Nate: No Alex, it's not "Beaver Fever" it's "Bieber Fever." BIE--BBBBBER. Because his name is Justin Bieber.
(I didn't have it in me to explain that "Beaver Fever" is part of a Caltech sports chant, something I've shared quite a bit recently due to the men's basketball team epic win.)
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Show me the Mommy! awesome friends edition
Last week two packages arrived on my doorstep right after Jon left.
Janna sent me a Starbucks gift card (love), a book (love), and some Justin Beiber stickers (I like one song of his, I swear!).
Maria sent me a scarf (because I was complaining my neck gets cold in winter with short hair, love), tons of chocolate (love), and ring pops for the kids (which I will give them 15 minutes before Jon walks in the door and I hand them over).
Such simple gifts that meant so very much to me. Thank you and YUM.
While this time away from Jon hasn't really been *bad*, I can absolutely say that what I've always said about Jon is true - he grounds me, keeps me from being crazy, and is the perfect partner for me. These last few days without phone or internet access to him have been the toughest on me and the boys. We are all on edge to see him tomorrow.
Also we've been saving those boxes of girl scout cookies for two weeks and we're dying to rip into them. Hurry home!
Janna sent me a Starbucks gift card (love), a book (love), and some Justin Beiber stickers (I like one song of his, I swear!).
Maria sent me a scarf (because I was complaining my neck gets cold in winter with short hair, love), tons of chocolate (love), and ring pops for the kids (which I will give them 15 minutes before Jon walks in the door and I hand them over).
Such simple gifts that meant so very much to me. Thank you and YUM.
While this time away from Jon hasn't really been *bad*, I can absolutely say that what I've always said about Jon is true - he grounds me, keeps me from being crazy, and is the perfect partner for me. These last few days without phone or internet access to him have been the toughest on me and the boys. We are all on edge to see him tomorrow.
Also we've been saving those boxes of girl scout cookies for two weeks and we're dying to rip into them. Hurry home!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
The one where I demonstrate how I lose it when I feel unappreciated
Before the boys were born, we didn't have time/energy/motivation/money to put together an awesome nursery. I was on bed rest, Jon was traveling, it was not a priority. Then the boys got transitioned to toddler beds fairly early since Nate started climbing out. Anything not tied down in that room was quickly destroyed so we set it up like a little prison cell.
In the new house, we will finally decorate their rooms. When asked how they wanted their rooms decorated, they both yelled STAR WARS!
Alex's room still has toddler beds so I bought a $15 fleece Clone Wars blanket for him at Target. Nate has our old guest room bed so I used a Pottery Barn gift card to get him the Milennium Falcon blanket. I got them pillowcases and stuffed Yodas and there are plans to finish out the whole room.
I set up the rooms over my lunch break and showed them to the boys last night. We looked at Nate's first and they both squealed in delight! We looked at Alex's and Nate threw a huge fit because he wanted Alex's blanket. He started complaining about his (very awesome) bedding and he would not stop.
I ripped that bedspread right off his bed and told him, "If you don't like it, you don't get it." He cried and cried, "I love it now!!!!"
Oh yes, you do. You better!
In the new house, we will finally decorate their rooms. When asked how they wanted their rooms decorated, they both yelled STAR WARS!
Alex's room still has toddler beds so I bought a $15 fleece Clone Wars blanket for him at Target. Nate has our old guest room bed so I used a Pottery Barn gift card to get him the Milennium Falcon blanket. I got them pillowcases and stuffed Yodas and there are plans to finish out the whole room.
I set up the rooms over my lunch break and showed them to the boys last night. We looked at Nate's first and they both squealed in delight! We looked at Alex's and Nate threw a huge fit because he wanted Alex's blanket. He started complaining about his (very awesome) bedding and he would not stop.
I ripped that bedspread right off his bed and told him, "If you don't like it, you don't get it." He cried and cried, "I love it now!!!!"
Oh yes, you do. You better!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
More deep thoughts from Nate Case
Yesterday I had to pick up a couple of items that had been left at the old house (because it is under contract!). After leaving the house:
Nate: We only lived in that house for a year, right?
