And indeed we do have a problem. A serious one. A spoiled-rotten-child one. A "mommy is wrapped around my little finger" one.
Miss Corinne Kennedy is exactly who I'm talking about. She seems to be the one running the show around our house lately. As a rule of thumb, I've always been a little leery of youngest children. I do have quite a few friends who are "youngests" but most of these don't follow what I consider the normal "youngest child" patterns. I always said I'd never spoil my youngest or make it so they felt a sense of entitled. And then came Corinne.
I don't know if it is that huge potbelly she sports, or the fact that she's still so attached to her belly button and forever has her finger in there, or the way she talks with that little lisp, or maybe even the way she says "Mama, I need some cuddles" at least 3 times a day. I just can't pinpoint where we went from "sane mama" to "completely irrational, wrapped around her child's finger" mama.
The little terror has been waking up at 6:30am (a forbidden deed in this house) and waddling into our room with her "nigh-nigh" cuddled up by her nose and binkey still in and as loud as she possibly can saying "Mama, Daddy, I AWAKE...I watch some Toons?" When we tell her to go take her diaper off, go potty, put her undies on, and put her "BB and guy" away, she always responds "just one more sniffy?" Translation: She doesn't want to stop loving on "nigh-nigh."
She still only wants to wear dresses but is very choosy even about the dress she wears. She wants to do everything by herself, even dress herself (which leads to her undies being on backwards and giving herself a wedgie at least 99% of the time). Very independent.
She is very excited about her first Disney trip coming up and can't wait to "meet Snow White." Every time there is an airplane (or even helicopter) outside, her whole face lights up and she says "Mama, they going to DISNEY!" To her anyone on a plane is headed to meet Mickey. I think she may POSSIBLY be as excited as G and I are for this trip.
She loves her Big Sis and has a melt down every time G goes somewhere that C can't come with. Even while G was in swim lessons this week, C was throwing a fit to "give Sissy one more hug and kiss."
And perhaps it is simply this age I'm in love with and wish I could bottle. As many 2 1/2 year old melt downs and tantrums and whining we have, I love that this age is the discovery of everything new! I also love the way she is still learning how the English language works (for example "Where is her going" or "Can I go outside and play with she?").
I will be a bit sad when this age is over...but realize I'm fortunate enough to get to do it all over again with #3. If ONLY I didn't have to endure the first 15 months of the child's life that were so rough with both of the first two.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Just a touch of pixie dust
The girls are at a tough age for
getting along. As much as I want them to go skipping together, picking daisies,
hand-in-hand, with BFF necklaces on, everywhere we go...Little Sis is a bruiser
and loves to mess up anything Big Sis is doing. Big Sis is as OCD as kiddos
come and when she gets an idea and needs to carry it out, she can't seem to
control her emotions in order to bring it to fruition.
But little moments like we experienced on Saturday make me sigh and realize just how rewarding motherhood can be. I had just made the girls some lunch and we sat down to eat, with the back door open and the crisp fall air and sunlight streaming in. I was honestly soaking in the peace for a moment, which was a refreshing change from the weekly rat race. Ahhh...thank you weekend for arriving and thank you fall weather for finally making your appearance.
A few bites into lunch, Big Sis noticed a speck of dust floating in the air and pointed at it. "What's that Mama?" She asked. I was thinking...not sure how to explain that these tiny figments of dust can sometimes be seen in just the right light, especially with the door open, etc. So I opted to go a completely different route.
"What are you talking about Sweetie...I don't see a thing."
Her eyes got big and she responded, “RIGHT THERE Mama! How can you not see this? There it is again (pointing)! And there (pointing again)!"
"Honey...are you sure? I just don't see it. Do you think it could be something magical that only kids can see...or maybe your imagination is just..."
"Mommy! Oh my goodness...you don't think it could be....a fairy?" (The child is COMPLETELY serious at this point and I knew all it would take was a tiny prompt.)
"Well, I don't know Honey...do you believe in fairies?"
"I DO Mommy...there it is again!” She paused, and looked straight at the speck, “What's that? What did you say?” She continues on talking to the speck, “Is it YOU Tink?” “Mama, now I see TWO specks...it must mean Tinkerbell AND Terrance are here."
This interaction, which she was completely serious about, went on for close to a half hour! Even Little Sis got in on the action and was pointing at the various specks and calling them by name ("Hi Tink...Hi Tewwance (Terrance)”).
By the end, there were many fairies...Tink, Silver Mist and Terrance. Big Sis asked if she could drop a piece of sugar from her "puppy chow" she had for dessert and see if Tink would eat it. Sure enough, later it was "gone" (after Summer had been let out of her kennel ironically enough).
