10 - outfit changes today for Abby. She is suddenly obsessed with changing her clothes, especially into dresses. I figured this is a harmless game, until I went into her room and saw the previous outfits scattered across the room.
9 - pacifiers scattered strategically around the house. Kenzie likes to spit them out, and Abby likes to swipe them like a ninja and hide them. Hence, the need for 9 pacifiers. If I could only remember where I put them...
8 - attempts at getting Abby to lay down for a nap while Kenzie was napping. Finally, just like her daddy, she fell asleep in the car.
7 - times I got up with the baby last night. Three were to feed her, and four were to stick the pacifier back in or get her foot unwedged from in between the crib rails... I REALLY gotta get a crib bumper to get some sleep.
6 - verses of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" sang in a row while shopping today. It is Abby's new favorite song, and I am sure the people in the store would rather hear me sing that than "Alejandro" by Lady Gaga.
5 - baby dolls I sushed and put to bed while playing with Abby today. And no, Kenzie was NOT one of them. If only her eyes would close when I tilted her head back I would NOT be writing this blog at 11 p.m. at night.
4 - calls made to schedule mini vacations so my friends and family can see the girls this summer.
3 - times Abby said "in a minute" after asking her to do something. I wanted to tell her "now" but realized she was only saying what I say to her all the time. After her "minute" though she did what I asked and I was proud she learned it from me.
2.- kids packed and ready to go to the pool tomorrow. It is stressful travelling with two kids, but if I do everything the night before, it saves time and and allows me to get everything without crying children who need something while I am on my way to get the thing I am only going to forget once I address the child.
1 - really pompous blog about my skills. But hey, I'm a mom and if I don't toot my own horn, who will?
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Mommy's Daily Top Ten...Cleaning
10 - stickers I collected on my feet while walking around the house today. Most of them were Kailan.
9 - animal crackers in Abby's frying pan on her pretend stove... can't say she gets her cooking skills from me.
8 - legos making indentions in my butt as I sit trying to put her puzzles back together. As if I don't already have enough indentions in my butt!
7 - dolls put to sleep in various places in the house. I hope Abby realizes babies don't fall asleep that easily, nor do they sleep that long!
6 - cups with milk and crystal light scattered about the playroom. I thought I would be glad she could help herself to her cups in the refridgerator, but now I think she forgets her cup and just gets another one.
5 - books wedged underneath the sofa. She actually does get that from me... I used to do that with my magazines.
4 - pacifiers behind the sofa with small animals growing on them. The next dog I get will be hairless... or invisible, or better yet virtual!
3 - socks. Yes, three. And none of them match.
2 - dresses laying across the sofa. Abby has recently wanted to wear dresses, and has been going in her room and getting a dress to wear. I never thought she'd be such a girly girl.
1 - tired momma cursing the grandparents who keep buying all these toys I clean up. I guess that is sweet revenge for all the times I didn't clean my room. I hate when my parents are right!
9 - animal crackers in Abby's frying pan on her pretend stove... can't say she gets her cooking skills from me.
8 - legos making indentions in my butt as I sit trying to put her puzzles back together. As if I don't already have enough indentions in my butt!
7 - dolls put to sleep in various places in the house. I hope Abby realizes babies don't fall asleep that easily, nor do they sleep that long!
6 - cups with milk and crystal light scattered about the playroom. I thought I would be glad she could help herself to her cups in the refridgerator, but now I think she forgets her cup and just gets another one.
5 - books wedged underneath the sofa. She actually does get that from me... I used to do that with my magazines.
4 - pacifiers behind the sofa with small animals growing on them. The next dog I get will be hairless... or invisible, or better yet virtual!
3 - socks. Yes, three. And none of them match.
2 - dresses laying across the sofa. Abby has recently wanted to wear dresses, and has been going in her room and getting a dress to wear. I never thought she'd be such a girly girl.