Laura: No, we lived in the house for five years. Daddy and I lived there before you and Alex were born.
Nate: Are we going to stay at the new house until we are grown ups?
Laura: Yes, you and Alex are going to live in the new house until you are 18 and go to college. We are all going to live there until you and Alex are adults.
Nate: If you die, you won't live there anymore. Your body will be in a box in the ground at the graveyard or it will be burned up. So you won't live in the new house.
Do you like how every conversation about the future turns into me dying???
I actually took that opportunity to explain to the boys that when I die, I am donating my body to the National Institute on Deafness. They will study my temporal bones in the hopes they can understand more about otosclerosis. I've already given them a DNA sample and my medical records. The boys were so excited about the idea that you can donate your body to science for research. I can't wait for them to read "Stiff" by Mary Roach one day.
And as a treat for you for reading such dark material, here is a link to some delicious easy-to-make brownie covered oreos. I've made them twice in the last 10 days.
Nate: We only lived in that house for a year, right?
Laura: No, we lived in the house for five years. Daddy and I lived there before you and Alex were born.
Nate: Are we going to stay at the new house until we are grown ups?
Laura: Yes, you and Alex are going to live in the new house until you are 18 and go to college. We are all going to live there until you and Alex are adults.
Nate: If you die, you won't live there anymore. Your body will be in a box in the ground at the graveyard or it will be burned up. So you won't live in the new house.
Do you like how every conversation about the future turns into me dying???
I actually took that opportunity to explain to the boys that when I die, I am donating my body to the National Institute on Deafness. They will study my temporal bones in the hopes they can understand more about otosclerosis. I've already given them a DNA sample and my medical records. The boys were so excited about the idea that you can donate your body to science for research. I can't wait for them to read "Stiff" by Mary Roach one day.
And as a treat for you for reading such dark material, here is a link to some delicious easy-to-make brownie covered oreos. I've made them twice in the last 10 days.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Short end of the stick
On day 9 of single parenting, I really can't complain. We had an amazing weekend with tons of sun and temperatures in the 70s. The boys are really helping me out since I've drilled it into their heads we all need to stick together and work hard with dad gone.
Jon, on the other hand, can complain. He was supposed to fly from Tokyo to Johannesburg via Singapore on Sunday night, a trip that was going to take 36 hours door to door. He was rather excited to fly on the new A380, the full double decker airplane.
First they were delayed 6 hours taking off. Once in the air, they had to turn around mid-flight due to a mechanical problem. They sat on the tarmac for 3 hours before finally canceling the flight. They all unloaded to a hotel and then came back to fly out the next day. In total, it will now take about 50 hours door to door.
I really can't complain about getting to be in my house with the kids with the windows open and eating on the porch in February.
Jon, on the other hand, can complain. He was supposed to fly from Tokyo to Johannesburg via Singapore on Sunday night, a trip that was going to take 36 hours door to door. He was rather excited to fly on the new A380, the full double decker airplane.
First they were delayed 6 hours taking off. Once in the air, they had to turn around mid-flight due to a mechanical problem. They sat on the tarmac for 3 hours before finally canceling the flight. They all unloaded to a hotel and then came back to fly out the next day. In total, it will now take about 50 hours door to door.
I really can't complain about getting to be in my house with the kids with the windows open and eating on the porch in February.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Belated Show Me the Mommy!
I have a good excuse for missing Show Me the Mommy on Friday... I was prepping the house for Beth and her boys to visit! (Photo courtesy of Nate... pretty fun for a friend to see Nate The Artiste in action)
We had a really great weekend and all four boys got along fabulously. I don't think a single fight broke out, which is amazing! The only time they were less than cooperative was when trying to get a group photo:
It was loud at my house all weekend, gloriously wonderfully loud. With Jon still gone, it was so nice to have another adult to drink wine with and chat with after the boys went to bed. Tons more pictures to come but for now, I'm off work today with the kids and BUSY.
Please come back soon Beth!