Big Sis was so excited to tell both Mimi and Daddy later that day about really "for real" seeing fairies...but that we think only kids can see them. Big Sis wants Daddy and I to write a letter that she can hand to Tinkerbell when we go to Disney to ask her if she visited our house. She told me later that day, sadly, "Mommy, none of my friends at school will believe me." I responded, "It doesn't matter...fairies only show themselves to those who believe."
But little moments like we experienced on Saturday make me sigh and realize just how rewarding motherhood can be. I had just made the girls some lunch and we sat down to eat, with the back door open and the crisp fall air and sunlight streaming in. I was honestly soaking in the peace for a moment, which was a refreshing change from the weekly rat race. Ahhh...thank you weekend for arriving and thank you fall weather for finally making your appearance.
A few bites into lunch, Big Sis noticed a speck of dust floating in the air and pointed at it. "What's that Mama?" She asked. I was thinking...not sure how to explain that these tiny figments of dust can sometimes be seen in just the right light, especially with the door open, etc. So I opted to go a completely different route.
"What are you talking about Sweetie...I don't see a thing."
Her eyes got big and she responded, “RIGHT THERE Mama! How can you not see this? There it is again (pointing)! And there (pointing again)!"
"Honey...are you sure? I just don't see it. Do you think it could be something magical that only kids can see...or maybe your imagination is just..."
"Mommy! Oh my goodness...you don't think it could be....a fairy?" (The child is COMPLETELY serious at this point and I knew all it would take was a tiny prompt.)
"Well, I don't know Honey...do you believe in fairies?"
"I DO Mommy...there it is again!” She paused, and looked straight at the speck, “What's that? What did you say?” She continues on talking to the speck, “Is it YOU Tink?” “Mama, now I see TWO specks...it must mean Tinkerbell AND Terrance are here."
This interaction, which she was completely serious about, went on for close to a half hour! Even Little Sis got in on the action and was pointing at the various specks and calling them by name ("Hi Tink...Hi Tewwance (Terrance)”).
By the end, there were many fairies...Tink, Silver Mist and Terrance. Big Sis asked if she could drop a piece of sugar from her "puppy chow" she had for dessert and see if Tink would eat it. Sure enough, later it was "gone" (after Summer had been let out of her kennel ironically enough).
Big Sis was so excited to tell both Mimi and Daddy later that day about really "for real" seeing fairies...but that we think only kids can see them. Big Sis wants Daddy and I to write a letter that she can hand to Tinkerbell when we go to Disney to ask her if she visited our house. She told me later that day, sadly, "Mommy, none of my friends at school will believe me." I responded, "It doesn't matter...fairies only show themselves to those who believe."
A picture worth rescuing from the recycle bin
With Kindergarten now in full swing...Big Sis comes home with piles of papers, artwork, and handouts daily. I try to be "on top" of cleaning out her take home folder, ensuring I don't miss something important, like the dates for show and share, school pictures, and whether the hot lunch is pizza or roast beef the next day. I am not a pack-rat by nature...I find myself getting overwhelemd with too much "stuff" of any type and so therefore, am a big fan of the recycle bin...especially for these school handouts Big Sis comes home with. After I take a gander at what she's learned for the day, and ask her about her work, I realize we'll be getting more papers the next day...and the next, and dutifully toss them in the recycle bin.
Last week she came home from school with a picture she had drawn in art class. It didn't seem unusual to me...it showed Mommy and Daddy holding hands (we always have dark hair in the pictures). Daddy was holding a blond child (I figured that was Sissy) and then there was Big Sis, holding my hand (a much shorter version of the drawing of me but with a head of blond hair, and of course, a bow). Even Summer dog was right there with us, tongue out and all. There was the typical Kindergarten elements to a good picture...our house formed from a square with a triangle roof, the grass, and the sky. But under the blue clouds you could see purple figures drawn.
Just to ensure I was going over what she had learned and spent her day doing, I asked her "Hey tell Mommy about your pretty picture." She explained what I had suspected...pointing to each thing she said "here is you Mommy, then Daddy, Me, Summer, and Daddy is holding Sissy. Here is our house." Then as she pointed to the purple figures in the clouds she said "and here is Grandpa Jack and Kimmy...Nana's dog who died...they are up in Heaven with Jesus."
That day I was surely thanking God I had not thrown her precious picture away. I need to take a picture of it for extra safe keeping too. To me that day, regardless of how many sight words she was still struggling with, or the fact that she is now refusing to eat hot lunch the majority of the time because "her tray is too heavy"...she had the important things down.
