successful harvest. You are supposed to eat in the sukkah and sleep out underneath the stars (the roof is open on purpose so you can see the stars).
When I mentioned it to the Hoos, letting him know that his conversation with her at services on Monday made an impression, he responded, "I didn't show her the Sukkah at the synagogue. I showed it to AK." We have no idea how LP made this connection. We haven't read any books about the holiday recently and when we asked her where she came up with this she replied mysteriously, "From somewhere."
And, on Sunday night as I was getting the diaper bag ready for attending synagogue the next day, LP asked if we would eat at synagogue. When I told her that Yom Kippur is not an eating holiday, rather, it is a day when many Jewish people don't eat (okay, I said "fast" but the Hoos told me I was being confusing, so I switched words), she started rearranging the diaper bag, removing the juice boxes and snacks stowed in it.
How did I create such a smart, thoughtful, wonderful child? Awesome.
Yesterday as I drove the girls home from school we passed a home that had been razed several months ago. We call it "the knock down house." I pointed out to LP that there was a truck (a bulldozer maybe?) on the lawn, meaning that the home was going to be rebuilt soon.
"Mommy, I wish our house was knocked down so that we could have a truck." When I replied that we wouldn't have a place to sleep if our home was knocked down her quick response was, "Well, mommy, then we could sleep in a sukkah."
For those of you out there wondering what a sukkah is, it is a temporary shelter, built for Sukkot, a Jewish holiday that starts this Friday and celebrates (among other things) a successful harvest. You are supposed to eat in the sukkah and sleep out underneath the stars (the roof is open on purpose so you can see the stars).
When I mentioned it to the Hoos, letting him know that his conversation with her at services on Monday made an impression, he responded, "I didn't show her the Sukkah at the synagogue. I showed it to AK." We have no idea how LP made this connection. We haven't read any books about the holiday recently and when we asked her where she came up with this she replied mysteriously, "From somewhere."
And, on Sunday night as I was getting the diaper bag ready for attending synagogue the next day, LP asked if we would eat at synagogue. When I told her that Yom Kippur is not an eating holiday, rather, it is a day when many Jewish people don't eat (okay, I said "fast" but the Hoos told me I was being confusing, so I switched words), she started rearranging the diaper bag, removing the juice boxes and snacks stowed in it.
How did I create such a smart, thoughtful, wonderful child? Awesome.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Hours of Entertainment
Yesterday we were home in observance of Yom Kippur. We went to services in the morning, but then had the entire rest of the day to while away. I was fasting, so my energy levels weren't exactly sky high, but the girls were snacking constantly, so they were quite energized.
When AK finally went down for a nap around 2, the Hoos took LP down to the river to throw in rocks and bread so I could rest. Actually, throwing bread in the river to "cast away your sins" is part of the Rosh Hashana observance. Even though it was supposed to happen a week earlier, we figured it couldn't hurt and LP had a great time, telling me, "There weren't any ducks, but we threw the bread in anyway."
After breaking the fast around 6:30, it already seemed like the longest day ever. Luckily, my body continues to be a source of amusement for my children so we made it to bath time at 7:30. As I laid on the ground my daughters would take turns (sometimes forcibly) jumping on me. At some point, LP determined that my legs, bent at the knee, looked like a water slide, and spent at least 15 minutes trying to slide down them. And then slide her baby doll down them.
This worked out because AK was not at all interested in my legs and this left her alone to abuse my gut. Typically any area of exposed skin calls to AK requesting a slurb. Seriously, if I bend at the knee to pick something up, she follows behind me and slurbs the one inch of skin showing between my shirt and jeans. Last night in addition to spitting all over me, she decided that my squishy belly felt really awesome on her bare feet. She would pull my t-shirt up and hold it up (as I was attempting to tug it back down) so she could place her little foot square in the middle of my stomach. No matter how many times I would pull it down, she would wrestle it from my hands. I am convinced that she doesn't want any more siblings, and is trying to ensure that the Hoos sees my blubber as much as possible.