We had a really great weekend and all four boys got along fabulously. I don't think a single fight broke out, which is amazing! The only time they were less than cooperative was when trying to get a group photo:
It was loud at my house all weekend, gloriously wonderfully loud. With Jon still gone, it was so nice to have another adult to drink wine with and chat with after the boys went to bed. Tons more pictures to come but for now, I'm off work today with the kids and BUSY.
Please come back soon Beth!
Friday, February 18, 2011
In praise of allowance
I've previously talked here and here about our decision to give the boys a weekly $2 allowance. Jon and I firmly in the camp that believes the more experience children have with money, the better educated they will be. Over the months, we have seen great strides in the boys' understanding of how much things cost and the value of items.
The biggest benefit of allowance for us is that it has completely prevented the "I wants" when we are shopping. If they want something, they know they need to buy it with their money. It has been months since they have asked us to buy them something. At first they did blow money on cheap items, but now they are much more selective about how they spend their money.
For Valentine's Day, they got an influx of money. All they could talk about was buying some beyblades to battle each other. Those things are freaking expensive for some glorified spinning tops! For a stadium and two extra blades (tops), it was $40. The kids happily handed over $20 each to me and proudly told the Target employee they were buying it themselves.
The first two days with beyblades, I was ready to LOSE IT. World War 3 broke out over every battle, who got to use which beyblade, and the rules of the game. The fighting led to a disastrous bedtime where they both cried for 20 minutes because I took away the entire set and sent them to bed. After that, they knew I was serious about not fighting because it has become this magical item.
They've named their blades Blue Blastoff, Yellow Lightning, Red Fireball, and Green Bay Packers. (Don't worry, Packers are the bad guys.) They wake up wanting to play and go to bed wanting to play. They've skipped bedtime stories to play. They make up elaborate rules to the game.
When we envisioned giving them money to learn to purchase items wisely, this is exactly what we had in mind. Sure they made some mistakes (the face stickers that caused a rash) but they're learning lessons about money at the age of four that some adults haven't learned. All this for the low low price of $2 a week (times two).
The biggest benefit of allowance for us is that it has completely prevented the "I wants" when we are shopping. If they want something, they know they need to buy it with their money. It has been months since they have asked us to buy them something. At first they did blow money on cheap items, but now they are much more selective about how they spend their money.
For Valentine's Day, they got an influx of money. All they could talk about was buying some beyblades to battle each other. Those things are freaking expensive for some glorified spinning tops! For a stadium and two extra blades (tops), it was $40. The kids happily handed over $20 each to me and proudly told the Target employee they were buying it themselves.
The first two days with beyblades, I was ready to LOSE IT. World War 3 broke out over every battle, who got to use which beyblade, and the rules of the game. The fighting led to a disastrous bedtime where they both cried for 20 minutes because I took away the entire set and sent them to bed. After that, they knew I was serious about not fighting because it has become this magical item.
They've named their blades Blue Blastoff, Yellow Lightning, Red Fireball, and Green Bay Packers. (Don't worry, Packers are the bad guys.) They wake up wanting to play and go to bed wanting to play. They've skipped bedtime stories to play. They make up elaborate rules to the game.
When we envisioned giving them money to learn to purchase items wisely, this is exactly what we had in mind. Sure they made some mistakes (the face stickers that caused a rash) but they're learning lessons about money at the age of four that some adults haven't learned. All this for the low low price of $2 a week (times two).
Thursday, February 17, 2011
LATFH
Since the boys were 11 months old, we have been taking them to a kiddie haircut place every month. For a little blast from the past, you can read this post where I wrote why we were taking them for haircuts so early. I was so much funnier when I was severely sleep deprived!
For the first couple of years, we had to stay with the kiddie place because the boys SCREAMED through the entire haircut. Not only did we have to pay the inflated prices, we had to tip big. Then we started trying out non-kiddie places with HORRIFIC results. Anyone remember this horrible haircut from last March? No way to fix that terribleness:
So we pay the bigger prices because they are more patient with the kids and they play videos and give them lollipops. But still, the haircuts are generally "meh" and the stylists cut their hair insanely fast because they didn't seem like they wanted to be around children. Until this week.
