I'm sitting in a quiet kitchen listening to the sound of our dryer (such a lovely noise I think) and trying to relish in the peace and quiet if only for a few brief minutes. This is my time to go to counseling so I invite you in my crazy head for awhile, please find a comfy chair and don't laugh to hard at me!
My daughter, oh my precious sweet little sister girl, turned two yesterday. The day came and went without much ado b/c you know she is two and doesn't quite know that we snuffed her actual birthDAY but we do plan on having a small party this Sunday. But...my point in bringing all that up is that in the latest adventures of Sister Girl (I swear I'm going to write a book about her ya'll!) she is now an escape artist. It wasn't enough that she was a streaker or a pooper hider or even a runner but now she has reached a new level of difficult. Of course she is so sorry when she is tackled (or found) and smiles so dainty at you that it is hard to break the trance and remember what just happened in order to beat her good and hard (just kidding!!!!).
She has only done it three times but with the amount of color I have to put on my hair anyway to hide the gray I think running away more then once is sufficient! The first time I just stepped into the other side of the house (you know all ten feet away from the OTHER side of the house) while my husband was with her and the other two. When I walked back in the kitchen I thought it was awfully quiet and quickly asked where tooty was? We all started looking and calling when there was a knock at the door. You know when you are looking for a lost child and you hear a knock at the door it is not good! Sure enough it was my neighbor across the street (who is always outside in her front lawn) holding the little thang! I kept my cool and immediately started explaining how we were in the process of looking for her, honestly! (so she didn't think we had been watching t.v. you know and enjoying the peace and quiet for a little while) She had found Elizabeth in our driveway making her way down to the street! Oh and trust me I keep the doors locked. She knows how to unlock them!
The other two times happened almost within 30 minutes (I know what you are thinking) at McDonalds of all places. Now I could have had DCS called on me but everyone at McDonalds is a little suspicious looking aren't they? A friend was watching her (with her other three kids) and within looking up and down and back up she was gone. Another woman found Elizabeth outside on the sidewalk!!!!! Ya'll!!!!! I was standing in line getting the birthday girl an ice cream cone the whole time. And of all people the woman who found her was a friend from church!!!! Ya'll know they are going to be calling me down to the alter this Sunday!
After that when it was time to go the little escape artist got her shoes on and before I could grab her took off running through the playground and pushed the door open to the outside and ran into the parking lot. I was screaming running behind her with my friend's nine year old son in front of me running. He tackled her right as she was in the parking lot! I was so shaken up I had to leave without saying much to anyone!
And would you believe that in the van I'm calling Nate to tell him about all this and Elizabeth wants to talk (as she always does - you know this if you call me on a regular basis) and when she gets the phone she says so very clearly, "Daddy, I run outside into street!" I'm not kidding you! She is proud of herself I think.
So, I have on my checklist today to go buy another box of blonde to cover up the fifty thousand gray hairs she gave me this week and a rope and tether to somehow permanently secure to that child's body! And please if anyone sees a cute little girl running free down the highway yelling "Lizzy run away from mommy!!" laughing the whole time would you mind grabbing her and returning her to my house? Thanks!
Oct 29, 2010
Oct 25, 2010
Are you a bow head mom?
I wanted a girl when I got pregnant (okay, okay...before I got pregnant...okay, yes, I admit I even borrowed a book all about how to have a girl...and yes, I prayed for a girl...(how shallow is that?) don't act like you didn't have a preference if you have more then one child now!)
I dreamed of dressing her up and pretending to put blush on her cheeks while I painted my face each morning. Oh and painting her nails (although I did paint the boys nails until Nate fussed at me)and buying the shoes (well borrowing...) to match all the outfits. But the hair. Now I just didn't think it would be such a big deal.
Having two boys I got to sit back in judgement of all those girl moms I was around and make fun of their little girl's bow heads. I just didn't get it. All the trouble they went through to fix the one year old's hair and stick that bow on with petroleum jelly then re-fix it and then re-fix it again. And when those moms came to get their pretty little girls from my Sunday School class or preschool class and fussed at me for losing their bows (you know how much that bow cost?) I scoffed! I even had one mom go out on the playground and search for her daughter's bow after church!
Now I got what I wanted. I have a girl and finally after two years I have a girl with hair...and a basket full of bows that have been given to me. What to do?
