Saturday Sleep-in
Since this past summer, T and I have traded off having days to sleep in on the weekends. My day is usually Saturday. The idea of a sleep-in day is really nice, but I’m rarely able to take advantage of it. Even though T gets up as soon as he hears Buba and Tiny calling for us, I’m almost never able to just roll over and go back to sleep. I can hear the kids, I can hear T, I can hear the cat. So, usually after 20-30 minutes of tossing and turning, I give in and get up.
But this past Saturday, I decided to use my sleep in time as me time. I figured even if I couldn’t actually sleep in, I wouldn’t get up. Instead of trying to make myself go back to sleep, I would just lay in bed, relax, and enjoy the sounds of T trying to occupy the kids. And wouldn’t you know it. That was all I had to do. I was asleep within 20 minutes or so and slept all the way until 8:30am (a good hour and a half after the kids had woken up)! Feeling so well rested definitely put me in a good mood and got our weekend off to a great start.
Incredible!
Last Friday, we had a big snow storm that led to over 600 school and program cancellations.
T, Tiny, and Buba heading down our street.
Tiny getting ready to slide down the snow.
I knew the mailbox was in there somewhere.
As if we didn’t have enough snow, today we got another 12+ inches.
Tiny and Buba playing between the huge snow piles surrounding our walkway.
our front yard
Tiny and Buba attempting to climb the four foot snow wall built up at the end of our driveway by the plow trucks.
With temps predicted to be in the upper twenties and lower thirties over the next week or so, a thaw seems pretty unlikely. And there’s already talk of more snow on Saturday. Fortunately, Buba and Tiny love playing out in the snow. So, we’ll continue to do our best to make lemonade out of all the lemons being thrown our way.
Pieces
There was a point during Tiny and Buba’s first year when our house was just full of big toys/baby equipment- two infant swings, two bouncy seats, two ExerSaucers, and a jumperoo. And in case anyone has forgotten, our house is on the small side (roughly 900 sq/ft). I was so happy when we finally sold the last of them.
But now, we seem to be dealing with the exact opposite problem. Almost all of their favorite toys come with a thousand pieces. The play kitchen, tea set, the Duplo blocks, the Little People toys, the puzzles, the doctor kits, the baby bath sets- can’t you just picture all the pieces? And, of course, these pieces end up all over the house.
Buba and Tiny (as I’m sure most almost three year olds do) often take out a toy with lots and lots of pieces and then don’t put it away before taking out another toy with lots and lots of pieces. Sometimes the pieces get put into something else- the seat of a ride-on toy, a play purse, a reusable shopping bag- and then end up nowhere near one would expect to look for them. Pieces that remain on the floor for a good length of time are likely to get kicked under the couch or armoire or dragged through the house via the undercarriage of a ride-on toy.
When we first started acquiring toys with pieces (shortly after the kids’ first birthday) I would notice, each night during clean-up, which pieces were missing, and I’d comb the house looking for them (and I’d usually find them). But now, there are just way too many to keep track of. And unless a missing toy is in an obvious place (like under the couch or beneath the seat of a ride-on toy), it often goes missing for days (or longer).
Normally, missing pieces are no big deal. Buba could really care less. Tiny will sometimes get worked up over a missing toy, but can usually be appeased with a substitute or redirected to another toy. Except for last night. When she lost a play butter knife from the tea set. The pink knife. Her knife. Oh, what a fuss she made. And it was bedtime.
T and I looked and looked and looked for that knife, but it was nowhere to be found. I promised her we’d look again in the morning, but she continued to wail for about 15 minutes after we put her to bed. Normally, once T and I say goodnight, there’s no going back into the kids’ room, but this time I felt I had to go back. I told her how sorry I was that she was feeling so sad, but that she needed to calm down and be a good sleeper. I held one hand and rubbed her back, and eventually, she was able to stop the crying and slept soundly through the night.
True to my word. I looked for that pink knife all. day. long. I looked under furniture, between cushions, inside drawers and closets, under rugs, inside book bins, in the diaper pail (yep, that desperate). I still can’t find it. Seriously, our house is tiny. Where the heck could it be? Maybe it’s with the goat that’s been missing for over a year and numerous other pieces that have disappeared without a trace.
Fortunately, I only put out half of the tea set cups, plates, and flatware. Once I dug the other half out of the kids’ closet, I convinced Tiny to give up the search for the lost knife and accept a replacement one. But even though she’s happy with it, it still bugs me that I can’t find the other one.
Breakfast Date
T’s school was closed on Monday due to the MLK, Jr. Holiday, but Buba and Tiny still had their drop-off playgroup that morning. So, T and I made a date to head over to a nearby diner while the kids played with their friends.