I'm not sure what happened to the kiddie place because all of a sudden the hairstylists there are freaking hipsters (I'm talking LATFH hipster ... NSFW) with lots of style and were SUPER AWESOME with kids. They made the kids laugh and asked them questions and gave them amazing hair cuts.
Best quote of Alex's haircut, "You're so getting an Aveda haircut right here, you're going to be the hippest kid in preschool!"
Alex wouldn't let the guy spike his hair but he did let him spray mousse it and style it. Best hair cut ever.
For the first couple of years, we had to stay with the kiddie place because the boys SCREAMED through the entire haircut. Not only did we have to pay the inflated prices, we had to tip big. Then we started trying out non-kiddie places with HORRIFIC results. Anyone remember this horrible haircut from last March? No way to fix that terribleness:
So we pay the bigger prices because they are more patient with the kids and they play videos and give them lollipops. But still, the haircuts are generally "meh" and the stylists cut their hair insanely fast because they didn't seem like they wanted to be around children. Until this week.
I'm not sure what happened to the kiddie place because all of a sudden the hairstylists there are freaking hipsters (I'm talking LATFH hipster ... NSFW) with lots of style and were SUPER AWESOME with kids. They made the kids laugh and asked them questions and gave them amazing hair cuts.
Best quote of Alex's haircut, "You're so getting an Aveda haircut right here, you're going to be the hippest kid in preschool!"
Alex wouldn't let the guy spike his hair but he did let him spray mousse it and style it. Best hair cut ever.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Deep thoughts by Nate Case
Nate: When I grow up, I want to marry you mommy.
Laura: You can't marry me Nate. I am already married to your dad.
Nate: Well, you should unmarry him.
Laura: You mean I should divorce him? No, I'm not going to divorce your dad.
Nate: Why won't you divorce him?
Laura: It took me a long time to meet someone I loved so much. He's my best friend. I want to live with him forever.
Nate: No one lives forever. When he dies, then you will be divorced and I can marry you.
Laura: Even when dad dies, you can't marry me. You're my son. You have to find someone else you love and marry them, someone who is not related to you. I am staying married to daddy forever.
(Now is not the time for me to point out that we do live in a southern state....)
Nate: Well when daddy dies, you won't be married anymore.
Laura: Nate, when daddy dies, I will be very sad.
(Here I got a little choked up.)
Nate: Why will you be sad? You can meet someone else you love and marry them and be happy like you are with daddy.
Laura: Nate I will be sad because I will miss him! If daddy dies, he will be gone forever and I won't want to marry someone else.
Nate: Maybe you can both die on the same day. Then you won't be sad.
Laura: BUT WON'T YOU BE SAD????????
Alex: I will be very sad if you and daddy die.
(Mentally filed away so we know which kid will be taking care of us in old age.)
Laura: You can't marry me Nate. I am already married to your dad.
Nate: Well, you should unmarry him.
Laura: You mean I should divorce him? No, I'm not going to divorce your dad.
Nate: Why won't you divorce him?
Laura: It took me a long time to meet someone I loved so much. He's my best friend. I want to live with him forever.
Nate: No one lives forever. When he dies, then you will be divorced and I can marry you.
Laura: Even when dad dies, you can't marry me. You're my son. You have to find someone else you love and marry them, someone who is not related to you. I am staying married to daddy forever.
(Now is not the time for me to point out that we do live in a southern state....)
Nate: Well when daddy dies, you won't be married anymore.
Laura: Nate, when daddy dies, I will be very sad.
(Here I got a little choked up.)
Nate: Why will you be sad? You can meet someone else you love and marry them and be happy like you are with daddy.
Laura: Nate I will be sad because I will miss him! If daddy dies, he will be gone forever and I won't want to marry someone else.
Nate: Maybe you can both die on the same day. Then you won't be sad.
Laura: BUT WON'T YOU BE SAD????????
Alex: I will be very sad if you and daddy die.
(Mentally filed away so we know which kid will be taking care of us in old age.)
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Most certainly the worst Valentine's Day story ever
Nate went to the bathroom last night then yelled excitedly, "Look mommy! The poop is in the shape of a heart! For Valentine's Day! It's Valentine's Day poop!"
