Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Kira's snacking
Little Miss Kira has been getting into food and feeding herself lately. We used to be able to keep the cereal cabinet 1/2 way locked/baby-proofed. It was locked enough to keep her out but unlocked enough so we could easily get in. That doesn't work any more. She has figured out how to get in and how to take out the cereal boxes. She'll go right into the cereal boxes and open the flap and unroll the bag and dump the entire box on the floor and start eating. I promise there is adult supervision in this house - she's just fast and quiet.
We were putting today's groceries away and she reached into the fridge and grabbed a pepper jack cheese stick. It was wrapped in plastic so I didn't think it would be a problem. Then somehow she got the cheese out. She bit and sucked on the end until finally she broke the seal and could get some cheese out.
The next thing I know she's sitting on the floor sticking her entire hand into this tub of cream cheese that William had left out when he'd had his cheese and triscuits earlier.
Then Jeff cleaned her hand up and went to put away the cheese and she went straight for his sandwich that he momentarily set down so he could attend to her.
I promise that we feed her. I'd just given her watermelon and blueberries and some chicken. She shouldn't have been THAT hungry. I think it's just survival of the fittest baby!
We were putting today's groceries away and she reached into the fridge and grabbed a pepper jack cheese stick. It was wrapped in plastic so I didn't think it would be a problem. Then somehow she got the cheese out. She bit and sucked on the end until finally she broke the seal and could get some cheese out.
The next thing I know she's sitting on the floor sticking her entire hand into this tub of cream cheese that William had left out when he'd had his cheese and triscuits earlier.
Then Jeff cleaned her hand up and went to put away the cheese and she went straight for his sandwich that he momentarily set down so he could attend to her.
I promise that we feed her. I'd just given her watermelon and blueberries and some chicken. She shouldn't have been THAT hungry. I think it's just survival of the fittest baby!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Charles Leadbeater
One more video to share. This guy has a different take on it but I enjoy listening to him talk about interconnectedness and collaboration and the web and such. It reminds me of when I posted a blog post about an old college professor a couple weeks ago and then he actually read it and posted about my blog on his facebook page! Seriously. Amazing! Talk about interconnectedness. So interesting!
What's on the bookshelf?
I highly recommend this book - Do They Hear You When You Cry by Fauziya Kassindja . I read it a very long time ago and am thinking about grabbing it off the bookshelf and reading it again...
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Not so Wordless Monday
Interesting Coincidence. I was having a Wordless Monday so I was going to post a picture that I have saved in my "Pretty Photos" folder. I looked at two. I realized the second one had words and I read them and was amazed to find that they are part of the Desiderata poem on my Peace Amongst the Madness CD that I listen to all the time. I find that so interesting because I collected these photos in December 2008 and I didn't start listening to that music until the summer of 2009. It might just be me - but I find that totally interesting! I find the photo - like the photo - keep the photo - forget about it - listen to the music - like the music - find the photo again and realize it's the same as the music. What the heck is that?! I'm sure it's a combination of my favorite words but this is supposed to be a Wordless Monday so let's call it a day.
Interconnectedness? Synchronicity? Coincidence? Quantum Entanglement?
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Julie and Julia
Finally saw the Julie and Julia movie. It was great! I didn't realize there was a blog element to the movie. That was fun. It reminded me of my very favorite blogger. This woman can cook! Even her salads are amazing! Two things I noticed about that movie though:
1) They never show anyone doing all the DISHES
2) Neither of those women had kids running around their houses
Because seriously - working and raising kids and cooking like that and doing the dishes... I only know of one person who I think will some day be able to pull that off!
We had Subway for dinner tonight and Perkins for lunch. We're going to some fireman's benefit for dinner tomorrow night. We'll probably have eggs or cereal for breakfast. I'll try to throw in a vegetable around lunch time.
I had 2 kids with diarrhea today. They BOTH pooped on my living room floor. Will pooped his pants outside. Then I took Kira's diaper off so she could have a breather and that is exactly when she decided to poop on the floor. Everyone was all cleaned up and later on I was having a pillow fight with Will who'd never gotten completely dressed again and then he laughed so hard that he pooped on the floor. Thank goodness we have hardwood floors...and thank goodness for my mom who watched the kids tonight so we could actually go see the movie!
1) They never show anyone doing all the DISHES
2) Neither of those women had kids running around their houses
Because seriously - working and raising kids and cooking like that and doing the dishes... I only know of one person who I think will some day be able to pull that off!
We had Subway for dinner tonight and Perkins for lunch. We're going to some fireman's benefit for dinner tomorrow night. We'll probably have eggs or cereal for breakfast. I'll try to throw in a vegetable around lunch time.