I thought dads were supposed to be the rough and tumble parent. The ones taking abuse and throwing kids about. We need to work on that...
When AK finally went down for a nap around 2, the Hoos took LP down to the river to throw in rocks and bread so I could rest. Actually, throwing bread in the river to "cast away your sins" is part of the Rosh Hashana observance. Even though it was supposed to happen a week earlier, we figured it couldn't hurt and LP had a great time, telling me, "There weren't any ducks, but we threw the bread in anyway."
After breaking the fast around 6:30, it already seemed like the longest day ever. Luckily, my body continues to be a source of amusement for my children so we made it to bath time at 7:30. As I laid on the ground my daughters would take turns (sometimes forcibly) jumping on me. At some point, LP determined that my legs, bent at the knee, looked like a water slide, and spent at least 15 minutes trying to slide down them. And then slide her baby doll down them.
This worked out because AK was not at all interested in my legs and this left her alone to abuse my gut. Typically any area of exposed skin calls to AK requesting a slurb. Seriously, if I bend at the knee to pick something up, she follows behind me and slurbs the one inch of skin showing between my shirt and jeans. Last night in addition to spitting all over me, she decided that my squishy belly felt really awesome on her bare feet. She would pull my t-shirt up and hold it up (as I was attempting to tug it back down) so she could place her little foot square in the middle of my stomach. No matter how many times I would pull it down, she would wrestle it from my hands. I am convinced that she doesn't want any more siblings, and is trying to ensure that the Hoos sees my blubber as much as possible.
I thought dads were supposed to be the rough and tumble parent. The ones taking abuse and throwing kids about. We need to work on that...
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Taking Turns
Over the course of time, the Hoos and I have divided nighttime parenting duties by child. I handle AK and he gets LP.
The division was originally made because I was nursing and it didn't make sense for him to get up in the middle of the night if AK was hungry. Since I stopped nursing in April we have just stayed the course - it doesn't help that AK is a mama's girl; although, occasionally, it does. Because if the Hoos goes in to her room to comfort her, he can get away with rubbing her back. If I go in,she stands up and insists on some full-on cuddle-comforting.
It has worked out pretty well, actually. AK is really good about going to sleep. You give her a bottle and lay her down and she sticks her tush in the air and hunkers down for the night. LP requires quite a bit more effort. She draws out the nighttime routine - insisting on watching some Tinkerbell, peeing, pretending to poop, brushing her teeth, flossing, requiring a song (or ten), complaining that one thing or another hurts, until finally falling asleep way closer to OUR bedtime than we would prefer.
Recently however, we have both been getting the short end of the stick. Every other night it seems someone else is waking up. LP is having bad dreams involving farm animals or seagulls. AK is teething and booger nosed.
The other night LP sneaked into our room and I didn't even notice until she was in my face complaining about a pig chasing her. Fortunately she went back down easily once the Hoos walked her back to bed. Well, at least by the second time.
AK was up at 5:30 this morning, crying. I tried to just give her the pacifier, but that only worked for about as long as it took me to walk back to bed. I then held her for five minutes before returning her to the crib, and rubbing her back.
Looking back we had about three months of nights with uninterrupted sleep. I just hope that isn't it until the girls move out.
The division was originally made because I was nursing and it didn't make sense for him to get up in the middle of the night if AK was hungry. Since I stopped nursing in April we have just stayed the course - it doesn't help that AK is a mama's girl; although, occasionally, it does. Because if the Hoos goes in to her room to comfort her, he can get away with rubbing her back. If I go in,she stands up and insists on some full-on cuddle-comforting.
It has worked out pretty well, actually. AK is really good about going to sleep. You give her a bottle and lay her down and she sticks her tush in the air and hunkers down for the night. LP requires quite a bit more effort. She draws out the nighttime routine - insisting on watching some Tinkerbell, peeing, pretending to poop, brushing her teeth, flossing, requiring a song (or ten), complaining that one thing or another hurts, until finally falling asleep way closer to OUR bedtime than we would prefer.