I GET IT UNIVERSE!!! Valentine's Day is not a fake holiday. I hereby swear to start celebrating it next year.
I GET IT UNIVERSE!!! Valentine's Day is not a fake holiday. I hereby swear to start celebrating it next year.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Roller coaster weekend, of love
High:
Temps in the 50s and 60s and sunny. ALL WEEK.
Low:
Sunny and warm everywhere Sunday afternoon EXCEPT at the airport park where the boys decided to go, where it was oddly windy and cold???
High:
Watched Top Chef All-Stars with a friend, including an all-italian show where I wanted to eat every.single.thing.
Spoiler low:
Bye bye again Fabio :(
High:
Got into 2011 by buying myself a Nook and promptly checked out FREE library e-books.
Low:
I have lots of reading time the next couple of weeks as I'm single mom-ing it for a long long trip. The karmic justice is not lost on me that Jon and I have refused to celebrate Valentine's Day for 10 years and then he has to leave on V-Day.
(Does anyone see the Jon - Alex resemblance here???)
High:
The boys actually did not argue when I wanted to take a couple of quick pictures on the way to the park.
Low:
NONE. LOVE this little Valentine's Day present.
Temps in the 50s and 60s and sunny. ALL WEEK.
Low:
Sunny and warm everywhere Sunday afternoon EXCEPT at the airport park where the boys decided to go, where it was oddly windy and cold???
High:
Watched Top Chef All-Stars with a friend, including an all-italian show where I wanted to eat every.single.thing.
Spoiler low:
Bye bye again Fabio :(
High:
Got into 2011 by buying myself a Nook and promptly checked out FREE library e-books.
Low:
I have lots of reading time the next couple of weeks as I'm single mom-ing it for a long long trip. The karmic justice is not lost on me that Jon and I have refused to celebrate Valentine's Day for 10 years and then he has to leave on V-Day.
(Does anyone see the Jon - Alex resemblance here???)
High:
The boys actually did not argue when I wanted to take a couple of quick pictures on the way to the park.
Low:
NONE. LOVE this little Valentine's Day present.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Show Me the Mommy!
When driving the boys in my car, we often listen to the kids' channel on XM Radio. That's how we found family favorites "Happy Noodle vs Sad Noodle", "The Saga Begins" (Weird Al's Star Wars Episode 1 song), and the boys' favorite "Hampsterdance." When we pull into day care or home, they ask if they can listen to the rest of whatever song is on the radio.
The rule when I'm driving is they can listen, but only if we have a Car Dance Party. They get out of their car seats and go wild dancing. It never fails to make me smile!
iphone self-portrait from this morning's Car Dance Party:
The rule when I'm driving is they can listen, but only if we have a Car Dance Party. They get out of their car seats and go wild dancing. It never fails to make me smile!
iphone self-portrait from this morning's Car Dance Party:
Thursday, February 10, 2011
A river in Egypt
Jon and I are both happily in denial that he is about to be gone for two weeks. In the last five years, he has traveled so frequently that I often have a tough time remembering where he is going. It's almost become a non-event.
I was talking to my friend Irene last night (who has newborn twins and a potty training 3 year old boy, pray for her!) and I said that when she hits age 4, she'll be on easy street. For us, nowhere is that more apparent than this round-the-world trip.
Some people will remember that Jon had to take a week-long trip to Australia when the boys were 10 months old. I asked my mom friends to come over to help me almost every night with the double feeding, helmet head washing, and getting two babies to bed without endless screaming. It was an exhausting week and I clearly remember being desperate for Jon to come home.
(Another way things have changed... I thought this picture was the shizz back then! It's still freaking cute but man, what I'd give to go back in time with a better camera and better photography skills.)
This time, we haven't done much to prepare the house, the kids, or myself for the trip. I haven't called in any reinforcements because I don't feel like I need any. If I need help, I have plenty of people to call to come hang out and have wine with me after the boys go to bed.
Don't get me wrong, we will all be sad and miss Jon terribly, but life with 4 year olds is so much easier than life with babies. Forgive me in advance if the blog is a little post crazy the next couple of weeks, but it's all for Jon!