I had 2 kids with diarrhea today. They BOTH pooped on my living room floor. Will pooped his pants outside. Then I took Kira's diaper off so she could have a breather and that is exactly when she decided to poop on the floor. Everyone was all cleaned up and later on I was having a pillow fight with Will who'd never gotten completely dressed again and then he laughed so hard that he pooped on the floor. Thank goodness we have hardwood floors...and thank goodness for my mom who watched the kids tonight so we could actually go see the movie!
Friday, September 18, 2009
What's going on with the stars lately?
Whitney left her abusive husband and is trying to stay clean one day at a time and has a new album (I Look To You) out. Yay Whitney! Here's a video of her singing on Oprah. Give her a break - she's had it rough lately. Listen to HER and don't judge it at all. Gotta love Oprah's love for others! You rock ladies!
Kudos to my girl Angelina for being the model for a sculpture intended to raise awareness about nursing. The sculpture is horrible though. So I'll post a different picture instead of linking to the bad sculpture with good intentions.
My man Will has a video out for kids about tolerance by the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation. It's not great but it's good enough.
I think the common theme here is that none of these things are blow you away outstanding in the Hollywood Perfect way that we are so used to these days. Instead - they are REAL and they are GOOD - they are BETTER than Hollywood Perfect!
Kudos to my girl Angelina for being the model for a sculpture intended to raise awareness about nursing. The sculpture is horrible though. So I'll post a different picture instead of linking to the bad sculpture with good intentions.
My man Will has a video out for kids about tolerance by the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation. It's not great but it's good enough.
I think the common theme here is that none of these things are blow you away outstanding in the Hollywood Perfect way that we are so used to these days. Instead - they are REAL and they are GOOD - they are BETTER than Hollywood Perfect!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
KIWI update
Miss Kira is such an active child! She is just soooo strong and soooo active and we're always asking her "what planet are you from?" She was running on the couch today and then diving down onto the pillows and then getting up and taking bites from the back of the couch cushins and then diving into the pillows on the other side and rolling around like crazy today. It's insane. She is so physical. Fearless and strong and physical! She dances and sings and is just full of MOVEMENT. It's interesting to see who is in that little body of hers. Sometimes I think her body is just too small for her BEING. She screams and shouts and yells almost for the pleasure of doing it. She's just a wild little child. Yet she can calm herself too and snuggle in as soon as she decides to stick her thumb in her mouth and soothe herself. My job is pretty much to keep her safe and contained and just let her do her thing...to encompass her while making sure she has an outlet for all this energy.
Will was so much more sensitive than Kira. I can't remember if I wrote about this already but Will was kicking this blow up toy across the living room the other day. I (good mom that I am) decided to show him just exactly where the sweet spot was and explained how if he kicked it lower it would actually fly farther and higher. Well - that worked a little too well and the thing went flying across the living room and crashed into our framed photos on the fireplace which then all fell down and landed on - Kira - who was looking UP to see the crash!
I immediately jumped into action not knowing if my child just got stabbed in the eyeball by the sharp corner of a wooden picture frame and as I swooped over to her...she screamed - like in ANGER (not fear...not sadness) - she was mad - and she HIT at her face over and over as if to get the pain off of her. It was such a forceful reaction! It was so interesting to see. She was fine - thank goodness! But her reaction was so her - so intense and forceful and strong. She was MAD and scared - not sad and scared - about the whole incident.
Anyway. She's also developing like crazy lately. Let's see...she is 14 months old and she is communicating so much lately. She's started saying "BYE BYE" when she waves instead of "baa baa" and she says "HOT" and "UP" instead of grunting and pointing "uh uh uh"...she says "UP" and "OFF" and such. She'll grab at her jacket and try to put on her shoes if she wants to go outside. She cries like crazy if she doesn't get what she wants. She's very persistent. I say, "No shoes, No outside" and she cries so hard and keeps asking over and over and over and over. I didn't feel William's "terrible two's" were bad. I'm thinking hers might be. If she doesn't want to go into her carseat...I have to pretty much restrain her and hold her down to buckle her in while she arches her back and squirms and resists.
