A Simpler Way of Life

We spent the weekend in bucolic Geneseo, NY celebrating my youngest cousin's graduation from high school. It was really nice to have a few days off and we enjoyed spending time at the bed and breakfast and spa owned by my aunt and uncle.

It was our first road trip of any significant length with both girls. The time away was worth the six hour drive in each direction. The girls actually behaved wonderfully during the drive, although they didn't nap at the same time. Figures, right? LP was so excited to get to Uncle Barry's house that she started crying on the way up when we stopped for lunch, "I don't want lunch, I want to go to Uncle Barry's! I want to eat at Uncle Barry's!"

We stayed in a large room at the "inn" with AK in a pack-n-play and LP supposedly sleeping on a futon on the floor. Unfortunately, the only way we could get LP to go to sleep was to let her lay in the king-sized bed with us until she passed out. At one point as I attempted to get her to sleep in the bed next to me, I turned away so she wouldn't be breathing in my face and she just snuggled closer to me and said, "It's okay sweet pea. LP is here." Okay, that part wasn't so bad.

As we drove home yesterday, the Hoos and I considered what our lives would be like if we lived in a small town instead of a suburban city. My cousin is a great kid, really polite and amazingly sweet to his entire family and baby cousins even in front of his friends. We aren't sure if he is always like that, but I would like to think so. The pace of life in Geneseo is certainly different. If only we could find a small town, with jobs that we loved and only required us to work 9-5, and fabulous homes that we could afford.

Oh well.

When we asked LP what her favorite part of the trip was, we thought for sure she would talk about all of the animals that we saw (a doe and two fawns, a tree frog, chipmunks...). Instead she said, "Grandma and Papa and Uncle Barry." At least she knows what the important things are in life.

No Talking!

I took AK to the pediatrician today. She has been congested for a while and it finally manifested in a cough and gunky eyes. As expected, double ear infection. Sweetness.

However, this was not the high point of our trip to the doctor.

Rather, it was when the person checking me in informed me that I had a $47 balance on our account from our last visit. The last visit were combined well child visits for the girls. Turns out the balance was for an assessment of LP.

I found this odd, since they didn't draw any blood from LP, she didn't receive any shots, and we had established that the hearing and vision tests were included as part of the visit.

Turns out LP had both a lead and TB assessment. When I inquired what this consisted of, I was told it was my conversation with the nurse on if the girls had been exposed to lead or TB since their last visit.

I was incredulous. I talk to Theresa, the head nurse for the girls' pediatrician every time I encounter her. I had no idea I as charged for the privilege. She is lovely (as attested to in this previous post) but not that nice.

I mean what kind of service could she provide that costs $50 for a minute?

Hot Fun in the Summertime

Yesterday was supposed to be "Summer Fun Day" for LP's class. We were requested to send in a bathing suit and towel for water play as well as a lunch that did not requiring heating since they would be eating outside.

From what I can ascertain they did have "Summer Fun Day" but I am not sure what it entailed since the weather was less than ideal. I know that they did not end up having water play.

I also know that when I picked LP up yesterday she was only wearing her bathing suit and Minnie Mouse Crocs. Since the "Summer Fun" activities were supposed to occur in the morning, I do not know if LP wore her bathing suit all day, or just put it on special for me.

I also know that as soon as she saw me she started taking it off. She pulled the top on and then told me that, "Not everyone wants to see my boobies," and ran to get her clothes to change back into.

I am in so much trouble.

Inverse

The first time it happened, I thought it was a fluke.

The second time it happened, I was really glad I was done nursing.

By the 15th time, it became clear, AK needed to be transitioned off the bottle.

Baby girl sucks so hard, or so much, or whatever, that she creates a vacuum in the bottle and the nipple INVERTS. It actually goes from pointing up to pointing down, into the bottle. And sometimes the vacuum creates so much suction that the nipple actually pops out - inside out - into the bottle.

This never happened with LP. It happens almost every night with AK. And she gets pissed at me when I take the bottle away to fix the problem.

Yesterday we started weaning her from the bottle.

Whip It!

Last night I was on my own with my two lovely ladies. I had prepped dinner while AK napped, so there wasn't too much for me to do except play with my babies and answer random work-related phone calls and emails.

