Showing posts with label Mia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mia. Show all posts
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Mia's Last Day
Last day of school today for Mia. Crazy! Summer is officially here and she said, "I can't wait to swim". So I am sure that tomorrow morning she is expecting to either walk outside in her back yard and take a dip, or go to the local pool.
She has her opinions on everything. A funny story recently. She has a good friend who is moving away to New Jersey. In trying to figure this out she keeps saying, where is Leah going, Mississippi? Cananda? Pretty much fill in the blank of any state or country that she has ever heard. Then we have an ongoing argument (over the past couple of months) of who is older, her or Leah. It is Leah according to the Gregorian Calendar that as Americans we all adhere to. Except Mia. She insists that even though August is before September, Leah was born on the 3rd of August and Mia was born on the 7th of September and because 7 is larger than 3 she is still older. All of this is wrong because Leah was actually born on August 28th, so that argument doesn't work but I haven't broken it to her. Last week she said that she had to be older than Leah because she was in afternoon preschool and Leah was in morning classes, hmm. And prior to that it was because she was bigger than Leah. And prior to that there was no good argument, just Mia insisting she was older. I swear she is going to be a lawyer.
She has her opinions on everything. A funny story recently. She has a good friend who is moving away to New Jersey. In trying to figure this out she keeps saying, where is Leah going, Mississippi? Cananda? Pretty much fill in the blank of any state or country that she has ever heard. Then we have an ongoing argument (over the past couple of months) of who is older, her or Leah. It is Leah according to the Gregorian Calendar that as Americans we all adhere to. Except Mia. She insists that even though August is before September, Leah was born on the 3rd of August and Mia was born on the 7th of September and because 7 is larger than 3 she is still older. All of this is wrong because Leah was actually born on August 28th, so that argument doesn't work but I haven't broken it to her. Last week she said that she had to be older than Leah because she was in afternoon preschool and Leah was in morning classes, hmm. And prior to that it was because she was bigger than Leah. And prior to that there was no good argument, just Mia insisting she was older. I swear she is going to be a lawyer.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Valentine's Day
We had a lot of fun this Valentine's Day; including a tea that we invited a few of Jac and Mia's friends to.
Stella was excited to meet everyone.
I was fortunate to have a neighbor watch Stella while I went to Jac's Valentine's Party at school.
And of course the day itself was lovely.
Everyone was happy.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
The Lack of a Sucking Sound in My House - Well, It Can Suck
I know, I know. I should be thanking my lucky stars and sticking my tongue out at all the dentists in town. But I am not. I really just wasn't ready for this. I feel like her babyhood is slipping through my fingers and it makes me sad.
Mia stopped sucking her thumb.
Just like that, easy peasy. Well, there definitely was a series of events that led up to this historic moment. If you need to figure out how to get your four year old to stop using her thumb this is what you do:
1. Have her walk up a slide in Crocs that are too big for her over and over until she slips and falls and smacks her mouth on the slide.
2. Make sure the fall is hard enough to move the tooth and makes it wiggly and definitely throw in a fat lip and some blood.
3. Take her to the dentist and make sure she has a very healthy fear of "the chair", "the bubbles" (aka flouride), and "the pictures". (This you need to work on years in advance to instill the proper level of hatred of the whole place.)
4. Have the scary dentist whisk her away even though Mommy promised she would stay with her the whole time.
5. Have the dentist make her cry, at least a little.
6. Have the dentist scare her into thinking if she sucks her thumb ANYMORE her tooth will fall out.
7. Make it hurt a little to suck her thumb.
8. A couple of weeks later leave blankie at school overnight to truly break the blankie/thumb sucking in the middle of the night cycle.
Voila! Now you have a four year old little girl who no longer sucks her thumb, at all. She doesn't suck it during the day, she doesn't suck it to go to sleep, and as far as I can tell she doesn't suck it at night to go back to sleep. This could be why she has been calling out for Mommy after any bad dream or when she wakes up, normally at 4am.
Trust me, I was perfectly fine with the thumb sucking.
Oh, and to update you on the tooth. It is definitely out of place, which apparantly is no big deal. It has stopped changing color, so she won't have to get a new grill or have it pulled. It just is slightly duller than her other pearly whites. Gives her character.
Mia stopped sucking her thumb.