1 - tired momma cursing the grandparents who keep buying all these toys I clean up. I guess that is sweet revenge for all the times I didn't clean my room. I hate when my parents are right!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
When Movies Influence Motherhood
I was flipping through channels on cable, looking for something to watch when I stumbled upon a movie on Lifetime (yes, that is a very stereotypical station to watch as a temporary professional parent, but don't dwell on it). The movie was entitled "She's Too Young" and was about a freshman in high school who made good grades and played the cello but started hanging out with sexually active freshmen hell bent on using their newfound powers to gain popularity. However, one member of the group is changed when she finds out she has syphyllis, thus prompting the good girl to befriend her when she gets syphyllis too. The movie then shifts focus as the good girl's mother goes on a crusade to unite the parents against promiscuity. I am sure you can guess how the movie ends... the girl and her mother mend their relationship, and she falls for the "best friend" good boy who will wait forever to have sex with her though she had syphyllis. Now, even though I am a mom of two girls, it never dawned on me that I may have to teach them differently about sex than I would sons. I was not ignorant to this distinction; I am a teacher after all. However, I somehow believed I did not have to apply it to my own life. Well, here I find myself wondering what technique I will use to stress the importance of being emotionally ready for sex, or of safe sex. And who knows what new worries will haunt me when my children are ACTUALLY teenagers. I guess I should explore my options now:
Option 1: Scare my daughters with gory pictures of STDs. Show them videos of the most horrible birthing experiences ever. Reveal intimate details about how painful childbirth is from my own perspective. We will call this option "The Stunner."
Option 2: Be almost bestiest with my daughters, and when I find out who they are dating, I can get Rob to reveal to them that, being a Paramedic, he knows many ways to not only kill them without a trace, but to also do things to their male parts that are permanant. We will call this option "Good cop, Bad cop."
Option 3: Keep them so preoccupied that they have no time to date. I'm talking dance rehearsal, horseback riding lessons, piano lessons, soccer practice, knitting, whatever it takes. Or, we can buy a farm and keep them busy that way. However, that means I have to be busy too. We will call this option "Busy Bees."
Option 4: We can move to a place in the midwest where the closest neighbor is 20 miles away. We will call this option "Solitary confinement."
Option 5: We can move to a place where no one speaks English. My girls will either only have time to learn the language to have a social life, or will decide that it is not worth the effort. We will call this option "Tongue Tied."
Option 5b: We can travel doing missionary work and I can homeschool the girls. They won't have time to get to know anyone before we move on to save another country from starvation. This option will be called "Saving Grace."
Regardless of the technique I use, I will only be teaching my girls suppression and shame. After all, sex is an instinct that keeps the species going. Maybe deemphasising it is a technique I need to explore. Or, maybe I just need to quit watching those stupid lifetime movies and trust my mothering instincts. Either way, alcohol may need to be involved. Or therapy. Whichever is cheaper and more convenient since I will have two girls to chase.
Option 1: Scare my daughters with gory pictures of STDs. Show them videos of the most horrible birthing experiences ever. Reveal intimate details about how painful childbirth is from my own perspective. We will call this option "The Stunner."
Option 2: Be almost bestiest with my daughters, and when I find out who they are dating, I can get Rob to reveal to them that, being a Paramedic, he knows many ways to not only kill them without a trace, but to also do things to their male parts that are permanant. We will call this option "Good cop, Bad cop."
Option 3: Keep them so preoccupied that they have no time to date. I'm talking dance rehearsal, horseback riding lessons, piano lessons, soccer practice, knitting, whatever it takes. Or, we can buy a farm and keep them busy that way. However, that means I have to be busy too. We will call this option "Busy Bees."
Option 4: We can move to a place in the midwest where the closest neighbor is 20 miles away. We will call this option "Solitary confinement."
Option 5: We can move to a place where no one speaks English. My girls will either only have time to learn the language to have a social life, or will decide that it is not worth the effort. We will call this option "Tongue Tied."
Option 5b: We can travel doing missionary work and I can homeschool the girls. They won't have time to get to know anyone before we move on to save another country from starvation. This option will be called "Saving Grace."
Regardless of the technique I use, I will only be teaching my girls suppression and shame. After all, sex is an instinct that keeps the species going. Maybe deemphasising it is a technique I need to explore. Or, maybe I just need to quit watching those stupid lifetime movies and trust my mothering instincts. Either way, alcohol may need to be involved. Or therapy. Whichever is cheaper and more convenient since I will have two girls to chase.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Mommy's Daily Top Ten...
10 - minutes of screaming from my constipated infant... she finally pooped three times in a row and was happy the rest of the evening (for her daddy of course).
9 - pizza rolls eaten in 5 minutes... I was scared the baby was gonna wake up and I wouldn't get to eat at all!
