Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Mother of the Year?? Not This Time! (part 1)

Have I already written a post with this title? I really thought I had but I couldn't find one. Aaaanyhoo. Just as I was polishing my MOTY 2008 trophy and dreaming of being crowned the winner again my hopes were dashed by those crafty penguins. Always getting in my way! I am pretty sure the MOTY selection committee uses a point system. You can earn points for good things and lose points for slip-ups. Last week I decided to blow most of my points. Guess I'll have to try again for next year or be REALLY good for the rest of this year.....2012 here I come! Here is how it went down.

We were invited to a pool party on a Sat morning. We were a little rushed getting out the door but not a big deal since we were just in a hurry to have fun. Side note--I have been applying sunscreen to children since before aerosol hit the ozone. Maybe not that long but lets just say after 15 years of being a nanny and 3 kids this ain't my first rodeo! Maybe I was cutting corners or couldn't find some crucial supply or just spent too much time working on my hair; either way we get in the car and Medium start bawling, "My EYES my EYES!!!". Oh that Medium, she is such a wild card, you never know what she has gotten into. And no stranger to the drama...have you ever ridden in the car with her AND a flying bug? Well then you haven't lived. I check on her and decide she has gotten sunscreen in her eyes. I beg her not to rub her eyes and give her a baby wipe to clean off her hands and eyes. Just as Meds is winding down Large gets all teary and needs a baby wipe too. They are still sniffling and crying a little but not too bad. Then we hear this heart stopping scream from Small. While my Honey tries to keep the car on the road I whip around to see who is stabbing my baby. Poor Large reports, "Mom, he's rubbing his eyes!!!". Oh no, I am pretty sure it might have gone better with a stabbing intruder. He screams at the top of his lungs for at least another hour. I try flushing and comforting and washing and distracting once we get to the party but nothing works. One kind Mom at the party says, "Is he about 18 months? That's is such a hard age!". He stops a little while he is in the pool and was quiet while I gave him two donuts (after Lin asked me not to.......BAD Momma! But they were Krispy Kreme!). By the end our nerves were shot and poor poor Small was a hot mess! My friend was very sweet not to act like I ruined her party with my screaming baby and bad Mommy form. The good news is everyone is still alive and has full use of their vision!

That pretty much wipes out my points bank, right? Oh no, friends, that's not all I got! Tune in next time to hear more of my parenting errors and why I am no longer gonna slack off on my rule that the penguins only watch G movies!!

Sunday, July 3, 2011

What's Happening at the House?

Sorry I have been a little sporadic (or absent) lately. Summer is busy time with less structure than usual (is that even possible??) which leaves little time for writing. So I thought I'd throw out some updates/random thoughts. The truth is I can't decide what to write about. What is important/interesting/funny after being gone for over a month. Writer's block is in no way funny, interesting or important that I do know.

1. Big News---I started a new book. I know that does not seem monumental but it is around here. I have ZERO time to read. I really love to read, but I only have time to read People magazine so that's all I do read. And it usually takes me way longer than a week to finish one. If you are a reader then you know how very sad that is.

Truth be told if I have time to read I should be spending it finishing Millie's thank you notes from her birthday party IN MAY. That might be the saddest thing I have said all day. I really would be working on them but I left them at home and I am out of town. Someday I will tell you about my ongoing inner struggle with thank-you notes. It's gripping, really.

2. And speaking of being out of town....I am living with my Mom this weekend. That's why I have 12 seconds to read a book or write a blog! :)

3. Why did I move to P-town for the holiday, you ask? Better fireworks? More hot dogs? No Way!! Lin (the handyman) Wright is remodeling our kitchen this weekend!!! YAY!! Guess you better come over and check it out or come over and bring your paint brush.

4. In other (REALLY) big news......Small is finally WALKING!!!! I guess it's not so amazing, after all it's not multiplication tables or speaking French. I'm sure some of you are saying, "That kid is not walking yet???". He IS almost 18 months old. He told me walking is for girls. Besides, why would you walk when people keep picking you up? He is absolutely too cute to pass up.

5. Medium is totally potty trained and accident free!! Less poop to clean up in my life is super spectacular!!!!! Fewer diapers to buy is pretty nice for my budget, too. :) She is still just as charming and funny and naughty as ever!

6. Ha! I forgot to tell you the name of the book I started, it's good so far. Minding Ben by Victoria Brown. Pretty light, about a nanny from Trinidad in NYC. Good summer reading. It would be much better if I were sitting on a beach. Then again wouldn't most things?

7. I felt God pulling me toward ministry again this morning. Sometimes I wonder if I am just too easily swayed; I always think pastors are talking to me when they teach about following God's plan. Even as a child, every time I heard any missionary speak about anything I would think THAT'S what I need to be doing. I thought maybe putting my thoughts out there for the world to see I might get some feedback or pushing or face some accountability.

8. I don't think God is unhappy with what I am doing for Him now, but I know he has plans for me after I am finished being up to my elbows in yogurt and dirty diapers.

9. Large developed some friendships over the past year or so that are very important to her. As I make an effort to help her keep up with her peeps it is fascinating to see how she interacts, reacts, grows and relates to her peers. These families have really blessed our lives. Large is an introvert trapped in a(n) (animal) house full of extroverts. That should be enough for a collective 'Aaawwww' for poor Large. She will definitely be on facebook when she is 15 searching for her 'real' family. Sorry, Baby, you are stuck with us (and we are so glad!).

10. Lin and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary with a little weekend trip to lovely Washington DC. We learned a few things about ourselves. We are sleek modern hotel-type -people not beautiful historic hotel-type-people. Truly we are B&B type people but that's a different story. We need naps more than we need museum exhibits. (Gasp if you want, our kids are 4, 3, and 18 months....we need like 100 naps to recover from that) We LOVE True Blood! Who Knew?? We really really like each other. I mean really. ;)

Thanks for checking us out today. I am so glad you came by. I must head outside now to marvel at my girls' sidewalk chalk creations and move Small toward the shade before his sweetness melts onto the sidewalk!