Just like that, easy peasy. Well, there definitely was a series of events that led up to this historic moment. If you need to figure out how to get your four year old to stop using her thumb this is what you do:
1. Have her walk up a slide in Crocs that are too big for her over and over until she slips and falls and smacks her mouth on the slide.
2. Make sure the fall is hard enough to move the tooth and makes it wiggly and definitely throw in a fat lip and some blood.
3. Take her to the dentist and make sure she has a very healthy fear of "the chair", "the bubbles" (aka flouride), and "the pictures". (This you need to work on years in advance to instill the proper level of hatred of the whole place.)
4. Have the scary dentist whisk her away even though Mommy promised she would stay with her the whole time.
5. Have the dentist make her cry, at least a little.
6. Have the dentist scare her into thinking if she sucks her thumb ANYMORE her tooth will fall out.
7. Make it hurt a little to suck her thumb.
8. A couple of weeks later leave blankie at school overnight to truly break the blankie/thumb sucking in the middle of the night cycle.
Voila! Now you have a four year old little girl who no longer sucks her thumb, at all. She doesn't suck it during the day, she doesn't suck it to go to sleep, and as far as I can tell she doesn't suck it at night to go back to sleep. This could be why she has been calling out for Mommy after any bad dream or when she wakes up, normally at 4am.
Trust me, I was perfectly fine with the thumb sucking.
Oh, and to update you on the tooth. It is definitely out of place, which apparantly is no big deal. It has stopped changing color, so she won't have to get a new grill or have it pulled. It just is slightly duller than her other pearly whites. Gives her character.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Cowboy/Cowgirl Day
This is the way I sent Mia to school yesterday for Cowboy Day. So much fun!
Thanks to our friend for supplying this outfit!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Reunited And it Feels So Good
Note to self: do not allow Mia to take her blanket to school.
Sounds simple, straight forward and logical. Don't underestimate the power of a four year old's tears on a pregnant woman's psyche. She asked to take it, I obviously didn't say no, the rest is a sleepless night.
Right around bedtime we realized that Blankie was not in the building. There were tears, lots of tears. She actually went to sleep fairly easily. But I was under no illusion that she would stay asleep. We made it until 1:30 when she woke up basically screaming. We all ended up in one bed, except the defector, Daddy. I am sure that he didn't get a fantastic night's sleep, but I am also sure that his rated much higher than mine.
I called early this morning to make sure that said Blankie had truly spent the night in Mia's cubby at school. If not, I had a much bigger issue on my hands. One requiring a plan, maybe even a night nanny or boarding school. But Blankie, although lonely was still at school waiting for Mia.
Sounds simple, straight forward and logical. Don't underestimate the power of a four year old's tears on a pregnant woman's psyche. She asked to take it, I obviously didn't say no, the rest is a sleepless night.
Right around bedtime we realized that Blankie was not in the building. There were tears, lots of tears. She actually went to sleep fairly easily. But I was under no illusion that she would stay asleep. We made it until 1:30 when she woke up basically screaming. We all ended up in one bed, except the defector, Daddy. I am sure that he didn't get a fantastic night's sleep, but I am also sure that his rated much higher than mine.
I called early this morning to make sure that said Blankie had truly spent the night in Mia's cubby at school. If not, I had a much bigger issue on my hands. One requiring a plan, maybe even a night nanny or boarding school. But Blankie, although lonely was still at school waiting for Mia.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Little Workers
Don't underestimate what a four year old and five year old can do. I have received help from a lot of people this week. Friends bringing me things and offering to bring me things, offers to walk Trucker, child care and bus services, prayers; all of it wonderful. But to receive the understanding and help from the tiniest of people, that is also amazing.
Jac and Mia have helped with the dishes, unloading mostly. They have helped me endlessly pick things up off the floor, which sometimes seems like the most insurmountable of tasks. They have helped me with the laundry, switching it out and carrying to a nice high counter to be folded. They have really helped in the self care, often getting their own snacks, trying to put their shoes on by themselves, washing their own hair and the list goes on.
It makes me wonder why I didn't have them doing this stuff before? But all in good time, they are becoming responsible little people that only whine about their workload every once in awhile. They do ask for money a lot, so they aren't entirely altruistic!
It takes a village, and even the tiniest are part of the village.
