Here comes the bride...

For the past few days, KK has been running around the house, excitedly preparing to get married. She's got the dress, the tiara, and the flowers. She's all set.

She's even got the man. I guess she's not getting married to daddy anymore. Now she tells me that she's marrying "Bipper's Daddy". (Bipper is how she pronounces "Romper"). I haven't met Romper's Daddy, but here's Romper:


Romper's a really good monkey, so I'm sure the "man" who raised him is a good catch... but it makes me wonder, will that make me Romper's Grandma?

What I'm doing right

Heather at the Extraordinary Ordinary has been examining the experience of being a mom on her blog recently. She has become tired of focusing on her failures as a mom and instead wants to focus on her successes. She has invited her readers to join her by writing a list of all the things they are doing right as a mom. Here's my (rather random) list.

Nutrition - I work hard to ensure my family is eating a healthy, balanced diet most of the time, but I also allow us a treat, or an easy meal every so often.

Relationship with God - I have recognized that a knowledge of God is innate and just needs to be guided in order for it to flourish. I try to encourage my kids to see God's hand in everything.

Health - Being a nurse can often make me a really bad mommy, so I consciously make an effort to just be a mommy to my kids. I don't freak out about germs, or every little symptom. It means that I give my doctor mommy answers instead of nurse answers, but it keeps me from worrying about everything.

Instinct - I seek out good information about parenting, children's products, behaviour etc., but at the end of the day, I trust my instinct with my kids. I'm planning another post about how I have trusted my instinct with encouraging independence in my daughter and now it is paying off.

Daddy - I recognize that his role is different than mine and respect that he'll do things differently than I do, and that's ok.

Routines - I have never tried to force a routine or schedule on my children. Instead, I have developed and adapted routines based on their needs. I defend their routines when I can see that they need the security, and let the routines slide every so often so that they can adapt to changing situations, but only when I know they can handle it.

Education - I try to teach based on what my kids are interested in, not just based on what I want my kids to know. I have another post brewing about this one. I also try most of all to teach by example.

Safety - I make my kids safety a top priority. I refuse to compromise on car seat safety, crib safety, household safety. I never let convenience come ahead of their safety.

Popcorn - I make the best darn popcorn in the world (or so I've been told).

Self-control - I maintain an incredible level of self-control, even when I'm sleep-deprived, frustrated, haven't-had-a-break-in-weeks-about-to-go-crazy. Sometimes I yell, but lots of times I don't yell when I really want to. And when I feel like I might lose control and hurt them, I make sure they are safe and take a few minutes to calm myself.

Discipline - I make an effort to understand the reason behind my kids' behaviour so that I can guide them appropriately. I have learned to discipline only when I am calm, which often means my daughter gets a time out first, while I talk to God about what I need to do to correct her behaviour.

Honesty - I try to be really honest and open with other moms about my experience of being a mom. Mommying can be a really lonely job and we need each other to commiserate together and to encourage each other.


That's all I've got for now. And if you are thinking I'm patting myself on my back a little too much here, I've got a list 10 times as long in my head about what I'm doing wrong. But focusing on that one isn't going to make me a better mommy, now is it?

Some good news for once

SIGH!

(That's me heaving a big sigh of relief.)

Five weeks ago, when I was feeding JJ, I found a lump in my breast. I went to see my doctor, thinking she would tell me it was normal. Instead she sent me for an ultrasound.

I was freaked out.

I didn't tell anyone because I didn't want to make a big deal of it. But I did make a really big deal about it in my head. I'm a worrier by nature.

After recently losing our friend Con to cancer, I was understandably nervous. Not nervous for me really, but nervous for my family. I couldn't bear to see them suffer like I knew they would. (Because they like me. At least I think they do. Well, most of them.)

Yesterday, I finally had my ultrasound. Up on the wall was a notice saying that the technician couldn't give me the results of my exam. But she did. She said it was just a normal thickening. I still have to see my doctor for the final report, but what a relief!

I was so happy afterward that I went to London Drugs and impulse shopped for a little while. Don't worry about our bank account. Impulse shopping for me means that I picked up some hangers and some flash cards (I'm wild and crazy like that!)

Now that the stress is off, I am surprised to feel rather... uh... nothing. Or maybe even a little low. That has surprised me. I think I'm just worn out from carrying the stress for so long.

Or maybe I have a little survivor guilt. I mean, lots of people get cancer. Why would I be spared this time?