Which makes me think about time outs. Will STAYS in time out. After the initial "who is the boss" adjustment period - with some holding him in the chair when he wanted to get out - he learned who was the boss and to this day will STAY in time out when I put him in the chair. It amazes me. I even used to "put him in timeout" when he was already strapped into his carseat. So really nothing would change. He was in his carseat. I'd be driving. Then he'd go slightly insane for awhile and eventually do something that warranted a time out and I'd tell him he was "in time out" even though nothing actually changed. I was still driving. He was still in his carseat. But now he was being punished and he'd cry and be sad about how he was in time out. I'm not so sure those things will work for Kira. I just can't see her personality doing time out in the say way Will does it. We'll see how it goes. At least I have a couple of years left before we have to deal with that.
I realize that's a strange note to end on - but that's all I've got. The crazies are in bed.
Oh wait - Will showed me his 1st grade room today. He also showed me where his old desk was (way in the back corner of the room as far away from the teacher's desk as you can get) and he showed me where his NEW desk is (right up in the front of the room as close to the teacher's desk as you can get). I have to say - I'm not surprised. I think that must have happened around the time when he stopped talking about loving school and started talking about hating school. He'll come home and talk about how it "was a hard school day" and the stuff she's making them learn is so "hard". Poor thing. I don't like that he dislikes school and thinks learning is hard. I sometimes wish we'd started him in Kindergarten this year instead of last year. He is one of the smallest and youngest in his class. I was always one of the youngest in my grades too. I turned out fine. I'm sure he'll be fine. He's a smart kid and he's so social and he gets good grades when he focuses. He gives up easily though on his homework. Sometimes he says to himself, "I can do it, I can do it" and chants this thing to himself that his teacher taught them because she doesn't want to hear them (him?) saying, "it's too hard...i can't do it..." We'll see how this year goes. He seems to be hanging in there. I just think we need a better way to educate our children.
School shouldn't be torture for bright loving happy kids like Will.
Will was so much more sensitive than Kira. I can't remember if I wrote about this already but Will was kicking this blow up toy across the living room the other day. I (good mom that I am) decided to show him just exactly where the sweet spot was and explained how if he kicked it lower it would actually fly farther and higher. Well - that worked a little too well and the thing went flying across the living room and crashed into our framed photos on the fireplace which then all fell down and landed on - Kira - who was looking UP to see the crash!
I immediately jumped into action not knowing if my child just got stabbed in the eyeball by the sharp corner of a wooden picture frame and as I swooped over to her...she screamed - like in ANGER (not fear...not sadness) - she was mad - and she HIT at her face over and over as if to get the pain off of her. It was such a forceful reaction! It was so interesting to see. She was fine - thank goodness! But her reaction was so her - so intense and forceful and strong. She was MAD and scared - not sad and scared - about the whole incident.
Anyway. She's also developing like crazy lately. Let's see...she is 14 months old and she is communicating so much lately. She's started saying "BYE BYE" when she waves instead of "baa baa" and she says "HOT" and "UP" instead of grunting and pointing "uh uh uh"...she says "UP" and "OFF" and such. She'll grab at her jacket and try to put on her shoes if she wants to go outside. She cries like crazy if she doesn't get what she wants. She's very persistent. I say, "No shoes, No outside" and she cries so hard and keeps asking over and over and over and over. I didn't feel William's "terrible two's" were bad. I'm thinking hers might be. If she doesn't want to go into her carseat...I have to pretty much restrain her and hold her down to buckle her in while she arches her back and squirms and resists.
Which makes me think about time outs. Will STAYS in time out. After the initial "who is the boss" adjustment period - with some holding him in the chair when he wanted to get out - he learned who was the boss and to this day will STAY in time out when I put him in the chair. It amazes me. I even used to "put him in timeout" when he was already strapped into his carseat. So really nothing would change. He was in his carseat. I'd be driving. Then he'd go slightly insane for awhile and eventually do something that warranted a time out and I'd tell him he was "in time out" even though nothing actually changed. I was still driving. He was still in his carseat. But now he was being punished and he'd cry and be sad about how he was in time out. I'm not so sure those things will work for Kira. I just can't see her personality doing time out in the say way Will does it. We'll see how it goes. At least I have a couple of years left before we have to deal with that.
I realize that's a strange note to end on - but that's all I've got. The crazies are in bed.
Oh wait - Will showed me his 1st grade room today. He also showed me where his old desk was (way in the back corner of the room as far away from the teacher's desk as you can get) and he showed me where his NEW desk is (right up in the front of the room as close to the teacher's desk as you can get). I have to say - I'm not surprised. I think that must have happened around the time when he stopped talking about loving school and started talking about hating school. He'll come home and talk about how it "was a hard school day" and the stuff she's making them learn is so "hard". Poor thing. I don't like that he dislikes school and thinks learning is hard. I sometimes wish we'd started him in Kindergarten this year instead of last year. He is one of the smallest and youngest in his class. I was always one of the youngest in my grades too. I turned out fine. I'm sure he'll be fine. He's a smart kid and he's so social and he gets good grades when he focuses. He gives up easily though on his homework. Sometimes he says to himself, "I can do it, I can do it" and chants this thing to himself that his teacher taught them because she doesn't want to hear them (him?) saying, "it's too hard...i can't do it..." We'll see how this year goes. He seems to be hanging in there. I just think we need a better way to educate our children.