As I mentioned last month, T and I have gone out very, very little by ourselves since our kids were born. And we realized, last month, that it’s something we really need to make time for. As LauraC recently wrote, our kids are much less physically challenging at almost three, but they can be so, so much more emotionally challenging these days. T and I both agreed, after our New Year’s Eve date, that having time for just the two of us is so great. It allows us to reconnect and talk, without interruption, about the kids and parenting stuff- but also about whatever we want!
As we enjoyed our diner breakfasts with our coffee (for T) and hot chocolate (for me), I learned a little more about how T is doing with his writing (his goal is to be published someday) and about some of the drama going on in his school (nothing major, but still interesting to hear). I shared with him some of the things I’ve been doing with my tutoring students and also a few little tips and tricks that I picked up from the most recent mother of big kid twins meeting I’d attending last Thursday. We smiled, we laugh, we savored our food, not needing to just swallow it down as fast as possible. It was heavenly.
And I love that a simple 60 minute breakfast date with my husband can help me decompress some of the emotions and frustrations that build up over time, and sort of reboot me for another round of mothering the monkey children. If only we could do this every week!
healthier me reanbean: 125 hours 500 miles fitness challenge
by reanbean
4 comments
Healthier Me: This Time, I’m In!
So, last year I just couldn’t bring myself to publicly join the 500 Miles in 2010 challenge. I really wanted to, and almost did several times, but I just didn’t have the confidence. I kept seeing other runners put up such big numbers every week and knew I’d be so embarrassed if I didn’t ever achieve the goal of 500 miles (never mind that I only knew just one other participant). But when I actually completed 500 miles (and then some), I really wished I’d joined the group of runners who’d committed to the challenge at the beginning of 2010.
But, lucky for me, I get a second chance. The challenge has been set once again AND there’s a new challenge as well. This year, participants can set the goal to run 500 miles OR workout for 125 hours in 2011 (or you can do both). And, this time, I’m totally in! I signed up for the 125 workout hours challenge (though I am keeping track of my miles as well, just for funsies), and so far I’m doing pretty well. I’m not first, but I’m not last either.
I’m actually so excited that there is a time option this year. Last year, as I was doing my best to get roughly 10 miles of running in each week, I ended up spending less and less time working on strength training. Finding time to workout became a big issue over the summer, as my tutoring hours went way up, and by the time I completed the challenge, I wasn’t doing any strength training at all. I’d given it up so I could get in more miles and make sure I finished the 500 miles challenge. This time, I’m pretty confident that I’ll be able to achieve 125 hours AND 500 miles, but I’ve only joined the hours challenge (just in case).
It feels good to have a goal, and the challenge has been very motivating. Hopefully I’ll continue to feel pushed and inspired as the weeks turn into months.
Heartbroken
Tiny and Buba are HUGE fans of the Gossie & Friends books by Olivier Dunrea. I don’t love all of them, but I love that my kids get so much pleasure out of reading them. The very first one we brought home, and the one that gets read the most often is the original Gossie. Tiny knows this book by heart. It’s all about Gossie, “a small, yellow gosling who likes to wear bright red boots. Every day.” But one day, Gossie cannot find her bright red boots. She looks everywhere. And then comes the line “Gossie was heartbroken.” accompanied by a sad, little gosling with a tear dripping from her eye. (Have no fear. She finds her boots and makes a new friend by the time the story is over.) After reading this story many, many times, Tiny asked about the word heartbroken. I explained that it meant very, very, very sad. Tiny pointed to the tear in the picture and seemed satisfied with my answer.
This was all several weeks (maybe even months) ago. Fast forward to today…
We spent the morning at a birthday party for Tiny’s and Buba’s twin friends, G&E. At the end of the party, goodie bags were passed out. Inside Tiny’s there was a small, pink pig, and inside Buba’s was a small, furry, brown monkey. They were both really cute, but Buba instantly decided that he wanted the pink pig. Tiny was not up for sharing, so I explained how G&E must have picked that monkey just for Buba and how lucky he was to have it. That worked. For a while.
Fast forward to bedtime tonight…
I sent Tiny to the bathroom for her last potty break of the day, and she decided she needed to take her pink pig with her. I allowed it, but placed it up on the counter to wait for her. Then I went to clean up the living room/playroom. Not more than a minute later, I heard Buba yell, “And I TAKE it away! (a new game of his that is no fun for the rest of us) as he came running from the bathroom into the living room with the pink pig. Then I heard Tiny shriek. I looked up to see her running, as best as she could, after him with her pants and undies around her ankles and her tiny fists clenched underneath her chin. “I’m heartbroken! I’m heartbroken!” she cried. It was a hysterical sight- Buba with his devilish little grin, and Tiny with her woe-is-me cry. I fought back the laughter, but I couldn’t contain the smile. In the end, Tiny was sent back to the bathroom to finish her business, and pink piggy went back with her.