I was talking to my friend Irene last night (who has newborn twins and a potty training 3 year old boy, pray for her!) and I said that when she hits age 4, she'll be on easy street. For us, nowhere is that more apparent than this round-the-world trip.
Some people will remember that Jon had to take a week-long trip to Australia when the boys were 10 months old. I asked my mom friends to come over to help me almost every night with the double feeding, helmet head washing, and getting two babies to bed without endless screaming. It was an exhausting week and I clearly remember being desperate for Jon to come home.
(Another way things have changed... I thought this picture was the shizz back then! It's still freaking cute but man, what I'd give to go back in time with a better camera and better photography skills.)
This time, we haven't done much to prepare the house, the kids, or myself for the trip. I haven't called in any reinforcements because I don't feel like I need any. If I need help, I have plenty of people to call to come hang out and have wine with me after the boys go to bed.
Don't get me wrong, we will all be sad and miss Jon terribly, but life with 4 year olds is so much easier than life with babies. Forgive me in advance if the blog is a little post crazy the next couple of weeks, but it's all for Jon!
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Stop the presses, I read another parenting book
At this stage in the parenting game, I rarely find parenting books I would recommend. Of course I still always recommend the Louise Bates Ames series of developmental books, but I've come to believe many of the parenting "experts" out there are really no different than parents like you and me, except they've written a book.
(All of this does NOT apply to researchers and people who study large populations and then write books with FACTS. I still recommend those.)
I recently read a book that I wished I had read the first year of Nate and Alex's life: "How She Really Does It: Secrets of Successful Stay-at-Work Moms." I would highly recommend this book to any working mom.
I refuse to get into any kind of working mom versus stay-at-home mom debate because I truly believe there are pros and cons to each option. I also believe it is a personal choice and my overriding opinion is that a happy, fulfilled mother is a good mother.
Yet our current society has placed such a strong emphasis on being a "perfect" mother - one who relishes all of the aspects of parenting (even the gross ones, like cleaning up vomit), one who smiles through the tantrums, one who makes homemade treats for every school holidays, one who never runs out of patience, one who cries when she drops off her kids and can't wait for the minute she picks them back up, and one who places their kids above everything else in their lives.
Sorry, that's not me. It never will be.
When I went back to work, I often heard snide comments like:
Back to my point... this book was AMAZING to me because it was the first book I've ever read that emphasizes the positives of being a working mom. It featured moms like me, moms who chose to continue their careers and try to balance their personal goals with raising children. I've always known that continuing to work has made me the best mom I can be, and it was so refreshing to hear it over and over in this book from other mothers.
None of this was new information to me, but I had so much guilt the first year because I didn't "fit the mold." All around me, I saw women quit their jobs because they didn't want to be away from their babies. I couldn't help but wonder what was wrong with me that I was missing that gene. I've resolved a lot of that guilt by now because I know it was the right choice, but this book would have made my road a little easier in the beginning. This book would have helped me see there are plenty of other moms out there like me.
Also if I had this book then, when someone said something judgmental about my choice to work, I would have had something to shove where the sun don't shine.
(All of this does NOT apply to researchers and people who study large populations and then write books with FACTS. I still recommend those.)
I recently read a book that I wished I had read the first year of Nate and Alex's life: "How She Really Does It: Secrets of Successful Stay-at-Work Moms." I would highly recommend this book to any working mom.
I refuse to get into any kind of working mom versus stay-at-home mom debate because I truly believe there are pros and cons to each option. I also believe it is a personal choice and my overriding opinion is that a happy, fulfilled mother is a good mother.
Yet our current society has placed such a strong emphasis on being a "perfect" mother - one who relishes all of the aspects of parenting (even the gross ones, like cleaning up vomit), one who smiles through the tantrums, one who makes homemade treats for every school holidays, one who never runs out of patience, one who cries when she drops off her kids and can't wait for the minute she picks them back up, and one who places their kids above everything else in their lives.
Sorry, that's not me. It never will be.
When I went back to work, I often heard snide comments like:
- Oh that's too bad you have to be away from your babies so much.