Jac and Mia have helped with the dishes, unloading mostly. They have helped me endlessly pick things up off the floor, which sometimes seems like the most insurmountable of tasks. They have helped me with the laundry, switching it out and carrying to a nice high counter to be folded. They have really helped in the self care, often getting their own snacks, trying to put their shoes on by themselves, washing their own hair and the list goes on.
It makes me wonder why I didn't have them doing this stuff before? But all in good time, they are becoming responsible little people that only whine about their workload every once in awhile. They do ask for money a lot, so they aren't entirely altruistic!
It takes a village, and even the tiniest are part of the village.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Apple Picking
I have wanted to go apple picking for awhile. I didn't think that it was going to happen this year, because of a busy fall and a big belly. My DH asked if the family would want to go apple picking this weekend. Yay! What seemed daunting on my own now was easy with Jeff.
So we went to Illinois, the kids got a kick out of that; saying we needed to find some apples to pick in Missouri. We had a great time with all of the fun things to do at the farm, but my favority was the actual apple picking.
So we went to Illinois, the kids got a kick out of that; saying we needed to find some apples to pick in Missouri. We had a great time with all of the fun things to do at the farm, but my favority was the actual apple picking.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Now That's Domestic!
Regardless, I have already spent a ton of time and money creating these costumes for the kids. Jac's was completed with my mom's help in July. Batman. Felt cape, felt hood, throw on some black pants and a Batman t-shirt, voila. Mia's pumpkin costume, however, is not complete.
As crunch time nears, I realize I need to get this done. Sooooooo, today I tackled it. I say that like I just went to the store and bought stuff today. Oh, no. I have been cutting and pinning and reading directions over and over again for a good two weeks. It was the sewing part that I tacked today. I was nervous and downright scared to bust out the sewing machine that my mom gave me for my birthday. I am familiar with this machine, it was my mom's for probably 30 years or more. I used it to sew random projects when I was a kid and other random things as an adult. I never liked sewing, requires too much patience.
I say that I have sewed things. The problem with this statement is that I literally would sit down at the machine after my mom had threaded it and gotten it ready with the required stitch, needle, bobbin, etc. Then I would take the material that she helped me cut, maybe even cut herself, pinned together herself, ironed and whatnot and I would sew a seam. Needless to say, I am less than an expert.
But I did it! Mia and I went downstairs today armed with new sewing scissors and a spool of orange thread. I got the machine turned on and pulled out the thread that was in it. I unwound a bobbin and read the directions on how to load thread on it. I followed the directions and watched as magically the thread went up and down on the bobbin. I threaded the needle successfully the first time. All was good until I actually started to sew. Not a lot of drama though, I just got a knot underneath by the bobbin that I had to pull out and get rid of. A rethread of the needle and I was off and running.
Mia asked, why is it taking so long? Indeed.
I completed two seams that were neither crooked nor curvy. I successfully laid out the other pieces and have them pinned and ready to go. I also used Stich Witchery to applique the Jack O'Lantern face on the front of the costume. Yay me! I still have to put the rest of it together and also there is some sort of gathering, elastic, hem thing at the bottom that has me in a twist. But one step at a time.
Will I do it again? I don't know. Maybe if I can't find what I want at the store. The problem is Pottery Barn has this adorable pumpkin costume that looks suspiciously like the one I am making only with a straighter more evenly placed face, for $30 (my fabric and pattern were definitely more than $30). Hmm.
What I do like about this is having the kids help me make it, learn the process and watch their Mommy struggle with something. They also enjoy (at least for now) knowing that I made it just for them.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Picture Day
Today is Mia's picture day. I took a couple of pics of my own.
And here is Mia's self portrait!
Monday, September 27, 2010
The Case of the Missing Blankie
It was bound to happen, we really have been careful with our blankets to not have lost them in five years. Yesterday however, they went missing and they never left the house! Evidently the blankies had made it outside to play ambulance? I am not sure what they were doing playing outside in the first place, in general blankies know to stay inside unless they are on the way to the car.
So when bedtime rolls around I am told the whole story about how blankies were outside and presumably still are. Out we go, looking for blankies. First stop, the garage. After a thorough search, one pink blankie is recovered and I have to tell you it really needed a bath. But it was already a quarter to eight, so no bath for you. But one blue blankie is still unaccounted for. We keep searching. I search the whole house, just in case memories of the day aren't exactly correct. No blue blankie.