It was so exciting when Buba and Tiny first started to talk, but I’m really loving this stage now where they’re trying out new, “big kid” vocabulary words. It’s just amazing, and often funny, to hear what comes out of their mouths.
Isn’t It Romantic
Tonight, I went to a Mom’s Night Out planned just for mom’s in my town. Truth be told, I didn’t really want to go. Because I go to the gym most weekday evenings, I like to have at least one night where I can just be at home. I usually end up doing a bit of housework, but then I settle in bed with my lap top (to catch up on blogs) or with the latest book club book and just try to relax and enjoy. Most often, Friday night is my night in.
But tonight, I put the kids to bed, picked up a friend up the street and headed out to a local nail salon (which remained open after their normal hours to accommodate our group). We ended up being a small group, maybe six or seven of us, but that meant that we all got to talk together and learn a little more about each other (and, of course, our kids). There were snacks and drinks, and it was really quite festive in there. Most of the ladies were getting pedicures, and while I do love a good pedicure and all that goes with it- the chair massage, the foot and leg massage, the pretty, pretty toes when all is said and done- I decided to go with a much needed manicure this time.
As I browsed through the wall of polish selections with another mom, I told her how I always choose a polish that ends up looking like I’m not wearing any polish at all- always a nice, pale pink to give my nails a little shine without really standing out. And just as I finished my story, I saw what appeared to be the perfect color- Isn’t It Romantic. A little smile spread across my face, and I knew this was definitely the one for me.
The manicure itself was very nice, although I was quite distracted by all the conversation to fully enjoy the hand massage. But I think my nails look great, and I’m happy to know of a place in town where I can get a nice manicure for a decent price.
When I got home, T was just finishing up some work in his office, and we snuggled up in front of the TV and watched a show together. It was a wonderful way to end another busy week.
Fragile
I used the word fragile quite a bit throughout the holiday season. All the Christmas trees were fragile. The ornaments, the lights, many of the decorations were all fragile. And I told Tiny and Buba this over and over and over.
Shortly after Christmas, Tiny parked some new toy cars on a rug we have that depicts a town (you know, the kind that has roads and houses, firehouses, and stores.). She then informed Buba and me:
Tiny: Don’t touch my cars! They’re very fragile!
Me: Really? What does fragile mean?
Tiny: It mean DON’T TOUCH IT!
Just a couple of days ago, Buba decided to try out the word.
Buba: Mommy, those berries (on a bush in our yard) are fragile. Mommy, they’re fragile.
Tiny: No, they not fragile.
Me: No, I suppose they’re not. Can you tell me what fragile means?
Tiny: (with her head to one side and her face all scrunched up) I do not know what it mean. But I know the berries are not fragile.
Now, who knows what exactly either kid thinks fragile means. Based on Tiny’s and Buba’s use of the word, I would have guessed that they thought it was another way to say “don’t touch”. But given that Tiny thinks the berries are not fragile (and we mentioned many times that the berries are not to be touched), makes me wonder if her understanding goes a bit further.
I suppose, next time, I should do a little explaining about the real meaning of fragile. But right now, it’s kind of fun just to watch Buba and Tiny play around with new words and try to make sense of them on their own.
Look, Ma! No Cavities!
Buba and Tiny had their first visit to the dentist today. I was taking them by myself and had no idea what to expect, as far as how comfortable or cooperative they’d be. It turns out, I had nothing to worry about. They both did great!
Their appointments were scheduled for the exact same time. Both Tiny and Buba went happily with the hygienists and climbed right up into the side-by-side exam chairs while I sat in front of them and filled out paperwork. The hygienists were both fantastic. They explained absolutely everything they were going to do (including moving the chair up and into a reclining position) before they did it, and they showed them each tool and demonstrated how it worked before using it on their teeth.
Buba and Tiny had their teeth counted (all 20 are now fully in) and cleaned, and they both received their first fluoride treatment. The hygienists praised them both throughout the cleaning, making Buba and Tiny feel so proud of what a good job they were doing. We only had tears when the ziplock on Tiny’s goody bag broke and all her treats (sticker, new toothbrush, and toothpaste) were trapped inside. Luckily, there was another goody bag to replace it.