- Do you want someone else to raise your children?
- Jon makes a lot of money so why do you work?
- If you quit your job, you'd have so much more time to take care of sick kids/volunteer in the classroom/work out/pursue hobbies.
Back to my point... this book was AMAZING to me because it was the first book I've ever read that emphasizes the positives of being a working mom. It featured moms like me, moms who chose to continue their careers and try to balance their personal goals with raising children. I've always known that continuing to work has made me the best mom I can be, and it was so refreshing to hear it over and over in this book from other mothers.
None of this was new information to me, but I had so much guilt the first year because I didn't "fit the mold." All around me, I saw women quit their jobs because they didn't want to be away from their babies. I couldn't help but wonder what was wrong with me that I was missing that gene. I've resolved a lot of that guilt by now because I know it was the right choice, but this book would have made my road a little easier in the beginning. This book would have helped me see there are plenty of other moms out there like me.
Also if I had this book then, when someone said something judgmental about my choice to work, I would have had something to shove where the sun don't shine.
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Reading breakthrough
For 12 to 18 months, Nate has been able to sound out words. I thought for sure he would be a super duper early reader like me, but he had no interest or motivation to move forward. If we ask him what a word is, he will sound it out and read it, but he has not shown an interest in reading to himself.
In the last month, he's been spending a lot of time in his room sounding out words. Last week we went to the library and they had all of the BOB books there. I've read tons of reviews that these books are the shizz for new readers, but being hesitant to pour any more money down the black hole of raising two children, we have not purchased them.
We checked out the entire first series of BOB books, which was bound into one hardback book. By the end of the first night, Nate had read the entire thing out loud to me and Alex. He continued to read to Alex after they went to bed. When he woke up the next morning, he ran to our room to read more stories.
Just like that, he's reading. It's like every other milestone with him. One day crawling, the next taking 100 steps. One day in diapers, the next day trained himself. He's so incredibly proud too, wanting us to take pictures and videos of his reading:
I can't wait to see that light bulb go on for Alex.
Video for the grandparents:
In the last month, he's been spending a lot of time in his room sounding out words. Last week we went to the library and they had all of the BOB books there. I've read tons of reviews that these books are the shizz for new readers, but being hesitant to pour any more money down the black hole of raising two children, we have not purchased them.
We checked out the entire first series of BOB books, which was bound into one hardback book. By the end of the first night, Nate had read the entire thing out loud to me and Alex. He continued to read to Alex after they went to bed. When he woke up the next morning, he ran to our room to read more stories.
Just like that, he's reading. It's like every other milestone with him. One day crawling, the next taking 100 steps. One day in diapers, the next day trained himself. He's so incredibly proud too, wanting us to take pictures and videos of his reading:
I can't wait to see that light bulb go on for Alex.
Video for the grandparents:
Monday, February 07, 2011
Weekend in the ATL
I went to Atlanta Friday and Saturday to visit Bridget. I *briefly* considered posting a picture of me and Bridget at the hospital as my Show Me the Mommy but being a friend to Bridget, I didn't want to publicly post a picture of her after brain surgery.
Before her surgery, Bridget asked me to take pictures of the girls while I was in Atlanta. Reagan didn't want any pictures of herself taken and Bailey only let me take two before she was done.
I have too many thoughts swirling in my head to do justice to a proper post. The trip was mostly good news in that the cyst was benign, they got it all, and Bridget is steadily improving. But, it is never an easy road with brain surgery so I hope you will all continue to think good thoughts for Bridget and her family.
And Jon is a rock star for keeping the boys all weekend so I can go do my thing, yet again.
Before her surgery, Bridget asked me to take pictures of the girls while I was in Atlanta. Reagan didn't want any pictures of herself taken and Bailey only let me take two before she was done.
I have too many thoughts swirling in my head to do justice to a proper post. The trip was mostly good news in that the cyst was benign, they got it all, and Bridget is steadily improving. But, it is never an easy road with brain surgery so I hope you will all continue to think good thoughts for Bridget and her family.
And Jon is a rock star for keeping the boys all weekend so I can go do my thing, yet again.