Jac is actually okay with it, pretty matter of fact. Jeff says something like, it will help him grow up. This does make sense from the one person in the house who wouldn't be woken up when Jac wakes up looking for his blanket in the middle of the night. Mia keeps "thinking weird thoughts".
Mia: Mommy, I am thinking something weird.
Me: What's that Mia (hoping she is about to confess to hiding the blanket)?
Mia: Well, it probably didn't happen, but what if a stranger (should make that a capital 'S' the way she emphasizes it) came and took it!
Me: (Almost laughing) Hmm, I don't think a stranger would come and take Jac's blanket.
Mia: Oh yeah, you're right.
Mia: Mommy, I just had another weird thought.
Me: (Still hoping she will confess, but interested in this weird thought.) What's that Mia?
Mia: This probably didn't happen either, but what if it (the blanket) walked off by itself?! (Now, you really don't get the full affect from this blog. I wish I had a camera at the time she is relaying these thoughts as she is very animated, like she is telling a ghost story with her hands up for emphasis and big wide eyes.)
Me: (Seriously laughing at this point) No, I am very sure that blankets don't walk off by themselves.
Mia: Oh, you're right. (I can see her little mind going back to the drawing board, where could this blankie have disappeared to?)
So I put them to bed, one with her pink blankie and about 11 stuffed animals. One all by himself, tucked in under the covers. As we were settling in I asked everybody to say a quick prayer that Mommy might find this blanket when she looked again. I gave kisses and told them I would be looking for the blankie.
I searched the whole house and then went back outside. Patio, clear. Yard, clear. So back to the garage. I went back to where Jac kept saying it should be right here. And right there it was. The blue car was hiding the blue blanket. It was underneath the car, yuk, on the garage floor. I tiptoed back upstairs and gave an already sleeping Jac his blanket.
So when bedtime rolls around I am told the whole story about how blankies were outside and presumably still are. Out we go, looking for blankies. First stop, the garage. After a thorough search, one pink blankie is recovered and I have to tell you it really needed a bath. But it was already a quarter to eight, so no bath for you. But one blue blankie is still unaccounted for. We keep searching. I search the whole house, just in case memories of the day aren't exactly correct. No blue blankie.
Jac is actually okay with it, pretty matter of fact. Jeff says something like, it will help him grow up. This does make sense from the one person in the house who wouldn't be woken up when Jac wakes up looking for his blanket in the middle of the night. Mia keeps "thinking weird thoughts".
Mia: Mommy, I am thinking something weird.
Me: What's that Mia (hoping she is about to confess to hiding the blanket)?
Mia: Well, it probably didn't happen, but what if a stranger (should make that a capital 'S' the way she emphasizes it) came and took it!
Me: (Almost laughing) Hmm, I don't think a stranger would come and take Jac's blanket.
Mia: Oh yeah, you're right.
Mia: Mommy, I just had another weird thought.
Me: (Still hoping she will confess, but interested in this weird thought.) What's that Mia?
Mia: This probably didn't happen either, but what if it (the blanket) walked off by itself?! (Now, you really don't get the full affect from this blog. I wish I had a camera at the time she is relaying these thoughts as she is very animated, like she is telling a ghost story with her hands up for emphasis and big wide eyes.)
Me: (Seriously laughing at this point) No, I am very sure that blankets don't walk off by themselves.
Mia: Oh, you're right. (I can see her little mind going back to the drawing board, where could this blankie have disappeared to?)
So I put them to bed, one with her pink blankie and about 11 stuffed animals. One all by himself, tucked in under the covers. As we were settling in I asked everybody to say a quick prayer that Mommy might find this blanket when she looked again. I gave kisses and told them I would be looking for the blankie.
I searched the whole house and then went back outside. Patio, clear. Yard, clear. So back to the garage. I went back to where Jac kept saying it should be right here. And right there it was. The blue car was hiding the blue blanket. It was underneath the car, yuk, on the garage floor. I tiptoed back upstairs and gave an already sleeping Jac his blanket.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
The Business of Marriage
It seems to me that the age of four is when a little girl starts thinking long term. She starts to understand the order of society and figures out that the majority of people in this world will at some point pair off. Like most women, when having a task presented to her, decides to go ahead and tackle it and not put off the inevitable. Who will I marry?