As LP occupied herself doing playdough at the kitchen table, AK was getting into a tizzy. She REALLY wanted to do playdough too. I wanted her to experience the texture and the fun that can be molding clay, but unfortunately, baby girl can't get it out of her head that playdough is not food. You would think that the neon colors would turn her off; if not the salty flavor should be a dead give-away. But, alas, she would not be deterred and would not stop trying to eat it.

So, as an alternative, I grabbed a can of whip cream and we did textural play. I may not be a good mother, but I am an awesome mommy.

AK played with it for five seconds - longer than she would play with the playdough! - before noticing that her big sister was shoveling the stuff into her mouth as fast as her little hands would go. The light bulb went on, and a new favorite activity was born.

Not pictures from yesterday, but LP from this weekend and AK from a day at a friend's pool in April - when the weather was more summer-like than it is now!

Charlie's Angel in Training (Wheels)

When Going Out of Your Way Feels Good

Since the Hoos and I first lived together in Virginia, I have made it my business to know the location of the nearest homeless shelter. Not because I wanted to make sure he had a place to go should it come to that, but because I prefer to pass my lightly used clothing, housewares and other items directly on to those that will use them instead of donating them to an organization that sells them (like Goodwill).

For zoning and NIMBY reasons, homeless shelters are not typically located in the best areas. In fact, here in Norwalk there is currently a zoning fight about allowing our local shelter to expand. However, I have driven to shelters in more than five cities over the past 10 years and I must say that the people that utilize them have always been very kind and appreciative. Whether I go alone or with one of my children, people are always willing to help me carry items out of my car and I always feel safe.

Going to these shelters reminds me that I need to be more appreciative of and thankful for all of the blessings and good fortunes in my life. With this recent financial crisis, a lot of news articles have talked about how people who never thought they would have to accept public assistance have had to reach out their hands for help.

So, the next time you clean out your closets or basement, consider doing some research and locating your local homeless shelter. Going the extra mile is worth the trip.

And, so it isn't too serious of a post, a little story about AK.

While typing this post, AK was eating her lunch. She ate all of her food and had just started sucking on her bottle when she fell asleep. When I went over to release her from the high chair and put her down for a nap, I must have shocked her awake, because she threw the bottle clear across the room. She has quite an arm!

It is Green Enough, You Can Stop Now

It is pouring rain. Again. The forecast calls for rain everyday for the next week.

The Hoos told me that LP didn't want to get her hands wet this morning, so she wore her gardening gloves to school, along with her sun hat. She didn't want to wear her raincoat though, so I am not sure how this outfit worked out for her.

Fortunately, we have plans on both Saturday and Sunday, so we will not be stuck in the house trying to come up with new and interesting projects to pass the time and distract small hand from hurting each other.

I hope Mother Nature gets it out of her system before our vacation to the Cape.

You Get What You Get

When you have kids you know that the fate of your day is not in your own hands. Ergo, the name of this blog, "View from the Passenger's Seat". It is not that the Hoos is the one doing the driving (although he does do the majority of it when we are together), it is that my kids are the ones controlling our path. Yes, I have free will, and yes, I determine where we go and don't go, but one small infraction, misstep, or action from AK and LP and the entire outing could be ruined.

And yet, when LP and AK are in a good mood, it is like the sun has come out.

The giggles, the smiles, the happy - you can't beat it with a stick or an ice cream cookie sandwich. I would pay real money to guarantee the sunshine everyday.

But, at this juncture, my kids don't want my cash.

They want my time, my attention, and whatever the other one has. They want to go to Stew Leonard's. They want an ice cream two minutes before dinner. They want the type of drinkable yogurt that Jacob has, which is obviously the type we don't have.

They also want me to be psychic and guess what they want, when they want it, and how they want it.

You know? I just want some sunny weather, nice kisses, some hugs, and a good night's sleep.

Guess who will win?

Don't Let it Bring You Down

You know how some days start off with you climbing out of the wrong side of the bed? And you just sense that it is just a harbinger of the things to come?

I am not going to let the following morning events set the tone for my day!

1. I slept like crap
2. Almost drank a bug
3. Had to remove a dying, still quivering baby mouse from my patio (with a shovel)

I am fighting inertia and focusing on the bright side...just as soon as my headache goes away.

Considering yesterday started off with LP telling me she wanted a new mommy, I guess I should be thankful.