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Sniff sniff. Sob. BOO HOOOOOOO how is this possible?
Jon and I registered the boys for kindergarten this morning.
NOT POSSIBLE.
Completely and utterly impossible.
Okay, maybe possible.
If you need to find me the first week of July, I'll be sobbing three doors down from my house at the bus stop as it takes my babies to school.
And then laughing my way to the bank because NO MORE DAY CARE PAYMENTS!
NOT POSSIBLE.
Completely and utterly impossible.
Okay, maybe possible.
If you need to find me the first week of July, I'll be sobbing three doors down from my house at the bus stop as it takes my babies to school.
And then laughing my way to the bank because NO MORE DAY CARE PAYMENTS!
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
I hope that I never see, another picture book that rhymes crazily
Do you know what my house is like when we read books? We make the boys raise their hands to ask questions when reading books together because otherwise it will take us approximately 5,o83 minutes to read one book.
I love the four year old mind but dang how do you have so many questions when you've heard this book 5,973,573 times before???
Monday night I had finally had enough of picture books and kiddie stories and decided to read the boys a "real" book from our bookshelf. The problem? Jon and I are not book keepers. We only keep books if it is a book we will read over and over. Mostly we get books at the library because they are free. Also because they are FREE.
As I perused our bookcases, it became apparent how wildly inappropriate our "keeper" books are for small children. Here are some choices that immediately made me laugh:
The boys absolutely loved it. We had so much fun answering the questions and coming up with crazy answers. And I had a nice break from kiddie picture books.
PS. As a former Chicago resident and as someone who currently telecommutes for a Chicago company, this story about people stranded on Lake Shore Drive means Chicago people can NEVER mock southern ice storms where people get stuck.
I love the four year old mind but dang how do you have so many questions when you've heard this book 5,973,573 times before???
Monday night I had finally had enough of picture books and kiddie stories and decided to read the boys a "real" book from our bookshelf. The problem? Jon and I are not book keepers. We only keep books if it is a book we will read over and over. Mostly we get books at the library because they are free. Also because they are FREE.
As I perused our bookcases, it became apparent how wildly inappropriate our "keeper" books are for small children. Here are some choices that immediately made me laugh:
- Lolita. It does involve a young girl and a road trip.
- The Shining. Maybe they would like the twins?
- Me Talk Pretty One Day. Lots of good Raleigh stories in there.
- Brave New World. They like futuristic Star Wars so maybe another futuristic novel?
The boys absolutely loved it. We had so much fun answering the questions and coming up with crazy answers. And I had a nice break from kiddie picture books.
PS. As a former Chicago resident and as someone who currently telecommutes for a Chicago company, this story about people stranded on Lake Shore Drive means Chicago people can NEVER mock southern ice storms where people get stuck.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Not to leave anyone hanging....
Bridget made it through surgery just fine and is out of the ICU. And hopefully the tumor being gone will mean her health will be awesome which will lead to her blogging again and you will get the story told in her spectacular words.
Thank you for the kind thoughts today!
Thank you for the kind thoughts today!
I don't care if you normally do not pray, today you ARE praying
As you read this, my dear friend Bridget is at the hospital to have a brain tumor removed.
Pray, good thoughts, good karma, positive vibes, radiant energy, healing light, WHATEVER. Send it Bridget's way today. Not that she needs it really. If anyone can kick a brain tumor's butt, it's Bridget. And she'd do it with a southern accent in some ridiculously awesome jewelry. But still... please think happy thoughts.
While I'm up on my goody two shoes soapbox, maybe today would be a good day to hug your kids and be thankful for your health? Because dude... brain tumor surgery.
Pray, good thoughts, good karma, positive vibes, radiant energy, healing light, WHATEVER. Send it Bridget's way today. Not that she needs it really. If anyone can kick a brain tumor's butt, it's Bridget. And she'd do it with a southern accent in some ridiculously awesome jewelry. But still... please think happy thoughts.
While I'm up on my goody two shoes soapbox, maybe today would be a good day to hug your kids and be thankful for your health? Because dude... brain tumor surgery.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)