Tiny and Buba were both very cooperative when the dentist (Dr. C) came in to do a quick exam. He reported that neither one has any cavities, and we should basically just continue doing what we’re doing. Then both kiddos got to climb up on Dr. C’s lap for a commemorative first-trip-to-the-dentist’s-office photo (something the office provided), and we were on our way with our photo, goodie bags, and enormous balloons to take home and show later to Daddy.
Having had numerous bad experiences at the dentist’s office as a kid, I was really nervous about how Buba’s and Tiny’s first experience would go. I could not have been more pleased with how the hygienists and Dr. C cared for my children. Tiny is already talking about going back in July!
The Whole Preschool Thing
I remember reading posts last year from moms who were searching for preschools. Some of them sounded so dramatic, and I just wanted to say, “Just pick one! It’s only preschool!” But I’m starting to feel their pain, now that I’m undergoing the same process for Tiny and Buba. It’s been a long process (that actually began late last spring when I sent in our first applications), and I’m just really anxious for it to finally be over.
Here’s where things currently stand. I’ve applied to six preschools, all within a 20 minute drive from our house. One of them was out the second I finished the tour. After spending about 20 minutes touring the school, I just knew that it wasn’t the right place for my guys. The teachers did not look happy to be there, and the kids were mostly off doing their own thing without any interaction from any of the teachers. Plus it was very expensive. So, that one was easy. Definitely, out.
Last week we received acceptance letters from another preschool. It’s a Co-op school in a neighboring town, and I really liked it when I went and visited it in September. I know Tiny and Buba would be happy there, and one of their best little buddies will be going there. But it’s expensive. Like, at the very top of our price range and then some. They needed a response (and a non-refundable deposit) by tomorrow, which is still a good week and a half before we’ll hear from some of the other schools. So, unfortunately, I had to decline their acceptances into this school.
We’ve also been accepted at the only preschool we applied to in our town. Initially, I was leaning towards this school. I’d heard some good things about it from one of Buba’s EI teachers, and with it being in our town, I figured it would be the best way for Tiny and Buba to meet some potential kindergarten classmates. It is also the most affordable school on our list, by quite a bit. Unfortunately, I did not love this school. The classrooms are so small that instead of each one having little centers for blocks, dolls, trucks, crafts, etc., each room is themed with one of these activities. For the first hour or so, the kids can roam from classroom to classroom playing with whatever they choose. But once it’s time to go to their own classroom for teacher directed activities, the kids are expected to sit at the little tables for about an hour. There’s no space for a rug for them all to gather on. And while, I’m sure it’s fine, it just wasn’t the sort of experience I was expecting my three-year-olds to have. But the real issue that turned me away from this school is the fact that they will split my kids (for sure, according to the director) when they move up to the four-year-old classes. Yes, that still two years away. And, yes, T and I might make that choice for our kids at that point (probably not, but maybe), but we’d like it to be our choice. (Perhaps we’re just feeling a bit entitled knowing that MA has a law now that prevents public schools from splitting up multiples if the parents want them to be together.) We have not declined our acceptances to this school, but it is absolutely at the bottom of our list.
Now, let me tell you about the two schools that I LOVE. They’re both very child centered, using the Reggio Emilia approach. Like many preschools, there is a focus on learning through play. But these schools have no set curriculum. The teachers create lessons and projects based on the interests of the students. When I toured both of these schools. I saw kids who looked excited and who were happily engaged in their activities along side their teachers. Some kids were sitting in laps, while others participated more independently. They were reading books and creating independent projects from a variety of art materials. They were looking at objects from nature through magnifying glasses and deeply involved in dramatic play over in the dress-up corner. I knew instantly that I wanted my children to be accepted at these schools. They’re both near the top of our price range, but they do offer scholarships and/or financial aid, and I’m hopeful that, if accepted, we could work out a way to make it doable. We’ve applied. We’re waiting to hear back sometime this month.
That leaves just one more option- a traditional preschool with a good reputation. There was nothing special about this school, but there was nothing I really disliked about it either. This school is slightly more affordable than our top two choices and offers a significant reduction in tuition should I choose to work as a teacher’s assistant one day a week. I was hoping this school would be our solid third choice in case we don’t get accepted at either of the ones I really love. But, it doesn’t look like that will be the case. After visiting the school last Wednesday, we were sent home with two applications for admissions. The applications have to be returned within a week (so, most likely, before we’ll hear from the previous two schools), and they have to include a $200 non-refundable application fee. Each. The application fee does get deducted from the final payment of the year, but still. There is no way that we can afford to apply to this school while we’re still hoping and praying to get into two others.
So, there you have it. The search is done. There is nothing left to do but wait. The end is in sight. And I can’t wait for it to just get here.