This is the conversation that I did my best to stay out of yesterday afternoon:
Mia: I am going to marry Jac.
Jac: Well, Josie already told me that she is marrying me.
Mia: (starting to whine) I need to marry someone I love and I don't love Andrew (another eligible bachelor she knows). Besides, I need to marry someone close to my age. Andrew is five.
Jac: I am five. I know that I was five before Andrew was five.
Mia: (really whining at this point) Will can marry Andrew.
Jac: Boys can't marry boys.
Mia: Mommy said that in some United States that boys can marry boys, just not this United State.
Jac: Well, you can marry Sarah then.
Mia: I don't want to marry Sarah. Girls can't marry girls in this United State!
And for all of you who didn't have an older brother to admire, this is very normal. I remember being dead set on marrying my brother right around this age. I am not sure when I clued in that this was not only gross but illegal!
Somehow we were diverted to another topic having to do with who did and did not want to go to swim lessons. By the way, it was a good thing that Jac attended last night because he was told that he officially 'could swim' by his instructor and that he would be ready for Level 2. Mia was not happy about this and said she would not take another lesson unless Jac was in her group. I told her she merely had to swim to move up to the next level and explained how and when that opportunity presented itself she needed to show her instructor she could do it. Jac was on cloud 9 with his self confidence on high beam last night, it was very cute coming from my boy who is so often unsure of himself. Ladies chasing him, moving up in swim lessons, it looks like it is going to be a good fall.
This is the conversation that I did my best to stay out of yesterday afternoon:
Mia: I am going to marry Jac.
Jac: Well, Josie already told me that she is marrying me.
Mia: (starting to whine) I need to marry someone I love and I don't love Andrew (another eligible bachelor she knows). Besides, I need to marry someone close to my age. Andrew is five.
Jac: I am five. I know that I was five before Andrew was five.
Mia: (really whining at this point) Will can marry Andrew.
Jac: Boys can't marry boys.
Mia: Mommy said that in some United States that boys can marry boys, just not this United State.
Jac: Well, you can marry Sarah then.
Mia: I don't want to marry Sarah. Girls can't marry girls in this United State!
And for all of you who didn't have an older brother to admire, this is very normal. I remember being dead set on marrying my brother right around this age. I am not sure when I clued in that this was not only gross but illegal!
Somehow we were diverted to another topic having to do with who did and did not want to go to swim lessons. By the way, it was a good thing that Jac attended last night because he was told that he officially 'could swim' by his instructor and that he would be ready for Level 2. Mia was not happy about this and said she would not take another lesson unless Jac was in her group. I told her she merely had to swim to move up to the next level and explained how and when that opportunity presented itself she needed to show her instructor she could do it. Jac was on cloud 9 with his self confidence on high beam last night, it was very cute coming from my boy who is so often unsure of himself. Ladies chasing him, moving up in swim lessons, it looks like it is going to be a good fall.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Swimming Lessons Part Two
We are back in swim lessons and it has been going, well, swimmingly. First of all, there is nothing like 45 minutes of kicking and moving in the water to knock out two little kids. When they hit the sheets there is no hoopla, horsing around, or random requests for bunnies and water. I keep thinking that I am going to need to get a tiny little treadmill or something for them so that going to sleep is a non issue this winter.
They both love the lessons and are definitely improving and becoming more comfortable in the water. Jac actually said that his favorite part was, "when I get to put my face in the water". Well that made me laugh out loud because he has basically avoided getting his face wet for his entire five years on this planet.
The little boy who caused trouble is back from the first round of swim lessons. We like to think that this boy just has extra energy. He jumps (constantly), he splashes (nonstop), he sort of pins kids to the wall (seems to have personal space issues). Well, of course we talk about him before each lesson and discuss our strategy. Jac will help Mia to move away from him. Jac will be the big brother and make sure she feels like she can move. Mia will ask him to stop with her mouth and keep moving away. And if it gets really out of hand, they must ask the instructors for help (yeah right). Needless to say, he isn't really upsetting her this time around, just annoying her. She did say, "he must get more sleep than I do". I asked why that was. She said, "because he has so much energy!" She is very wise.
I do admit that the one thing I really struggle with is the lack of family time in the evenings. It seems like there is a constant battle to fend off evening activities that land smack during dinner. I know everyone else struggles with this also. I don't know how to recreate that time somewhere during the day. I miss that brief connection when all four of us are together and around the table. Any suggestions?