8 - bucks to last til the end of the month.... good thing I stocked up on diapers and groceries!
7 - more days until payday!
6 - loads of laundry sitting on the floor of my utility room... I do them at night to save on our energy bill.
5 - cups of milk abby drank by lunchtime today. Maybe she has a health issue???
4 - blankets that smell like dog from being on the floor... Abby likes to throw them on the floor and jump. Thus, the reason for so much laundry...
3- days until Grandma and Grandpa come and mommy gets a break!
2 - attempts at using the potty when Abby asked... she even looks inside the potty as if the pee will magically appear when she sits down.
1 - run to the pharmacy to pick up presciptions. I just had to get out of the house, even if it was for only 20 minutes!
9 - pizza rolls eaten in 5 minutes... I was scared the baby was gonna wake up and I wouldn't get to eat at all!
8 - bucks to last til the end of the month.... good thing I stocked up on diapers and groceries!
7 - more days until payday!
6 - loads of laundry sitting on the floor of my utility room... I do them at night to save on our energy bill.
5 - cups of milk abby drank by lunchtime today. Maybe she has a health issue???
4 - blankets that smell like dog from being on the floor... Abby likes to throw them on the floor and jump. Thus, the reason for so much laundry...
3- days until Grandma and Grandpa come and mommy gets a break!
2 - attempts at using the potty when Abby asked... she even looks inside the potty as if the pee will magically appear when she sits down.
1 - run to the pharmacy to pick up presciptions. I just had to get out of the house, even if it was for only 20 minutes!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Mommy's Daily Top Ten...
So I am trying something new. When I can't think of anything else to write, I am going to use the numbers 1-10 to simply describe my day. Hopefully, this will force me to write every day. Here it goes...
10 - attempts to put MacKenzie in her crib to nap.
9 - times Abby took MacKenzie's pacifier and then shook it about 5 feet away from me and said "got the paci."
8 - pieces of gum chewed by yours truly. Gum is great for dieting and breaking a bad habit... like cursing. When I want to curse, I simply blow a bubble or chew really, really hard.
7 - pounds left until I reach what I was before I had the baby. Who knew 7 pounds would nearly shut me out of 2/3 of my wardrobe?
6 - times the dog barked and I yelled at her to shut up before she woke the baby. Why wasn't I worried about my yelling waking up the baby?
5 - times Abby said "change my butt," meaning she has pooped. So why again can't she use the potty?
4 - times MacKenzie actually stayed asleep in the crib.
3 - Extreme Makeover: Home Editions watched and I cried my eyes out at each one. Abby just looks at me, pats my knee and says "mommy hurt..." in her French accent. Is there a French kids show I don't know about?
2 - medicated children who both want to be held and sadly, I have mastered the art of holding them both!
1 - leaky boob that woke me up this morning way before the baby. As I laid in my bed with an 11 pound newborn laying on my numb arm, boob leaking onto my jaquard sheets, dog scratching at the foot of the bed, I am trying to ignore the wet spot on my chest to go back to sleep. I thought to myself, "With all the money I am saving by breastfeeding, maybe I can buy some new, nicer sheets."
10 - attempts to put MacKenzie in her crib to nap.
9 - times Abby took MacKenzie's pacifier and then shook it about 5 feet away from me and said "got the paci."
8 - pieces of gum chewed by yours truly. Gum is great for dieting and breaking a bad habit... like cursing. When I want to curse, I simply blow a bubble or chew really, really hard.
7 - pounds left until I reach what I was before I had the baby. Who knew 7 pounds would nearly shut me out of 2/3 of my wardrobe?
6 - times the dog barked and I yelled at her to shut up before she woke the baby. Why wasn't I worried about my yelling waking up the baby?
5 - times Abby said "change my butt," meaning she has pooped. So why again can't she use the potty?
4 - times MacKenzie actually stayed asleep in the crib.
3 - Extreme Makeover: Home Editions watched and I cried my eyes out at each one. Abby just looks at me, pats my knee and says "mommy hurt..." in her French accent. Is there a French kids show I don't know about?
2 - medicated children who both want to be held and sadly, I have mastered the art of holding them both!
1 - leaky boob that woke me up this morning way before the baby. As I laid in my bed with an 11 pound newborn laying on my numb arm, boob leaking onto my jaquard sheets, dog scratching at the foot of the bed, I am trying to ignore the wet spot on my chest to go back to sleep. I thought to myself, "With all the money I am saving by breastfeeding, maybe I can buy some new, nicer sheets."