Last week she came home from school with a picture she had drawn in art class. It didn't seem unusual to me...it showed Mommy and Daddy holding hands (we always have dark hair in the pictures). Daddy was holding a blond child (I figured that was Sissy) and then there was Big Sis, holding my hand (a much shorter version of the drawing of me but with a head of blond hair, and of course, a bow). Even Summer dog was right there with us, tongue out and all. There was the typical Kindergarten elements to a good picture...our house formed from a square with a triangle roof, the grass, and the sky. But under the blue clouds you could see purple figures drawn.
Just to ensure I was going over what she had learned and spent her day doing, I asked her "Hey tell Mommy about your pretty picture." She explained what I had suspected...pointing to each thing she said "here is you Mommy, then Daddy, Me, Summer, and Daddy is holding Sissy. Here is our house." Then as she pointed to the purple figures in the clouds she said "and here is Grandpa Jack and Kimmy...Nana's dog who died...they are up in Heaven with Jesus."
That day I was surely thanking God I had not thrown her precious picture away. I need to take a picture of it for extra safe keeping too. To me that day, regardless of how many sight words she was still struggling with, or the fact that she is now refusing to eat hot lunch the majority of the time because "her tray is too heavy"...she had the important things down.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Rinney Roo
Little Sis is keeping us on our toes lately. She is an intense, strong-willed, fearless, hilarious child all rolled into one. She loves to streak across the house completely naked and say "I shake my booty." She knows even if I'm mad at her I'll eventually laugh. Thad and I joke that one of these days she's going to bring this house tumbling down on top of us.
She's also had a sassy little mouth lately where she'll say to me "You be quiet Mommy" or to Gabrielle "Don't talk to me" or "Don't copy me" or "Don't look at me" (pretty much anything that starts with "don't."
We can tell when she's done something wrong when we aren't around. Yesterday I was cleaning up the dinner mess and she and G were playing upstairs and I hear Corinne shout "I sorry Mommy. I forgib you." (she doesn't understand yet that you have to apologize first and then WAIT for the person you're apologizing to to actually forgive you.) She had pulled Gabrielle's morning routine chart out of the wall...thumb tack and all...and knew she's better rat herself out before I came upstairs and she got in more trouble.
While we were eating dinner yesterday I was trying to enroll the girls in swim lessons (which is first come first serve and the enrollment opens at precisely 6pm). Corinne was not getting the attention she wanted/needed so she tore her hamburger into tiny pieces that she proceeded to throw at my head while laughing.
She loves the Despicable Me movie and her favorite character is Vector (she calls "Vectow"). When she's supposed to be trying to fall asleep at night you'll hear her screaming as loud as she can "Oh yeah, oh yeah...I Vectow" and cracking herself up! Thad and I still laugh (since she can't hear us laughing) because she's such a nut!
She still hates riding in the car (both girls were just like this at this age) and just in general, doesn't want to be pinned down. Thankfully, she's still a very good napper. Without that nap each day, our sitter may go crazy and on weekends we may go crazy. We need a little breather from the little spit fire...it is like a Mommy time out.
She's also had a sassy little mouth lately where she'll say to me "You be quiet Mommy" or to Gabrielle "Don't talk to me" or "Don't copy me" or "Don't look at me" (pretty much anything that starts with "don't."
We can tell when she's done something wrong when we aren't around. Yesterday I was cleaning up the dinner mess and she and G were playing upstairs and I hear Corinne shout "I sorry Mommy. I forgib you." (she doesn't understand yet that you have to apologize first and then WAIT for the person you're apologizing to to actually forgive you.) She had pulled Gabrielle's morning routine chart out of the wall...thumb tack and all...and knew she's better rat herself out before I came upstairs and she got in more trouble.
While we were eating dinner yesterday I was trying to enroll the girls in swim lessons (which is first come first serve and the enrollment opens at precisely 6pm). Corinne was not getting the attention she wanted/needed so she tore her hamburger into tiny pieces that she proceeded to throw at my head while laughing.
She loves the Despicable Me movie and her favorite character is Vector (she calls "Vectow"). When she's supposed to be trying to fall asleep at night you'll hear her screaming as loud as she can "Oh yeah, oh yeah...I Vectow" and cracking herself up! Thad and I still laugh (since she can't hear us laughing) because she's such a nut!
She still hates riding in the car (both girls were just like this at this age) and just in general, doesn't want to be pinned down. Thankfully, she's still a very good napper. Without that nap each day, our sitter may go crazy and on weekends we may go crazy. We need a little breather from the little spit fire...it is like a Mommy time out.