They both love the lessons and are definitely improving and becoming more comfortable in the water. Jac actually said that his favorite part was, "when I get to put my face in the water". Well that made me laugh out loud because he has basically avoided getting his face wet for his entire five years on this planet.
The little boy who caused trouble is back from the first round of swim lessons. We like to think that this boy just has extra energy. He jumps (constantly), he splashes (nonstop), he sort of pins kids to the wall (seems to have personal space issues). Well, of course we talk about him before each lesson and discuss our strategy. Jac will help Mia to move away from him. Jac will be the big brother and make sure she feels like she can move. Mia will ask him to stop with her mouth and keep moving away. And if it gets really out of hand, they must ask the instructors for help (yeah right). Needless to say, he isn't really upsetting her this time around, just annoying her. She did say, "he must get more sleep than I do". I asked why that was. She said, "because he has so much energy!" She is very wise.
I do admit that the one thing I really struggle with is the lack of family time in the evenings. It seems like there is a constant battle to fend off evening activities that land smack during dinner. I know everyone else struggles with this also. I don't know how to recreate that time somewhere during the day. I miss that brief connection when all four of us are together and around the table. Any suggestions?
Thursday, September 16, 2010
All Good Things Must End
In the process of recovering from the weekend, I have been opting for sleep instead of blogging. I have been informed by more than one person that I COULD have a baby in four or five weeks. Even though I have nine more weeks to go (yes, we are in single digits) Jac tried to come six weeks early and Mia tried to come five weeks early, and actually came four weeks early. So, I am big, slow and have a lot to do, but sleeping right now trumps everything.
But that isn't what this blog post is about. The end of Mia's birthday, that is what this is about. Over the weekend we were able to celebrate her birthday with her cousins and she also was able to take a special treat to school this week to celebrate. I must admit, I am glad to see the birthday come to a close.
But that isn't what this blog post is about. The end of Mia's birthday, that is what this is about. Over the weekend we were able to celebrate her birthday with her cousins and she also was able to take a special treat to school this week to celebrate. I must admit, I am glad to see the birthday come to a close.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Everything Checks Out Good
Mia had her four year checkup yesterday. She was such a big girl. Literally, this girl is big! She is 90th percentile on height, I guess not too much of a shocker. She is in the 50th percentile for weight. Now these are great numbers, long and lean. Hopefully she is able to effortlessly keep this body structure forever! When Jeff heard these numbers, he said something like, "Sounds like her daddy." He was very generous when he quickly ammended that to say, "Or her mommy!" It kind of cracked me up.
The rest of her appointment went great, hearing test, blood pressure, physical, all good. She talked to the doctor which is something my pedi does, to make sure everything is good with the child. She asks questions like, "Where do you ride when you are in the car?" I love that she is an advocate for her patient not necessarily the parent.
Then came the shots.
I have had to hold Mia down twice in the last month to allow people to torture her. Ugh. She was sunny and cute and lovely and then she panicked. She stood up on the table and practically ran to the other corner, I started to talk calm to her and get her "off the ledge", but she wasn't it having it. So I grabbed her and told her that she had to lay down. Double ugh. She was so scared and big tears started to roll. It was over quick, thank goodness.
As soon as I let her up, she popped up and straight into my arms and sobbed. Until I asked her what was on her bandaids and then the sun came out again. Amazing what a Tweety Bird bandage will do. And off we went, like nothing had happened.
Next year, Daddy gets to hold her down.
The rest of her appointment went great, hearing test, blood pressure, physical, all good. She talked to the doctor which is something my pedi does, to make sure everything is good with the child. She asks questions like, "Where do you ride when you are in the car?" I love that she is an advocate for her patient not necessarily the parent.
Then came the shots.
I have had to hold Mia down twice in the last month to allow people to torture her. Ugh. She was sunny and cute and lovely and then she panicked. She stood up on the table and practically ran to the other corner, I started to talk calm to her and get her "off the ledge", but she wasn't it having it. So I grabbed her and told her that she had to lay down. Double ugh. She was so scared and big tears started to roll. It was over quick, thank goodness.
As soon as I let her up, she popped up and straight into my arms and sobbed. Until I asked her what was on her bandaids and then the sun came out again. Amazing what a Tweety Bird bandage will do. And off we went, like nothing had happened.