School shouldn't be torture for bright loving happy kids like Will.
from Mom's fridge...
When people see some things as beautiful,
other things become ugly.
When people see some things as good,
other things become bad.
Being and non-being create each other.
Difficult and easy support each other.
Long and short define each other.
High and low depend on each other.
Before and after follow each other.
Therefore the Master
acts without doing anything
and teaches without saying anything.
Things arise and she lets them come;
things disappear and she lets them go.
She has but doesn't possess,
acts but doesn't expect.
When her work is done, she forgets it.
That is why it lasts forever.
(Author Unknown)
other things become ugly.
When people see some things as good,
other things become bad.
Being and non-being create each other.
Difficult and easy support each other.
Long and short define each other.
High and low depend on each other.
Before and after follow each other.
Therefore the Master
acts without doing anything
and teaches without saying anything.
Things arise and she lets them come;
things disappear and she lets them go.
She has but doesn't possess,
acts but doesn't expect.
When her work is done, she forgets it.
That is why it lasts forever.
(Author Unknown)
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Friends and Family & the Oddities of this Island
A few nuggets from my trip so far. Visualize a plane and a bus and a ferry (and lots of relaxing and people watching and listening to music) while I travel farther and farther away from home.
As I got closer to Martha's Vineyard I noticed a woman carrying a hat box (while her husband carried all their luggage.) Along the way I also saw at least 3 gentlemen wearing navy jackets with khaki pants. One even had a handkerchief in his jacket pocket. It reminded me of "Richie Rich". Very interesting people watching. Then I got on the ferry and the ladies behind me were talking about their hat boxes! I was listening to their accents and could tell they were from New York because they didn't have the Boston accent. I thought the ferry ride was rather exciting since I'd never been on a ferry but most people around me looked like they'd done it lots of times and they looked bored.
Somehow I started talking to the New York ladies about all the hat boxes and men in blue jackets and Boston, New York and Minnesota accents. It was so fun and I noticed that everyone within hearing range was listening to and enjoying our conversation. Their faces all went from dead and lifeless to smiling and listening with sparkling eyes. Because seriously - listening to the lady from Minnesota traveling to the Vineyard - talking to the New Yorkers - about women with hat boxes, men in navy sport coats, and accents - is fun stuff.
Then we arrived after 10 hours of traveling and walked down the ferry ramp into the pouring rain. My hotel was within walking distance so while everyone around me was rushing to get out of the rain, I was trying to fix my umbrella which kept blowing backwards and was getting completely soaked in the process. When suddenly - like magic - out of nowhere - this red umbrella popped open over my head and my sister, Teresa, was standing next to me saying, "Hi Jenny!". It was all very Mary Poppins-ish. Ahh...FAMILY.
Later that night we went to my sister Sarah's (the bride) house for dinner and I was still feeling a little like the tourist observing life in this new world until one of her friends joked about how someone had "materialized the perfect man" and I heard someone else talking about the "I-Ching". Ahh...FRIENDS and FAMILY.
One of their friends painted a beautiful glitter glue (henna tattoo style) piece of body art on my right arm (wrist to elbow). I'm loving it! The sun is finally out after 2 days of rain and I think it's a perfect day for a wedding!
P.S.
Hi Jeff and Will and Kira! I miss you guys! Thanks for the music Jeff - am loving it! I'm rocking out to the UP and dancing in line for the restroom on the airplane - bopping in my seat on the bus - dancing in my hotel room - and rocking out while I type this blog post. Now and then I talk way too loud over the music to people forgetting that it's only ME - not them - who can hear this music. Gotta run! I'll "unwind" this trip and do it all again backwards all day tomorrow until I'm back HOME with you guys! Kira - can't wait to nurse you! Will - you're going to love Mama's glittered up arm! (My mom just stopped by - I talked a little too loud to her - she asked what I was listening to - I handed her my left ear thing - she listened to the UP for a bit and then had a really good laugh. Who doesn't love a bit of hip hop to keep things real on this perfect little Island?!)