Adopting a polar bear for Christmas.
Several months ago Gabrielle was watching a kid's TV show that must have been on a channel that had commercials (perhaps PBS)? They had one of the commercials trying to get you to give money to "adopt a polar bear" and said on the commmercial how they are dying and need funds to help save them, etc. Gabrielle's eyes were getting wide as she watched this commercial. She is a total animal lover.
That day she had asked me if we could adopt a polar bear just like we adopted a child from Compassion International. I told her right now that wasn't in our budget but maybe someday. Recently, we were talking about Christmas and gift ideas (because every commercial for toys that comes on she wants of course to add that toy to her Santa list). She said "I KNOW! I could adopt a polar bear for Christmas because they are dying and we need to save them!"
We'll see if as Christmas draws closer the polar bear wins over the list of toys she wants so badly:)
That day she had asked me if we could adopt a polar bear just like we adopted a child from Compassion International. I told her right now that wasn't in our budget but maybe someday. Recently, we were talking about Christmas and gift ideas (because every commercial for toys that comes on she wants of course to add that toy to her Santa list). She said "I KNOW! I could adopt a polar bear for Christmas because they are dying and we need to save them!"
We'll see if as Christmas draws closer the polar bear wins over the list of toys she wants so badly:)
You're my favorite Daddy.
I am going to try and start blogging more rather than just posting things as they come up to my facebook status...or at least maybe doing both. That way I have a better record of all the precious things the girls say/do.
Big Sis is our spiritual child...she seems to have a deep understanding of God and nature. She's been like this since before we started having regular attendance at church, though church has definitely helped increase her knowledge (and questions).
Last week, Daddy and Big Sis were having a discussion that I am overheard. It went like this. Gabrielle: "Daddy, you're my FAVORITE daddy." Thad (chuckling): "Um, I'm pretty sure I'm your only daddy." G: "NOOOO.....God's my Daddy too..but you're my favorite and God is my second favorite." Thad: "Well you don't have to pick a favorite." G: "Actually, I think God is my favorite Daddy....because he gave me YOU."
Sweetness...love the way her brain thinks.
Big Sis is our spiritual child...she seems to have a deep understanding of God and nature. She's been like this since before we started having regular attendance at church, though church has definitely helped increase her knowledge (and questions).
Last week, Daddy and Big Sis were having a discussion that I am overheard. It went like this. Gabrielle: "Daddy, you're my FAVORITE daddy." Thad (chuckling): "Um, I'm pretty sure I'm your only daddy." G: "NOOOO.....God's my Daddy too..but you're my favorite and God is my second favorite." Thad: "Well you don't have to pick a favorite." G: "Actually, I think God is my favorite Daddy....because he gave me YOU."
Sweetness...love the way her brain thinks.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Sharing the big news with the girls.
August 6, 2011
Tonight was a special night…one I wish I had the foresight to video record forever, since it is one I will always treasure. I figured I’d better blog it so I have something to remember it.
Since I’m 10 weeks along, we decided it was time to let the girls know they were about to become big sisters. Thad started by asking the girls to sit with us because we had some pretty “important and special news to share.” He let them know that we love our family so much and God had blessed us by giving us another baby to become a part of our family. “This means, Mommy is going to have a baby after your next birthdays and G you will become a big sister again and C you will be a new big sister.”
Gabrielle gasped…taking it all in. My mind was racing. She had in the past made it very clear she did not want anymore sisters or brothers and she wanted it to be just she and Corinne…she had even made the comment “Babies are a lot of work and we don’t want to be greedy….one baby is enough for us.” Hard to think of a solid argument against that logic…I will never argue that babies aren’t a lot of work.
After gasping, G’s little 5 ½-year-old face lit up and she started tearing up before she could even respond! After a delay she said, nearly whispering, “I’m so excited and I just can’t believe this…there’s a baby….in YOUR tummy Mama.” Then more little sobs and tears of joy. It was beyond precious to see her very adult-like response. No jumping up and down or high fiving….no shrugging it off like “who cares…hit the unpause button for my Phineus and Ferb cartoon.” She was genuinely understanding the magnitude of this news and soaking it in like a sponge. After she had repeated herself several times through the little sobs “I’m….just….so….excited” the lightbulb seemed to go off and she said “So Mommy THAT’S why you’ve been so sick throwing up all the time!” I have no idea how she knew that pregnant women have morning sickness, but she did.
Then came the humorous comments to reassure me that she is indeed still just a little girl…and not a 25-year-old.
“Mama, I should have KNOWN why your tummy got so chunky lately.” (I figured I’d let the fact that the baby is probably the size of a grape at this point slide and go with it).