I tried the smaller ones. The less conspicuous ones. She was cute enough. But when I put a big one in, oh my, the reaction from these Southern women around me, "OH MY GOODNESS. She is just the cutest thing with that bow in her hair!" The bow did it for her.
But if you have read any posts about sister girl you will know that my sweet little angel of a daughter does not like things in her hair (or on her body - diaper included). So, I fruitlessly spend about 5 minutes wetting, brushing and fixing her hair into cute little pony tails with bows, etc. Then we get in the van...and drive all of 10 minutes..and you know what I see in the rear view mirror don't you?
She looks like a crazy child with hair going everywhere and she is CHEWING on the bows and pony tail holders and barrettes or she has thrown them clear across the van so I can't find them!
But you need to know something about me as well. I don't give up. (or rather should I say, I'm going to get what I want!) And so I rush and throw her hair up into a semi-pony tail and stick that bow back in after crawling all over the van to find it or fishing it out of her mouth and then throw her over my hip and run inside to show her off before she can de-bow herself again.
I know! I'm one of those moms now! I made fun of them and now I'm giving material for others to make fun of me but I JUST CAN'T HELP MYSELF!!!!
But the big bow or the not big bow...that is my other point.
So, I've not been a real big bow kind of person. I was a ribbon girl mind you in Jr. High and High School (I was a cheerleader - come on - it's part of the job!) I truly think they are obnoxious and I just can't help that I was raised to laugh at big bow girls. Plus they do look a little silly when the bow weighs down the child's head don't they? Come on?
In preschool when I taught Creative Movement we would have these girls come in and they were so worried about their bows on their heads they wouldn't do flips on the floor unless I took their bows and put them in my hair until they were done having fun...then I would give their pretty little hair pieces back to them so they were once again complete for momma to see upon arrival.
I was shopping at a bow vendor at our school's fall festival this past Friday and checking out her huge selection of bows. So many colors and sizes and patterns I felt a little dizzy. But then a true talking Southern Woman came up beside me and said (imagine this in your best drawn out accent) "Ohhhhh...theeeese boooows RRRR just tooooo cuuuute. And theyyyyy RRRRR soooooo cheeeeeap." I asked her if she thought 'this one' was too big? She looked at me and smiled (knowing she was talking to an ignorant bow momma) and replied "Theeeeee biiiiiiigerrrrr the beeeeterrrr giiiirrrrrrl! Youuuu seeeeee thiiiiis smallllll booooow heeeere. (picking up a nice conservative size bow) I uuuuused to puuuut thaaaaat booooow ooooon myyyyyy baaaaaabyyyyyy's heeeeead"." We laughed and I bought two of the big bows feeling proud of myself.
Of course I have spent more time worrying over where that stupid bow is when Elizabeth tears it out of her hair and throws it somewhere b/c I spent all of $3.00 on the dumb thing.
But YALLLLLLL...SHEEEEE LOOOOOKS SOOOOOO CUUUUUTE INNNNN IIIIIIT! =)
I dreamed of dressing her up and pretending to put blush on her cheeks while I painted my face each morning. Oh and painting her nails (although I did paint the boys nails until Nate fussed at me)and buying the shoes (well borrowing...) to match all the outfits. But the hair. Now I just didn't think it would be such a big deal.
Having two boys I got to sit back in judgement of all those girl moms I was around and make fun of their little girl's bow heads. I just didn't get it. All the trouble they went through to fix the one year old's hair and stick that bow on with petroleum jelly then re-fix it and then re-fix it again. And when those moms came to get their pretty little girls from my Sunday School class or preschool class and fussed at me for losing their bows (you know how much that bow cost?) I scoffed! I even had one mom go out on the playground and search for her daughter's bow after church!
Now I got what I wanted. I have a girl and finally after two years I have a girl with hair...and a basket full of bows that have been given to me. What to do?
I tried the smaller ones. The less conspicuous ones. She was cute enough. But when I put a big one in, oh my, the reaction from these Southern women around me, "OH MY GOODNESS. She is just the cutest thing with that bow in her hair!" The bow did it for her.
But if you have read any posts about sister girl you will know that my sweet little angel of a daughter does not like things in her hair (or on her body - diaper included). So, I fruitlessly spend about 5 minutes wetting, brushing and fixing her hair into cute little pony tails with bows, etc. Then we get in the van...and drive all of 10 minutes..and you know what I see in the rear view mirror don't you?