As I got closer to Martha's Vineyard I noticed a woman carrying a hat box (while her husband carried all their luggage.) Along the way I also saw at least 3 gentlemen wearing navy jackets with khaki pants. One even had a handkerchief in his jacket pocket. It reminded me of "Richie Rich". Very interesting people watching. Then I got on the ferry and the ladies behind me were talking about their hat boxes! I was listening to their accents and could tell they were from New York because they didn't have the Boston accent. I thought the ferry ride was rather exciting since I'd never been on a ferry but most people around me looked like they'd done it lots of times and they looked bored.
Somehow I started talking to the New York ladies about all the hat boxes and men in blue jackets and Boston, New York and Minnesota accents. It was so fun and I noticed that everyone within hearing range was listening to and enjoying our conversation. Their faces all went from dead and lifeless to smiling and listening with sparkling eyes. Because seriously - listening to the lady from Minnesota traveling to the Vineyard - talking to the New Yorkers - about women with hat boxes, men in navy sport coats, and accents - is fun stuff.
Then we arrived after 10 hours of traveling and walked down the ferry ramp into the pouring rain. My hotel was within walking distance so while everyone around me was rushing to get out of the rain, I was trying to fix my umbrella which kept blowing backwards and was getting completely soaked in the process. When suddenly - like magic - out of nowhere - this red umbrella popped open over my head and my sister, Teresa, was standing next to me saying, "Hi Jenny!". It was all very Mary Poppins-ish. Ahh...FAMILY.
Later that night we went to my sister Sarah's (the bride) house for dinner and I was still feeling a little like the tourist observing life in this new world until one of her friends joked about how someone had "materialized the perfect man" and I heard someone else talking about the "I-Ching". Ahh...FRIENDS and FAMILY.
One of their friends painted a beautiful glitter glue (henna tattoo style) piece of body art on my right arm (wrist to elbow). I'm loving it! The sun is finally out after 2 days of rain and I think it's a perfect day for a wedding!
P.S.
Hi Jeff and Will and Kira! I miss you guys! Thanks for the music Jeff - am loving it! I'm rocking out to the UP and dancing in line for the restroom on the airplane - bopping in my seat on the bus - dancing in my hotel room - and rocking out while I type this blog post. Now and then I talk way too loud over the music to people forgetting that it's only ME - not them - who can hear this music. Gotta run! I'll "unwind" this trip and do it all again backwards all day tomorrow until I'm back HOME with you guys! Kira - can't wait to nurse you! Will - you're going to love Mama's glittered up arm! (My mom just stopped by - I talked a little too loud to her - she asked what I was listening to - I handed her my left ear thing - she listened to the UP for a bit and then had a really good laugh. Who doesn't love a bit of hip hop to keep things real on this perfect little Island?!)
Friday, September 11, 2009
Shedding an Old Skin - Eknath Easwaran
I'm off on VACATION! But before I go I have a story to share:
"During the monsoon time in Kerala, the state in South India from which I come, the paddy fields stretch like an endless emerald carpet towards the horizon. It is a time of great growth and joy for all creatures. As a little boy, I used to walk beside my spiritual teacher, my mother's mother, across those rice fields to our ancestral temple.
As we walked, I would often see the cast-off skin of a snake, lying like a lace ribbon beside the path. One day, I asked Granny, "Why do these snakes have to lose their skin?" Her reply was full of wisdom. I realize now that she was speaking of more than snakes. "If snakes do not shed their skin," she replied, "they cannot grow. They will suffocate in their old skin." I often remember her words. Today we too need to grow. The intense restlessness of our young people, the dissatisfaction and stifled idealism which haunts so many older people - these are signs that our society is ready to shed an outworn definition of who we are and what we can become. While I appreciate the attempts made by governments and distinguished groups and some corporation to solve our environmental or social problems, the solution lies ultimately in your hands and mine. What kind of image do we have of ourselves? What is our purpose in living?
By undertaking to answer those questions from our own experience, we will be laying the foundations of a truly sustainable society."
LOVE THAT!
Now I'm off to enjoy my last minute packing as I envision myself - driving to the airport - flying on an airplane - taking a bus - riding on a ferry - and staying in a hotel room - ALL BY MYSELF - with no husband - and NO KIDS - and not a care in the world - time with my brother and sisters - a wedding - a spa - an ocean - a massage - a pedicure - and PEACE.
"During the monsoon time in Kerala, the state in South India from which I come, the paddy fields stretch like an endless emerald carpet towards the horizon. It is a time of great growth and joy for all creatures. As a little boy, I used to walk beside my spiritual teacher, my mother's mother, across those rice fields to our ancestral temple.