Recently however, we have both been getting the short end of the stick. Every other night it seems someone else is waking up. LP is having bad dreams involving farm animals or seagulls. AK is teething and booger nosed.
The other night LP sneaked into our room and I didn't even notice until she was in my face complaining about a pig chasing her. Fortunately she went back down easily once the Hoos walked her back to bed. Well, at least by the second time.
AK was up at 5:30 this morning, crying. I tried to just give her the pacifier, but that only worked for about as long as it took me to walk back to bed. I then held her for five minutes before returning her to the crib, and rubbing her back.
Looking back we had about three months of nights with uninterrupted sleep. I just hope that isn't it until the girls move out.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Showing Off
Last night on the playground, AK started tugging frantically at her left sleeve. Thinking there was something in it that was bothering her I went over to inspect. As I pulled on the sleeve to look inside, the little bugger pulled her little arm in and promptly pulled the entire shirt up over her head. She then went on her merry way, running back to the steps that would take her to the slide.
LP, who was playing on the nearby tennis courts with her friends, caught wind of this fairly quickly. She approached, insisting that she also needed to remove her shirt. I recommended against this, but with a few stealthy moves I was overruled and soon had two partially nude daughters on the playground. Fortunately within two minutes LP declared she was ready to go home.
On the way home LP started talking about how she and AK both "had their topless shirts on." Not sure where she came up with this phrase, but I was even more pleased when she announced, "Mommy, you do not have your topless shirt on...because you have big boobies."
Never mind that even if mommy had smaller boobies the chances of her removing her shirt in public would be slim to none (trust me, you would all thank me for this). I am figuring that at some point I will have to tell the girls it is inappropriate to be topless in public. The Hoos is pushing for sooner rather than later.
LP, who was playing on the nearby tennis courts with her friends, caught wind of this fairly quickly. She approached, insisting that she also needed to remove her shirt. I recommended against this, but with a few stealthy moves I was overruled and soon had two partially nude daughters on the playground. Fortunately within two minutes LP declared she was ready to go home.
On the way home LP started talking about how she and AK both "had their topless shirts on." Not sure where she came up with this phrase, but I was even more pleased when she announced, "Mommy, you do not have your topless shirt on...because you have big boobies."
Never mind that even if mommy had smaller boobies the chances of her removing her shirt in public would be slim to none (trust me, you would all thank me for this). I am figuring that at some point I will have to tell the girls it is inappropriate to be topless in public. The Hoos is pushing for sooner rather than later.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Free Fun for Everyone
My dad passed this on, so I thought I would share. All Smithsonian-related institutions are free on Saturday, September 26th. There are a few here in CT and many others around the country. Check it out and print your own museum pass:
http://microsite.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/about.html
http://microsite.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/about.html
The Wheels on the Bus
It is hard to believe that my little LP is growing up. The other day we got a notice about a field trip with her pre-school. How did she get to be old enough to have school trips?! The excursion to a local farm for pumpkin and apple picking is reminding the Hoos of his first school trip - to the same place! He has been describing what will happen on the trip to LP, "...and you will see how they make apple cider..." Who knows if they still do these things, but 30-years ago the tour included a cider press.
The unusual thing about day care school trips is that they don't involve buses. Parent chaperones also wear the hat of chauffeur. Parents have to drop off car seats along with their child and the drivers - hopefully with help - put the seats and the kids in the car and drive them to the venue. Originally we received a note that said only people that can fit 3-5 kids in their car can attend - sort of making a mini-van a prerequisite for being a parent. I think there has been a change and as long as you can fit two car seats you can chaperone. Either way, I am not going on this trip.
It is sort of unsettling to think of your child going somewhere in a car with someone else. I know this will be the first of many times, but it takes getting used to. And, at least I know the drivers will be experienced and over 18. Fortunately, I know most of the parents of LP's friends. I trust them and feel comfortable with LP driving in their cars. As long as she doesn't say something embarrassing. Which is definitely possible since her favorite place to talk is in the car. It could potentially be hysterical (and distracting) to be a fly on the wall (e.g., the driver) in a car listening to the chatter of five three-year olds.
