What 2 do . . .

Okay, so I've been kind of a slacker lately not posting real pics and letting you know what's going on.  So here's an update.

For the Mother's Day project in our Preschool we made these cute little flower pots with paper flowers and straws.  Brooklyn made on for her grandma and my example went to the other grandma.  It's just weird having your own kid make you a present.

For the second to the last Friday of the preschool, we went to the movies to see Monsters vs. Aliens in 3D!  We had so much fun!  Thanks Hunter's mom for coming with us.  It wouldn't have been the same without you.

For the last Friday, we went to the San Tan splash pad and had a water party.  Like the doofus I am, I forgot my camera.  But here's some pictures of Brooklyn playing there on another day.  Sometimes, we really need a break out of the house and I love having this splash pad near by.

Taylor likes it too. She's always happy outside.

Taylor's new adventure is eating rice cereal.  We just started this last week.  She's now 6 months old, but is really supposed to be 5 months next week.  Doctors have premies hold off starting cereal until they are gestationally old enough. 

I love her chubby cheeks! 

Oh, and that's right, I made her bib!  Cha-ching!

Next adventure, Disneyland for Brooklyn's 5th birthday!!!

Confessions

Confessions are good for the soul.  So here we go . . .

I'm not a night person, I'd much rather get up early in the morning

I watch Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune everyday

I do about 5-20 sudoku puzzles everyday

I wish I could play the drums or tap dance or figure skate

I hate doing the dishes

I love nature especially after it rains

When I look at the stars I'd much rather find a satellite than a shooting star

Loud airplanes and motorcycles make me grumpy

Baby giggles are the most musical things in the world

I love classical music as well as classic rock and most everything in between

I like Sci-Fi especially when there's a love story

I need comedy to loosen up

I'm OCD, but can live like a slob at the same time

I like to file things and clean other people's houses

I laugh at Sesame Street jokes

Any kind of art inspires me to try something new

I wish it was easy to lose weight (but who doesn't)

I love the feeling of finishing something . . . anything, especially hard stuff

I cry every time I watch Extreme Home Makeover

I believe in never backing down and taking on new opportunities

I'm finding I'm more like my mom than I thought

My grandpa is my hero

I like small towns where everyone waves and gives hugs no matter who you are

I love reading novels and always get sucked into a series

I used to sing a lot, but lost my voice in childbirth, now it hurts in more ways than one

I think buttons and polka dots are cute, but not lace so much

I wish I had a green thumb

Last but not least (for tonight anyways)

Cotton Candy is my favorite!

Mother's Day

I keep forgetting how much I like poetry.  I love this one.  Happy Mother's Day!

Before I was a Mom, 
I never tripped over toys 
or forgot words to a lullaby. 
I didn't worry whether or not 
my plants were poisonous. 
I never thought about immunizations. 

Before I was a Mom, 
I had never been puked on. 
Pooped on. 
Chewed on. 
Peed on. 
I had complete control of my mind 
and my thoughts. 
I slept all night. 

Before I was a Mom, 
I never held down a screaming child 
so doctors could do tests. 
Or give shots. 
I never looked into teary eyes and cried. 
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. 
I never sat up late hours at night 
watching a baby sleep. 

Before I was a Mom, 
I never held a sleeping baby just because 
I didn't want to put her down. 
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces 
when I couldn't stop the hurt. 
I never knew that something so small 
could affect my life so much. 
I never knew that I could love someone so much. 
I never knew I would love being a Mom. 

Before I was a Mom, 
I didn't know the feeling of 
having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel 
to feed a hungry baby. 
I didn't know that bond 
between a mother and her child. 
I didn't know that something so small 
could make me feel so important and happy. 

Before I was a Mom, 
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night 
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. 
I had never known the warmth, 
the joy, 
the love, 
the heartache, 
the wonderment 
or the satisfaction of being a Mom. 
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, 
before I was a Mom.

Who got gum in their hair?

Oh that's right . . . the 4 year old!

Brooklyn has really been into chewing gum lately.  I didn't think she would like it or understand not to swallow it at first, but since her first piece she's been in love with it.  So today, since she finished all of her lunch (a challenge lately) she got to enjoy yet another piece of gum.  We had movie time (aka mom-gets-to-lay-down time) at which time I issued the warning that the gum stay in her mouth.  Just like any 4 year old would, she obviously took her gum out regardless of the warning.  She came into my room and said, "Mom, my gum is stuck in my hair." To which I replied, "Really?" and started laughing.  I laugh only because I've been really looking for opportunities to help her learn about choices and consequences. Well, if you know Brooklyn, she gets embarrassed pretty easily when it comes to a new experience.  So as I start laughing she starts crying . . . and crying . . . and crying.  First she's crying because she's embarrassed, then she's crying because I'm pulling on her hair, then because I won't let her hold the ice on her hair, then because the ice isn't working, then because the vinegar is stinky, then because I'm pulling her hair again. Well, you get the picture.  I was also considering the famous peanut butter, or vegetable oil, or vaseline, but I was done listening to the crying, which also woke up Taylor.  So listening to two very unhappy children resulted to only one solution to have it done and over with.  

The scissors!  There were only a few strands left and I figured it wouldn't be too obvious if I just cut out the rest.  After I got her hair washed and Taylor fed, everybody was okay and we could have some peace and quiet around the house. You can't even tell I cut her hair unless you're looking for it.

During this whole experience, I was practicing my dad's most recent sound advice he gave me. "Help your children work through their consequences." You can't control every choice they make, but you can always be there for them when something goes wrong.  And don't dish out the "I told you so" phrase as much as you want to, it doesn't make anybody feel better, but a hug and a little empathy could go a long way. I hope she never forgets this experience.