As we walked, I would often see the cast-off skin of a snake, lying like a lace ribbon beside the path. One day, I asked Granny, "Why do these snakes have to lose their skin?" Her reply was full of wisdom. I realize now that she was speaking of more than snakes. "If snakes do not shed their skin," she replied, "they cannot grow. They will suffocate in their old skin." I often remember her words. Today we too need to grow. The intense restlessness of our young people, the dissatisfaction and stifled idealism which haunts so many older people - these are signs that our society is ready to shed an outworn definition of who we are and what we can become. While I appreciate the attempts made by governments and distinguished groups and some corporation to solve our environmental or social problems, the solution lies ultimately in your hands and mine. What kind of image do we have of ourselves? What is our purpose in living?
By undertaking to answer those questions from our own experience, we will be laying the foundations of a truly sustainable society."
LOVE THAT!
Now I'm off to enjoy my last minute packing as I envision myself - driving to the airport - flying on an airplane - taking a bus - riding on a ferry - and staying in a hotel room - ALL BY MYSELF - with no husband - and NO KIDS - and not a care in the world - time with my brother and sisters - a wedding - a spa - an ocean - a massage - a pedicure - and PEACE.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
LOVE a productive 3 DAY weekend!
What is it about the 3rd day of a 3 day weekend that makes me suddenly more productive?
I'm pleased to report that I just cleared about 2 years worth of stuff out of my house. 2 Years! Kira is 14 months old so that's part of my excuse. Let's recap what has happened during that time while it's fresh in my mind from sorting through all the mess.
Months of morning (all day) sickness. Months of gestational diabetes - which will suck every ounce of energy you've ever had. Delivery of an almost 9 pound baby in the occiput posterior position. (I use the real name because "sunny side up" just doesn't cut it). Healing from that delivery. Maternity leave with both kids at home. Returning to work full-time. Sending Kira to daycare. Getting her to take a bottle. Pumping at work. Nursing all night long. Sending Will to school and figuring out Kindergarten and homework. Finding the balance needed to be a full-time working parent of two with one in his first year of school and another in her first year of daycare. Figuring out how to pick up one from daycare and one from school and carry everything into the house through the snow and eat snacks and make dinner and eat dinner and do dishes and do homework and give baths and wash clothes and get everyone ready for bed all within the 5pm - 7pm window. Speech therapy. Doctors appointments galore until we figured out what Will was allergic to and why he couldn't breathe. Learning about immunizations and doing them differently with Kira. Collecting every piece of artwork a Kindergartener can make. Helping Will learn to read and write. Tying shoelaces. Riding bikes. Swimming. Diapers. Kira - learning to crawl - learning to walk - eating solid foods - learning to talk...
Whew!
Plus we'd been SAVING all our boy stuff since we didn't know if Kira would be a girl or a boy and so we'd accumulated 6 years of toys and clothes that would have been hand-me-downs had she been a boy. She's not. And we're NOT having any more kids so I am in "get rid of this stuff" mode! We've been giving away all the baby stuff that she doesn't need anymore. We've been donating toys and clothes to the "give away store" like mad.
And today....it was time for the PAPERS to get the boot. It is insane how much paper one can accumulate when their method of cleaning is to shove it all into a laundry basket and then stick the laundry basket into the closet...at least quarterly...for 2 years.
But now - thanks to this 3 day weekend - the attics are clean and the closets are clean and the papers are tossed or organized.
We are ready for a new school year! BRING IT ON! I'll try not to save every item of artwork my first grader makes. If I do, I'll put it right into the "WILL KEEPS" box! I will use my files and folders and organizational system that I've spent countless hours creating and re-creating and labeling with my label maker over the years.
Next on the "to-do" list: getting back in shape, catching up on the last 6 years of photo albums and scrapbooks, and filling in those darn baby books.
Here are a couple of gems I found while cleaning:
Quote from Will - "It's good to be alive 'cuz then you can do lots of good things!"
The 1st sentence Will wrote - "I SEE MY CAT ON A HAT."
Kira in her swing fussing from boredom turns into loud cry of pain. Mom hears change in cry and enters room to find Will on couch with rubber bands. Will says, "She's not crying because I shot her! She was crying before I shot her!"
I'm pleased to report that I just cleared about 2 years worth of stuff out of my house. 2 Years! Kira is 14 months old so that's part of my excuse. Let's recap what has happened during that time while it's fresh in my mind from sorting through all the mess.