Next year, Daddy gets to hold her down.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Preschool Here I Come
Mia did great on her first day back to school. It happened to fall on her birthday, but there was no problem. She marched right in, hung up her back and coat and started playing. No tears, no wistful looks at mommy and she even flashed her smile for the camera a couple of times.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Party Girl
I was getting a little nervous that Mia was going to be disappointed in her party. She kept saying things like, "I won't have a lot of friends at my party, but all my cousins will be there." I would then follow up with, "No, none of your cousins will be here on your birthday." And she would glare at me and say, "I know!" Then she would invite the neighbor boys to her "party", her nonexistent party. And I would have to look at the mom and whisper, "There is no party!" And on and on, she also gave me lots of details about games and crafts and other fun things that would occur at her "party". There were many times that I looked in her eyes and told her firmly that she would have a big friend party on her fifth birthday, just like Jac and that her fourth birthday was going to be two neighbor girls over for a craft and then opening presents with Mommy, Daddy and Jac. I felt like I was deprogramming a prisoner of war, she would totally agree with me and say something like, "I was talking about my party next year." But then the next day we would be back to the same conversation.
So I caved, a tiny bit. We bought more decorations than I intended. I made cake and cupcakes so her friends would have a more "party" experience. We also went to the Magic House a couple of weeks ago. She is a mildly discontent little girl that sees the flaws in the world versus a sunnier outlook. So again, I was nervous.
We talked about the cake. She told me in detail, exactly what the cake would like and that I would be making it. I like to make cake, all your love goes into it, but I am exhausted folks! But of course when your baby girl asks you to make her "rainbow" cake you have to agree. I fudged a little, my rainbow only had six colors; not seven. As the days wore on she would tell me things like, "It will be half yellow and half blue, with a rainbow." The last detail she added was Monday while we were baking the actualy cake, "Mommy if it is a rainbow cake it has to have clouds." Seriously, birthday or not I think I snapped back at that one and told her she had to stop adding details.
So here it is, the cake (with clouds, what can I say, I am a softy) was completely her concept. The decorations and wrapping paper were solely picked out by Miss Mia. We made pom pom animals that were a bit too difficult for four and five year old hands to create. She decided on all the party favors. I told her next year her party would be a complete surprise! I didn't add that otherwise, she might not make it to her fifth birthday party....
We got her a camera from Fisher Price, one of those indestructible ones, she loved it. We got her Twinkle Toes from Sketchers, she adores those. She received some footy pjs, her favorite. She wanted a two dollar vibrating microphone that we had somehow managed to avoid for four years. She also got some paints, a Playdoh accessory and a basket for her bike. She loved all of her gifts. She was over the moon for her cake, although she didn't eat any of it. She loved her name up on the wall, although thought it would have looked better in rainbow paper. She really had a good time and felt special the whole day.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Mia Turns Four
How is that possible? Well, all of the cliches are true. They grow up so fast.
My precious baby girl is now a fully fledged pre-schooler with opinions, ideas and spunk. This little girl is going to give the world a run for it's money. She is a girl full of contradictions and complexity. She'll tell you she isn't afraid of ANYTHING, except when she gets sleepy. She loves to browse the baby toy section, but thinks that she can do anything that Jac and his friends can do. She needs privacy to go to the bathroom, but still wants you to help clean up. She is a tomboy without a prissy bone in her body, but still insists on wearing dresses when she wants to wear them.
I love that she has a lisp that doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon. I love that she sucks her thumb and needs her blankie almost perpetually. I love that she holds her big brother's hand when she is scared. I love that she still says 'wipe' instead of 'white'. I love that she will squeeze herself into any stroller that you offer.
And then the contradictions. I love that she gets mad at you if you didn't let her order her own food at the restaurant. I love that she is generous beyond her years and will share absolutely anything. I love that she soothes her big brother when he gets hurt. I love that she knows exactly what she wants and can explain it to you. I love that she can remember tiny details from when she was two.
She is clearly a female. She is hard to figure out and wonderful when you do. She is everything you would want in a daughter and a sister; but I can see glimpses of the friend and even wife and mother she will become. She is compassionate, trustworthy, loyal and so stubborn. She can negotiate better than most 35 year olds. She can pull off wearing winter boots in July and knows exactly what angle to wear a hat.