Or maybe it's just the usual let down after waiting for something...

Weird, eh?

Thanksgiving weekend

We spent Thanksgiving weekend in Seattle visiting my Dad and stepmom, Debbie.

Peanut-lover works long and late on Fridays, so we thought we'd try driving down Saturday morning instead. That was a really bad idea! We ended up spending two hours waiting at the border... not our idea of a good time.

We were both really unhappy about the situation and the kids were really feeding off our stress. Finally we just decided to make an adventure of it. Once our attitudes changed, we actually started to have a good time as a family, letting the kids pretend to drive and having a picnic in the van. And once we got through the border, both kids fell asleep, so I got to work 2 hours on KK's birthday movie.

We arrived just before dinner time to warm hugs and the smell of turkey dinner cooking. Mmmmmmm... turkey...

We had a great visit with them and even though I brought both cameras, I didn't take a single picture or movie the whole weekend. There was one time when my dad was tickling JJ that I thought about taping it to capture the moment, but instead just decided to sit and enjoy it.

Sunday night, Peanut-lover and I went out for a date night. Dinner and a movie. We haven't done that since before I was pregnant with KK. (We've done dinner, but not a movie). (Thanks Dad and Debbie!)

We got home late Monday night, full of turkey, and replenished with hugs and chocolate-chip cookies.

Recent Events... or why haven't I been posting?

It's been driving me crazy that I haven't had time to write lately. I have so many posts half-written in my head, but I can't find time to focus on them. So the easy posts keep winning out. I hope I'll get back into writing again soon, but in the meantime, I thought I'd share some pictures of some of the things that have been keeping me busy lately.

Some of you know that my mom has Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. At the end of September, we participated in a walk to raise money and awareness for blood cancer research. It was an emotionally charged event, seeing all the people with Leukemia (white balloons), their supporters (red balloons), and those who were remembering someone (gold balloons).

I don't really talk about the fact that my mom has leukemia much... mostly because it really freaks me out.

Let's move on.

I've also been getting out of the house, even in the rain (a big deal for me, right Dad?). We've been going to the library for either story-time or baby time, which the kids love. Afterwards, if KK listens good when we are ready to leave, we stop for a little while at the fountain outside of the library. And, yay! I love to take pictures in natural light!

The fountain is not actually that magnificent to this twenty-cough-year old, but my nearly three-year-old thinks it's pretty great!

And moving on...

Ok, see those two little teeth? Now he has three, which explains why I've been up with him, several times every night for the past week. So KK's naptime, which I previously was using for blog time, is now being used to catch up on a little sleep.

Now that JJ is crawling proficiently, he's using his new skill to get himself into trouble. He has figured out the layout of our home, and moves from one prohibited area to another. I can distract and redirect all I want, but when he sets a goal, he is determined to meet it!

He spends his day looking for something to eat:

Just in case you haven't found out yet for yourself, crayons + drool = colorful carpet. (Don't tell the Peanut-lover! He's been too busy to notice!)

When he's not searching for something to eat, the boy must find something to destroy. A case in point:

We will be finding a new home for this plant soon!

I have also managed to go through all the movie clips of the year and half the pictures, seeking out our favourites to make into our kids' birthday movies. At this point, I have narrowed it down to about 120 movie clips and 125 pictures for each kid. I will be spending some serious time trying to edit those further. We don't have three days to show the birthday movie!

On Tuesday, I met with my manager to discuss my return to work in January. I was delightfully surprised when this manager, who is new and doesn't even know me, worked really hard to accomodate the changes I'd like to see in my schedule. It all still needs to be cleared with Human Resources, but it's looking like I'll get the exact hours I want (one shift/weekend) without having to go casual (for which I'd have to give up my benefits).

I've accomplished numerous other little things on my 5-page to-do list, but still have much that needs to be caught up on. Nevermind that Christmas is approaching...

So if you've been feeling neglected, now you know why :)

I made top three!

On Sunday, we actually made it to church! Yay! (And by "we", I mean "I" because there have been several occasions lately when either Peanut-lover has gone alone because he is part of the worship team, or he has taken KK because I have had a horrible night and cannot fathom being awake).

When we arrived, I asked KK if she was going to go to kids' church. I fully expected the usual excited "yes!" and was surprised when she told me, "No. I not like kids."