Months of morning (all day) sickness. Months of gestational diabetes - which will suck every ounce of energy you've ever had. Delivery of an almost 9 pound baby in the occiput posterior position. (I use the real name because "sunny side up" just doesn't cut it). Healing from that delivery. Maternity leave with both kids at home. Returning to work full-time. Sending Kira to daycare. Getting her to take a bottle. Pumping at work. Nursing all night long. Sending Will to school and figuring out Kindergarten and homework. Finding the balance needed to be a full-time working parent of two with one in his first year of school and another in her first year of daycare. Figuring out how to pick up one from daycare and one from school and carry everything into the house through the snow and eat snacks and make dinner and eat dinner and do dishes and do homework and give baths and wash clothes and get everyone ready for bed all within the 5pm - 7pm window. Speech therapy. Doctors appointments galore until we figured out what Will was allergic to and why he couldn't breathe. Learning about immunizations and doing them differently with Kira. Collecting every piece of artwork a Kindergartener can make. Helping Will learn to read and write. Tying shoelaces. Riding bikes. Swimming. Diapers. Kira - learning to crawl - learning to walk - eating solid foods - learning to talk...
Whew!
Plus we'd been SAVING all our boy stuff since we didn't know if Kira would be a girl or a boy and so we'd accumulated 6 years of toys and clothes that would have been hand-me-downs had she been a boy. She's not. And we're NOT having any more kids so I am in "get rid of this stuff" mode! We've been giving away all the baby stuff that she doesn't need anymore. We've been donating toys and clothes to the "give away store" like mad.
And today....it was time for the PAPERS to get the boot. It is insane how much paper one can accumulate when their method of cleaning is to shove it all into a laundry basket and then stick the laundry basket into the closet...at least quarterly...for 2 years.
But now - thanks to this 3 day weekend - the attics are clean and the closets are clean and the papers are tossed or organized.
We are ready for a new school year! BRING IT ON! I'll try not to save every item of artwork my first grader makes. If I do, I'll put it right into the "WILL KEEPS" box! I will use my files and folders and organizational system that I've spent countless hours creating and re-creating and labeling with my label maker over the years.
Next on the "to-do" list: getting back in shape, catching up on the last 6 years of photo albums and scrapbooks, and filling in those darn baby books.
Here are a couple of gems I found while cleaning:
Quote from Will - "It's good to be alive 'cuz then you can do lots of good things!"
The 1st sentence Will wrote - "I SEE MY CAT ON A HAT."
Kira in her swing fussing from boredom turns into loud cry of pain. Mom hears change in cry and enters room to find Will on couch with rubber bands. Will says, "She's not crying because I shot her! She was crying before I shot her!"
Sunday, September 6, 2009
PREPARE/ENRICH
So I was driving home from the store yesterday and drove by this building that said:
PREPARE-ENRICH
It was so exciting because I had this professor in college who shared with us the assessment tools he'd developed to give people feedback about themselves and their relationships so that they can identify their strengths and areas to work on and grow as a couple...and I knew immediately that he is still out there helping people. I love it when people's dreams and hard work pay off and I want to give a shout out to Professor Olson! You rock!
PREPARE-ENRICH
It was so exciting because I had this professor in college who shared with us the assessment tools he'd developed to give people feedback about themselves and their relationships so that they can identify their strengths and areas to work on and grow as a couple...and I knew immediately that he is still out there helping people. I love it when people's dreams and hard work pay off and I want to give a shout out to Professor Olson! You rock!
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Full Circle & Synchronicity
I love it when things come full circle. I thought I had 2 examples...but it magically turned into 3!
1) I was having a discussion with someone about something. I called this particular thing going on "growing pains". That person thought that was an interesting way to think about it. Then time passed and I have a feeling that person talked about it with at least one other person because suddenly I was having lunch with someone else completely when I heard my own words come out of this other person's mouth. She was talking about how this particular thing was like "growing pains". So funny! So either it was just an interesting coincidence; or that whole thing just went FULL CIRCLE and I got to hear my own words be said back to me!
2) I follow this blog called SYNCH-RO-NI-ZING. She had this video that I liked by Will Hoffman. So then I did a search on You Tube for Will Hoffman and found another video by him. It wasn't as great as the first one but it was fun since he's talking about the law of nature. So then I get done watching that and end up watching this video about...(you guessed it!)... SYNCHRONIZING!!! I love that! I love when life works like that!
I highly recommend watching it. I could go on about how it relates to life and human behavior at work but I have boundaries and try not to write about work on my blog - especially on labor day weekend! Anyway - this all led me to an interesting looking website which I haven't spent much time on but have a feeling I'll enjoy.