“Mama, I hope you’re drinking a LOT of milk because babies love milk and cannot have water”
“Did you have cake at Ryelin’s birthday party today.” My response: “Yes, why.” She gasped….”Babies can’t have cake…that was not a healthy choice.”
Corinne’s response was equally sweet and cute in her little Rinney-like way. As soon as she heard Thad say “Mommy has a baby in her tummy” she lifts my shirt clear up to see my belly and says “Mommy I want to see it and I hold it” I told her “well it isn’t ready to come out for a long time.” She then sticks her finger in my bellybutton and says “Hi Baby…I your Big Tister.” She clearly thinks the bellybutton is the key to everything, including to her new sister or brother.
We showed the girls the ultrasound picture, which was pretty fuzzy and not super detailed at this point. They both wanted to hold it the whole night so we’ve decided to get it laminated (and by now have a much clearer image).
We let G call Mimi to share the news with her and it was so cute how G explained it. “Mommy was feeling sick so had to go to the doctor and you won’t believe what the doctor found in her tummy!!!!” “A baby is in there! I cannot believe it! I’m so excited! I’m going to be a REALLY big sister and Corinne’s going to be a big sister for the very first time ever!!!”
On the way upstairs to tuck the kids in to bed G says “Mama, you and the baby had better rest…I’m fine with having Daddy tuck me in tonight.” I was thinking…. ”hmmm….I could really milk this for all it’s worth!”
Tonight was a special night…one I wish I had the foresight to video record forever, since it is one I will always treasure. I figured I’d better blog it so I have something to remember it.
Since I’m 10 weeks along, we decided it was time to let the girls know they were about to become big sisters. Thad started by asking the girls to sit with us because we had some pretty “important and special news to share.” He let them know that we love our family so much and God had blessed us by giving us another baby to become a part of our family. “This means, Mommy is going to have a baby after your next birthdays and G you will become a big sister again and C you will be a new big sister.”
Gabrielle gasped…taking it all in. My mind was racing. She had in the past made it very clear she did not want anymore sisters or brothers and she wanted it to be just she and Corinne…she had even made the comment “Babies are a lot of work and we don’t want to be greedy….one baby is enough for us.” Hard to think of a solid argument against that logic…I will never argue that babies aren’t a lot of work.
After gasping, G’s little 5 ½-year-old face lit up and she started tearing up before she could even respond! After a delay she said, nearly whispering, “I’m so excited and I just can’t believe this…there’s a baby….in YOUR tummy Mama.” Then more little sobs and tears of joy. It was beyond precious to see her very adult-like response. No jumping up and down or high fiving….no shrugging it off like “who cares…hit the unpause button for my Phineus and Ferb cartoon.” She was genuinely understanding the magnitude of this news and soaking it in like a sponge. After she had repeated herself several times through the little sobs “I’m….just….so….excited” the lightbulb seemed to go off and she said “So Mommy THAT’S why you’ve been so sick throwing up all the time!” I have no idea how she knew that pregnant women have morning sickness, but she did.
Then came the humorous comments to reassure me that she is indeed still just a little girl…and not a 25-year-old.
“Mama, I should have KNOWN why your tummy got so chunky lately.” (I figured I’d let the fact that the baby is probably the size of a grape at this point slide and go with it).
“Mama, I hope you’re drinking a LOT of milk because babies love milk and cannot have water”
“Did you have cake at Ryelin’s birthday party today.” My response: “Yes, why.” She gasped….”Babies can’t have cake…that was not a healthy choice.”
Corinne’s response was equally sweet and cute in her little Rinney-like way. As soon as she heard Thad say “Mommy has a baby in her tummy” she lifts my shirt clear up to see my belly and says “Mommy I want to see it and I hold it” I told her “well it isn’t ready to come out for a long time.” She then sticks her finger in my bellybutton and says “Hi Baby…I your Big Tister.” She clearly thinks the bellybutton is the key to everything, including to her new sister or brother.
We showed the girls the ultrasound picture, which was pretty fuzzy and not super detailed at this point. They both wanted to hold it the whole night so we’ve decided to get it laminated (and by now have a much clearer image).
We let G call Mimi to share the news with her and it was so cute how G explained it. “Mommy was feeling sick so had to go to the doctor and you won’t believe what the doctor found in her tummy!!!!”
On the way upstairs to tuck the kids in to bed G says “Mama, you and the baby had better rest…I’m fine with having Daddy tuck me in tonight.” I was thinking…. ”hmmm….I could really milk this for all it’s worth!”
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