The good news is, LP is very observant and a wonderful reporter. This is good because I will get a vivid description of the trip to help me pretend I was there. It also means that I know all sorts of things about her friends so that I can blackmail my friends back when LP shares information that need not be shared:)
The unusual thing about day care school trips is that they don't involve buses. Parent chaperones also wear the hat of chauffeur. Parents have to drop off car seats along with their child and the drivers - hopefully with help - put the seats and the kids in the car and drive them to the venue. Originally we received a note that said only people that can fit 3-5 kids in their car can attend - sort of making a mini-van a prerequisite for being a parent. I think there has been a change and as long as you can fit two car seats you can chaperone. Either way, I am not going on this trip.
It is sort of unsettling to think of your child going somewhere in a car with someone else. I know this will be the first of many times, but it takes getting used to. And, at least I know the drivers will be experienced and over 18. Fortunately, I know most of the parents of LP's friends. I trust them and feel comfortable with LP driving in their cars. As long as she doesn't say something embarrassing. Which is definitely possible since her favorite place to talk is in the car. It could potentially be hysterical (and distracting) to be a fly on the wall (e.g., the driver) in a car listening to the chatter of five three-year olds.
The good news is, LP is very observant and a wonderful reporter. This is good because I will get a vivid description of the trip to help me pretend I was there. It also means that I know all sorts of things about her friends so that I can blackmail my friends back when LP shares information that need not be shared:)
Monday, September 21, 2009
Holiday Weekend
Aren't holiday weekends supposed to be relaxing?
The Jewish holidays are not recognized as holidays in the secular sense, meaning we don't get them off of work. So, actually, when the holidays fall on the weekend it is nice that the Hoos and I don't have to take off of work. On the downside, when the holidays fall on the weekend you kind of lose your weekend. It isn't appropriate to run errands and a few hours of each day are spent in synagogue and evenings are typically spent (at least on Rosh Hashana) at a large family meal.
This was the first Rosh Hashana that the Hoos and I seriously considered skipping services. Friday night/Saturday morning was a nightmare, AK was up from 12:30-4. I finally got her to sleep after giving her two bottles of milk (I was trying to get her to replace her bedtime bottle with a cup, so I am thinking maybe she was thirsty?) and some tylenol. Fortunately, everyone slept in until after 9. Unfortunately, we didn't get to synagogue until after 11. And there was no way AK was sitting still. Basically the Hoos and I spent an hour and a half in the hallway at the synagogue chasing our daughters.
Saturday before bed I was confident that we were not going to go to services on Sunday. I figured I could be reflective at home and likely get more out of it. However, AK slept slightly better Saturday night, so the Hoos and I decided to give it a shot and take turns sitting in the service. Besides we left AK's antibiotic at my in-laws, which is near the synagogue, so we had to go to Fairfield anyway to pick it up. It did work out better and at least we both got to feel like we attended services.
Last night was the worst. AK now has the serious snots and a cough. I was up with her from 3 until 6:30. Holding her in the glider. Both of us fell asleep in the chair eventually. Not exactly the most restful sleep.
Today is a catch-up day. Both in terms of errands and work. For the next week I will be reflecting and atoning and preparing spiritually (and hopefully physically and mentally) for Yom Kippur next Monday. Part of my prep is reminding myself that I am really, really lucky to get to sit up at night with a snotty kid.
The Jewish holidays are not recognized as holidays in the secular sense, meaning we don't get them off of work. So, actually, when the holidays fall on the weekend it is nice that the Hoos and I don't have to take off of work. On the downside, when the holidays fall on the weekend you kind of lose your weekend. It isn't appropriate to run errands and a few hours of each day are spent in synagogue and evenings are typically spent (at least on Rosh Hashana) at a large family meal.