She looks like a crazy child with hair going everywhere and she is CHEWING on the bows and pony tail holders and barrettes or she has thrown them clear across the van so I can't find them!
But you need to know something about me as well. I don't give up. (or rather should I say, I'm going to get what I want!) And so I rush and throw her hair up into a semi-pony tail and stick that bow back in after crawling all over the van to find it or fishing it out of her mouth and then throw her over my hip and run inside to show her off before she can de-bow herself again.
I know! I'm one of those moms now! I made fun of them and now I'm giving material for others to make fun of me but I JUST CAN'T HELP MYSELF!!!!
But the big bow or the not big bow...that is my other point.
So, I've not been a real big bow kind of person. I was a ribbon girl mind you in Jr. High and High School (I was a cheerleader - come on - it's part of the job!) I truly think they are obnoxious and I just can't help that I was raised to laugh at big bow girls. Plus they do look a little silly when the bow weighs down the child's head don't they? Come on?
In preschool when I taught Creative Movement we would have these girls come in and they were so worried about their bows on their heads they wouldn't do flips on the floor unless I took their bows and put them in my hair until they were done having fun...then I would give their pretty little hair pieces back to them so they were once again complete for momma to see upon arrival.
I was shopping at a bow vendor at our school's fall festival this past Friday and checking out her huge selection of bows. So many colors and sizes and patterns I felt a little dizzy. But then a true talking Southern Woman came up beside me and said (imagine this in your best drawn out accent) "Ohhhhh...theeeese boooows RRRR just tooooo cuuuute. And theyyyyy RRRRR soooooo cheeeeeap." I asked her if she thought 'this one' was too big? She looked at me and smiled (knowing she was talking to an ignorant bow momma) and replied "Theeeeee biiiiiiigerrrrr the beeeeterrrr giiiirrrrrrl! Youuuu seeeeee thiiiiis smallllll booooow heeeere. (picking up a nice conservative size bow) I uuuuused to puuuut thaaaaat booooow ooooon myyyyyy baaaaaabyyyyyy's heeeeead"." We laughed and I bought two of the big bows feeling proud of myself.
Of course I have spent more time worrying over where that stupid bow is when Elizabeth tears it out of her hair and throws it somewhere b/c I spent all of $3.00 on the dumb thing.
But YALLLLLLL...SHEEEEE LOOOOOKS SOOOOOO CUUUUUTE INNNNN IIIIIIT! =)
Oct 17, 2010
It's been awhile since you've seen my kids...
No matter where we are...she has to keep up with her big brothers in action!
Nothing sweeter in life then watching Nate with sister girl at his side!
"The Leash Day" - I borrowed a friend's toddler leash when I took the kids to a pumpkin farm on a Saturday without Nate. I got a lot of looks and some smiles but it changed my life forever! "The Leash" and sister girl will be becoming great friends I forsee!
She is just in love with life...that is all I can say.
Nate's baby sister had her first child. Once again Nate was 'at home' rocking a little one (his favorite thing to do in life).
My three welcome their newest cousin, Ayden James, to the group!
Ian officially joined Cub Scouts as a Tiger Cub. He was just so darned excited about wearing that uniform (thanks Nana for sewing on the badges that this inept mom couldn't seem to do). I love that Ian could care less if he looks cool (look at the hat) but Eli is trying so hard to keep it together in the uniform.
What have I been up to lately?
My life the past few weeks has been a whirlwind of craziness...
I have once again held my baby girl in my arms while she quit breathing and lips turned blue as I ran across the quite blackness in our neighborhood to my neighbor yelling for him to do something. She was having a seizure due to a spiking fever that we didn't realize was getting too high too fast. It was over before I even explained it all to the 911 operator but still we spent most of the night in the ER trying to figure out what caused the fever. A frustrating night to relive with sister girl; but all ended well within 24 hours and she was back up running around fever free. We were then full of information about what to do if she had a seizure again, which may or may not ever happen again...but still not what a parent wants to be learning about two years after watching her baby undergo emergency heart surgery!
Fall break came and went with Eli getting strep throat at the start of their vacation. We stayed at home most of the days and laid low, waiting for the others to get it but thankfully they did not. I did realize that my nine year old son now has stinky body odor and had his first pimple, which I begged him to let me pop but instead I was able to show him how to squeeze it himself. So, I guess I need to add deodorant and clearasil to my shopping list!