Well, she went anyways. And it might be true that she doesn't like kids because in a group of kids that she doesn't know very well, she tends to play by herself. I'm not sure where she gets that, considering I'm such a social butterfly and all. Ahem.

Anyways, here is the drawing that she did with Daddy's help:

Since you can't really see the details, I'll fill them in for you. The turkey is a tracing of her (precious little) hand. On each of the fingers, starting from the baby finger, she has answers to the question, "What are you thankful to God for?"

Here are her answers in order:

1. Making Me (herself)

2. Making our house

3. Mommy

4. Family (for which Daddy admitted to prompting her)

But did you see that I made top three?!

Who's educating this child?

Daddy Someone in this home must be doing some education with KK while I'm busy. Probably when I'm busy in the kitchen, cooking dinner, because that's what I'm supposed to be doing, apparently.

Lately, all KK seems to talk about is how HUGE daddy is.

"See that lightpole? It HUGE! It HUGE like Daddy!"

"When I get big, I have HUGE muscles like Daddy."

"What that in the picture? (Bulls) Them HUGE like Daddy!"

And it goes on and on... several times a day, some reference to how HUGE daddy is.

I guess this is what happens when you're married to a man who thinks claims knows he hasn't peaked yet.

Putting Mommy in her place

We got a new book at the library today. It's about a little boy playing with his daddy.

The whole time KK and I were reading it, she kept asking, "Where his mommy go?" I told her that I didn't know.

At the end of the book, the little boy and his daddy sneak up and scare the mommy, who is reading a book on the couch.

(Can I take a moment to dream? Mmmmmm... reading on the couch... a grown-up book... mmmmmm...)

Ahem.

KK asked, "What that mommy doing? Why she not cooking dinner?"

'Cause that's where we all belong, in the kitchen, making dinner. Sigh.

You can't get anything past this kid!

We were sitting at the table coloring, and I had the TV on for background noise. (I know I'm not supposed to do that, but when I spend all day deciphering preschooler code and removing chokables from my crawler's pathway, sometimes I just need a little grown-up talk!)

KK had her back to the TV and happened to turn around to look at her brother behind her. In doing so, her gaze briefly passed the TV, where a commercial for paint was on. Paint.

In case I had any delusions that she didn't notice the TV, "Mommy, why that girl not take off her shoes in the house?"

KK's Daddy will be so proud to read hear this (he only pretends to read my blog!). He's very big on the no-shoes-in-the-house rule!

Conversations with KK: You're making what??!!!??

OK, I've got approximately 10 minutes to write this before my kids are done with their reading movie. (I feel less like a slacker mom if I give them educational movies to watch, instead of letting them watch Shrek for the 1037th time). Mama's having a hard time finding any free time these days!

As part of the kids' bedtime routine, we bathe them most nights. I know it's a lot of work, but it really helps them settle to have the routine and also to burn off any remaining energy. They can be total crankpots right up until the bath, but once I start the water running, it doesn't matter how tired they are, they are happy again.

The last few nights, KK has spent the bathtime busily creating something, and I have yet to figure out what it is. Maybe you can help me figure it out.

She starts by squirting water into our large rinsing cup.

"Mommy, I'm making tools."

"You're making what?"

"Tools."

"What?"

"TOOLS!"

"What?"

"TOO-OOOLS!!!"

"Stools?"

"Yes!"

(When an "s" is followed by a consonant, she tends to put the "s" sound at the end of the word. But she also attaches an almost "s" sound to the beginning of the word, which is why I know that she is not saying "tools".)

I've seen stools made in the bath before, and they usually are followed by much more excitement and disgust than I'm seeing here. So I decide I need some clarification, "What are stools?"

She answers me by explaining how they are made, "First you squirt water like this. Then you put in some sugar." She pumps the shower release and apparently sugar comes out of the tap into the cup.

"Then you put it in the oven to took (cook)." She places a very full cup of water on the edge of the tub. I try my hardest not to stress about it. I have a big towel within arm's reach.

For a moment I am distracted by JJ crawling around in the tub. His teeny tiny bare bum, sticking up in the air is too cute to resist.

"Ding ding ding. Now they're done. Now we eat them."

I'm still clueless, so I try a new tactic. "What do stools look like?"

"They are red and little like this (she puts her hands into a little circle). And they have a little button and you push it and it go beep!"

"Hmmmm. Ok, let's wash up."

I guess I should be happy that these are the only kinds of stools that are being created in the tub right now.

But what the heck is she making????