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Guilty as Charged...
Every mom has a list of ten or so things that she feels guilty about. Sometimes it is simple, but other times it is something we feel not just guilty about, but almost socially outcast for. So the things that I feel most guilty about as a mom are...
10) My ultimate desire is NOT to be a stay at home mom. Maybe if I won the lottery I might consider it, but frankly I love working and I love teaching, and teaching is not a profession that allows me to work from home. If we were more well off (a.k.a. if paramedics made more money) I might stay home and write for the hell of it.
9) I don't want to cuddle with my kids 24 hours a day 7 days a week. I love them, but I like my alone time as well. I also want them to realize they can be independent of me whenever they are ready.
8) Sometimes I wish for my single life back, or even just my married life. I love my daughters, but I miss the time when running out for milk didn't require military strategy.
7) When I clip their nails and they are wiggly, sometimes I clip too far or get a little of the skin. That always makes me feel like the most incompentent mom ever.
6) Sometimes Abby wants me to read to her, but I am dealing with Mackenzie fussing. Of course I feel guilty I can't do both, but I've taught Abby a little patience and she knows that just because I can't read it right then doesn't mean I can't read it in a little bit.
5) I've taught Abby to help out around the house. I want her to learn responsibility, but sometimes I feel like I ask too much of her, or maybe I am lazy and that is why I am doing it.
4) Abby watches way to much t.v. At this point, Rob works a lot and Mackenzie is rather high maintanence, so it is the easiest way to keep her entertained. But, I try to make sure if the baby is sleeping, we go outside for a bit or play blocks with some music in the background.
3) I wish I had a better mealtime routine. Sometimes we eat at her little table, sometimes we eat in the living room. Sometimes we just eat a piece of fruit and chex mix for lunch.
2) I still curse around Abby. It is a VERY bad habit I am trying desperately to break, so if I feel I can't control it, I go in another room.
1) I am going to Chicago for a week in July for work. Yes, I am leaving my babies for a week (two days with my husband and three with grandparents). Frankly, I love them but I should share them, right? And, I don't let people take them all the time, because they are mine. So I figure if I take all the times I might have left them for a day and put them all together, those wouldn't even add up to a week, right?
10) My ultimate desire is NOT to be a stay at home mom. Maybe if I won the lottery I might consider it, but frankly I love working and I love teaching, and teaching is not a profession that allows me to work from home. If we were more well off (a.k.a. if paramedics made more money) I might stay home and write for the hell of it.
9) I don't want to cuddle with my kids 24 hours a day 7 days a week. I love them, but I like my alone time as well. I also want them to realize they can be independent of me whenever they are ready.
8) Sometimes I wish for my single life back, or even just my married life. I love my daughters, but I miss the time when running out for milk didn't require military strategy.
7) When I clip their nails and they are wiggly, sometimes I clip too far or get a little of the skin. That always makes me feel like the most incompentent mom ever.
6) Sometimes Abby wants me to read to her, but I am dealing with Mackenzie fussing. Of course I feel guilty I can't do both, but I've taught Abby a little patience and she knows that just because I can't read it right then doesn't mean I can't read it in a little bit.
5) I've taught Abby to help out around the house. I want her to learn responsibility, but sometimes I feel like I ask too much of her, or maybe I am lazy and that is why I am doing it.
4) Abby watches way to much t.v. At this point, Rob works a lot and Mackenzie is rather high maintanence, so it is the easiest way to keep her entertained. But, I try to make sure if the baby is sleeping, we go outside for a bit or play blocks with some music in the background.
3) I wish I had a better mealtime routine. Sometimes we eat at her little table, sometimes we eat in the living room. Sometimes we just eat a piece of fruit and chex mix for lunch.
2) I still curse around Abby. It is a VERY bad habit I am trying desperately to break, so if I feel I can't control it, I go in another room.
1) I am going to Chicago for a week in July for work. Yes, I am leaving my babies for a week (two days with my husband and three with grandparents). Frankly, I love them but I should share them, right? And, I don't let people take them all the time, because they are mine. So I figure if I take all the times I might have left them for a day and put them all together, those wouldn't even add up to a week, right?
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