Did I mention she gives the best hugs and kisses?
I love that she has a lisp that doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon. I love that she sucks her thumb and needs her blankie almost perpetually. I love that she holds her big brother's hand when she is scared. I love that she still says 'wipe' instead of 'white'. I love that she will squeeze herself into any stroller that you offer.
She is clearly a female. She is hard to figure out and wonderful when you do. She is everything you would want in a daughter and a sister; but I can see glimpses of the friend and even wife and mother she will become. She is compassionate, trustworthy, loyal and so stubborn. She can negotiate better than most 35 year olds. She can pull off wearing winter boots in July and knows exactly what angle to wear a hat.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Magic for Kids
The children's museum in St Louis, is truly magical. Mia has been asking to go to the Magic House all summer and we just didn't get around to it. So for her birthday we invited another family; who has a daughter turning four also and we all met at the Magic House on Saturday.
So much fun. Mia and Jac both did things they had never done before, like climbing the huge bean stalk.
We played indoors and out and had about three hours of fun, which was our max.
Then we stopped and ate a snack with our friends.
We all took a snooze after such a big day, I think mommy won the nap award with a 2 hour one!
So much fun. Mia and Jac both did things they had never done before, like climbing the huge bean stalk.
We played indoors and out and had about three hours of fun, which was our max.
Then we stopped and ate a snack with our friends.
We all took a snooze after such a big day, I think mommy won the nap award with a 2 hour one!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Mia Month
If the beginning of summer belongs to Jac, the end of summer will definitely be a big Mia fest. I have begun to hear things like this, "Can I have juice for dinner, since my birthday is so close?" Clever isn't she. Her first birthday celebration was this weekend at Gee Gee and Papa's house.
We started the weekend off with a trip to the lake where Jac and Mia both had their first wave runner ride(or road runner ride if you are Mia) and Jac even tried out the tube with his Aunt Misty and loved it. Some good bonding with Uncle Doug and Aunt Misty. Then we all came home and rested, at least I did, not sure what everyone did while I took a two hour nap.
It was my parent's 45th anniversary this weekend so it was a rolling celebration between anniversary and Mia's birthday (of course Mia's birthday isn't until September). My sister, brother and sister-in-law and myself all chipped in and made a Mexican feast for the family. I now know that even though my mom always has leftovers from big family dinners, she does a much better job judging food volume. I think we could have fed a small Mexican army with the leftovers from our dinner, my parents are going to be absolutely sick of eating Mexican by the end of this week.
Then it was present time. Mia received some wonderful gifts. She loves to cook and Gee Gee set her up with her own real cooking utensils and cookbook. She also received lots of books, a snap doll, beads for making her own necklaces, a dress-up dress and all kinds of other things. She blew out the candles on a totally pink cake and seemed a bit overwhelmed while all of us sang happy birthday. Needless to say she had fun.
My parents were also happy to get their own cake and a few gifts. We took lots of pictures of Mom and Dad with the grandkids. All in all it was a pretty special evening.
We started the weekend off with a trip to the lake where Jac and Mia both had their first wave runner ride(or road runner ride if you are Mia) and Jac even tried out the tube with his Aunt Misty and loved it. Some good bonding with Uncle Doug and Aunt Misty. Then we all came home and rested, at least I did, not sure what everyone did while I took a two hour nap.
It was my parent's 45th anniversary this weekend so it was a rolling celebration between anniversary and Mia's birthday (of course Mia's birthday isn't until September). My sister, brother and sister-in-law and myself all chipped in and made a Mexican feast for the family. I now know that even though my mom always has leftovers from big family dinners, she does a much better job judging food volume. I think we could have fed a small Mexican army with the leftovers from our dinner, my parents are going to be absolutely sick of eating Mexican by the end of this week.
Then it was present time. Mia received some wonderful gifts. She loves to cook and Gee Gee set her up with her own real cooking utensils and cookbook. She also received lots of books, a snap doll, beads for making her own necklaces, a dress-up dress and all kinds of other things. She blew out the candles on a totally pink cake and seemed a bit overwhelmed while all of us sang happy birthday. Needless to say she had fun.
My parents were also happy to get their own cake and a few gifts. We took lots of pictures of Mom and Dad with the grandkids. All in all it was a pretty special evening.
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