This was the first Rosh Hashana that the Hoos and I seriously considered skipping services. Friday night/Saturday morning was a nightmare, AK was up from 12:30-4. I finally got her to sleep after giving her two bottles of milk (I was trying to get her to replace her bedtime bottle with a cup, so I am thinking maybe she was thirsty?) and some tylenol. Fortunately, everyone slept in until after 9. Unfortunately, we didn't get to synagogue until after 11. And there was no way AK was sitting still. Basically the Hoos and I spent an hour and a half in the hallway at the synagogue chasing our daughters.
Saturday before bed I was confident that we were not going to go to services on Sunday. I figured I could be reflective at home and likely get more out of it. However, AK slept slightly better Saturday night, so the Hoos and I decided to give it a shot and take turns sitting in the service. Besides we left AK's antibiotic at my in-laws, which is near the synagogue, so we had to go to Fairfield anyway to pick it up. It did work out better and at least we both got to feel like we attended services.
Last night was the worst. AK now has the serious snots and a cough. I was up with her from 3 until 6:30. Holding her in the glider. Both of us fell asleep in the chair eventually. Not exactly the most restful sleep.
Today is a catch-up day. Both in terms of errands and work. For the next week I will be reflecting and atoning and preparing spiritually (and hopefully physically and mentally) for Yom Kippur next Monday. Part of my prep is reminding myself that I am really, really lucky to get to sit up at night with a snotty kid.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Like Mama, Like Baby
Today AK stayed home from school. She has a rash on her butt (and NO that is not what she has in common with me). For the next week I have to rub two different ointments on her privates and give her a twice daily oral antibiotic. Fortunately, I discovered the secret to getting her to take liquid medication this morning. It only took way too many frustrating attempts over the last six months (medicine is sticky. getting it on you sucks. watching it get spit out sucks worse) for me to figure out that mixing it with applesauce somehow disguises the taste. Thank heavens.
Since baby girl isn't really sick, I took her to run some errands. Our first stop was Old Navy to buy LP some jeans (out of nowhere she decided that she wants jeans - she has hated wearing jeans for the last year, go figure!). Usually I am able to distract AK and get her to stay with me if I get a ball for her to play with. Today she wanted none of it. She prefered the shoe display. As soon as we walked in, AK scoped out the kids section, found the shoes, sat down, removed her shoes and socks and tried on a few pairs. Of course, the pairs are tied together so they don't lose their mates. So, AK would walk around with one foot in a newly aquired shoe, dragging the other shoe behind, and a second barefoot.
Needless to say, I finished up as quickly as possible.
We then made our way to Children's Place in the same strip mall. On the way I was able to get her shoes and socks back on. As soon as she sat down and started taking her shoes and socks off, I saw the writing on the wall. We didn't end up buying anything there. In fact, we only lasted about one minute.
And, no, we did not end up buying her a new pair of shoes in Old Navy. Her $40 Stride Rites better last her a season!
Since baby girl isn't really sick, I took her to run some errands. Our first stop was Old Navy to buy LP some jeans (out of nowhere she decided that she wants jeans - she has hated wearing jeans for the last year, go figure!). Usually I am able to distract AK and get her to stay with me if I get a ball for her to play with. Today she wanted none of it. She prefered the shoe display. As soon as we walked in, AK scoped out the kids section, found the shoes, sat down, removed her shoes and socks and tried on a few pairs. Of course, the pairs are tied together so they don't lose their mates. So, AK would walk around with one foot in a newly aquired shoe, dragging the other shoe behind, and a second barefoot.
Needless to say, I finished up as quickly as possible.
We then made our way to Children's Place in the same strip mall. On the way I was able to get her shoes and socks back on. As soon as she sat down and started taking her shoes and socks off, I saw the writing on the wall. We didn't end up buying anything there. In fact, we only lasted about one minute.
And, no, we did not end up buying her a new pair of shoes in Old Navy. Her $40 Stride Rites better last her a season!
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