Ian began piano lessons after waiting a whole year (the teacher we wanted insisted he be 7 before she taught him and he actually held onto his desire to play the whole year). He seems to have a natural talent for music which is interesting to watch blossom now. Ian is not my competitive sports child but rather a very independent curious/creative type so I think this may just be his niche in life! Of course it might help if we owned a piano, don't tell his piano teacher, but we are letting him practice right now on his $10 toy keyboard and he is doing just fine! I'm just saying...
We finally finished soccer this past Saturday. I am so happy that both boys played hard and ended with positive feelings towards the sport. Eli is still timid in the game but actually a very agile and quick player which has it's good points. Ian - well we were proud when he paid attention and actually tried to chase after the ball and make contact with it - and I didn't lose Elizabeth once the whole season but I did lose 5 pounds from chasing her!
I have officially had a professional stager come to my house and move furniture around and tell me a list of things to do. I cried when she left, made a list, crossed some things off once I came to my senses and now am working my way down a revised list. Hopefully after redoing our bathroom floor and putting up a few new lights oh, and painting one bathroom (why didn't anyone tell me that was the most horrific color to paint a bathroom anyway?) we will be ready to put out a sign! I'm getting excited...but more importantly Nate is getting excited which I never expected. But for goodness sakes...I have almost made myself loony the past two weeks repainting all the base boards, filling in every nail hole, packing nick-nacks, and going through 4 magic erasers (I love those things!) so this house had better sell or I might check into a crazy home!
And more and more and more...but who doesn't have a crazy life right? Just wanted to let everyone know (all three people who read this) that I'm still alive but still crazy!
I have once again held my baby girl in my arms while she quit breathing and lips turned blue as I ran across the quite blackness in our neighborhood to my neighbor yelling for him to do something. She was having a seizure due to a spiking fever that we didn't realize was getting too high too fast. It was over before I even explained it all to the 911 operator but still we spent most of the night in the ER trying to figure out what caused the fever. A frustrating night to relive with sister girl; but all ended well within 24 hours and she was back up running around fever free. We were then full of information about what to do if she had a seizure again, which may or may not ever happen again...but still not what a parent wants to be learning about two years after watching her baby undergo emergency heart surgery!
Fall break came and went with Eli getting strep throat at the start of their vacation. We stayed at home most of the days and laid low, waiting for the others to get it but thankfully they did not. I did realize that my nine year old son now has stinky body odor and had his first pimple, which I begged him to let me pop but instead I was able to show him how to squeeze it himself. So, I guess I need to add deodorant and clearasil to my shopping list!
Ian began piano lessons after waiting a whole year (the teacher we wanted insisted he be 7 before she taught him and he actually held onto his desire to play the whole year). He seems to have a natural talent for music which is interesting to watch blossom now. Ian is not my competitive sports child but rather a very independent curious/creative type so I think this may just be his niche in life! Of course it might help if we owned a piano, don't tell his piano teacher, but we are letting him practice right now on his $10 toy keyboard and he is doing just fine! I'm just saying...
We finally finished soccer this past Saturday. I am so happy that both boys played hard and ended with positive feelings towards the sport. Eli is still timid in the game but actually a very agile and quick player which has it's good points. Ian - well we were proud when he paid attention and actually tried to chase after the ball and make contact with it - and I didn't lose Elizabeth once the whole season but I did lose 5 pounds from chasing her!
I have officially had a professional stager come to my house and move furniture around and tell me a list of things to do. I cried when she left, made a list, crossed some things off once I came to my senses and now am working my way down a revised list. Hopefully after redoing our bathroom floor and putting up a few new lights oh, and painting one bathroom (why didn't anyone tell me that was the most horrific color to paint a bathroom anyway?) we will be ready to put out a sign! I'm getting excited...but more importantly Nate is getting excited which I never expected. But for goodness sakes...I have almost made myself loony the past two weeks repainting all the base boards, filling in every nail hole, packing nick-nacks, and going through 4 magic erasers (I love those things!) so this house had better sell or I might check into a crazy home!
And more and more and more...but who doesn't have a crazy life right? Just wanted to let everyone know (all three people who read this) that I'm still alive but still crazy!
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