3) Totally off-topic but really quickly:
There is this ridiculous article in the paper today. I almost felt like I was reading the tabloids there was so much spin in this thing. I gave an earful to my poor husband when he asked me about it and he told me I should write them a letter in response. I told him that I'm sure the 'powers that be' will have that covered. Don't believe everything you read folks. Even if there are kernals of truth - there is ALWAYS MORE TO THE STORY. You have nothing unless you have all the facts. It reminds me of Gossip.
I read a study once that said people believe the gossip they hear more than the facts in front of them. MORE THAN THE FACTS IN FRONT OF THEM. That's some powerful stuff folks! I hate gossip. Can't stand it. Try to stay away from it. Try not to spend too much time with those who love to hear and spread it. Gossip only gives you one side of the story and often that one side of the story isn't 100% accurate.
I always like to get my facts from the SOURCE. Go to the CORE. Go to the ROOT. Get to the HEART of an issue. Get to the BOTTOM of a matter. I love that. I love writing that.
When will our workplaces evolve into places where "office politics" is a thing of the past?! I think we're getting there little by little my friends. The reason I know this is because the very thing that will help us get there - is the very thing I was talking about when I had those "growing pains" conversations. How's that for life bringing this blog post FULL CIRCLE for me?!
Seriously folks. I'm not making this stuff up. This is how my life works! LOVE it!
1) I was having a discussion with someone about something. I called this particular thing going on "growing pains". That person thought that was an interesting way to think about it. Then time passed and I have a feeling that person talked about it with at least one other person because suddenly I was having lunch with someone else completely when I heard my own words come out of this other person's mouth. She was talking about how this particular thing was like "growing pains". So funny! So either it was just an interesting coincidence; or that whole thing just went FULL CIRCLE and I got to hear my own words be said back to me!
2) I follow this blog called SYNCH-RO-NI-ZING. She had this video that I liked by Will Hoffman. So then I did a search on You Tube for Will Hoffman and found another video by him. It wasn't as great as the first one but it was fun since he's talking about the law of nature. So then I get done watching that and end up watching this video about...(you guessed it!)... SYNCHRONIZING!!! I love that! I love when life works like that!
I highly recommend watching it. I could go on about how it relates to life and human behavior at work but I have boundaries and try not to write about work on my blog - especially on labor day weekend! Anyway - this all led me to an interesting looking website which I haven't spent much time on but have a feeling I'll enjoy.
3) Totally off-topic but really quickly:
There is this ridiculous article in the paper today. I almost felt like I was reading the tabloids there was so much spin in this thing. I gave an earful to my poor husband when he asked me about it and he told me I should write them a letter in response. I told him that I'm sure the 'powers that be' will have that covered. Don't believe everything you read folks. Even if there are kernals of truth - there is ALWAYS MORE TO THE STORY. You have nothing unless you have all the facts. It reminds me of Gossip.
I read a study once that said people believe the gossip they hear more than the facts in front of them. MORE THAN THE FACTS IN FRONT OF THEM. That's some powerful stuff folks! I hate gossip. Can't stand it. Try to stay away from it. Try not to spend too much time with those who love to hear and spread it. Gossip only gives you one side of the story and often that one side of the story isn't 100% accurate.
I always like to get my facts from the SOURCE. Go to the CORE. Go to the ROOT. Get to the HEART of an issue. Get to the BOTTOM of a matter. I love that. I love writing that.
When will our workplaces evolve into places where "office politics" is a thing of the past?! I think we're getting there little by little my friends. The reason I know this is because the very thing that will help us get there - is the very thing I was talking about when I had those "growing pains" conversations. How's that for life bringing this blog post FULL CIRCLE for me?!
Seriously folks. I'm not making this stuff up. This is how my life works! LOVE it!
Friday, September 4, 2009
Labor Day Weekend!
I got this quote of the day from someone at work today:
"Many people worry so much about managing their careers, but rarely spend half that much energy managing their lives. I want to make my life, not just my job, the best it can be. The rest will work itself out." Reese Witherspoon
Amen Sister!
"Many people worry so much about managing their careers, but rarely spend half that much energy managing their lives. I want to make my life, not just my job, the best it can be. The rest will work itself out." Reese Witherspoon
Amen Sister!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
School ramblings
William is growing up! When he was younger (age 4), he couldn't talk about his day. It was too much for him. I think it's hard for little kids to remember the crazy facts that adults will solicit for after the first few days of daycare or preschool. What did you do today? I don't know. What did you eat for lunch? I don't know. It's not that they don't want to talk about it. They just seriously can't remember. Their little brains are gathering so much information and they don't realize they're supposed to retain stupid little facts about what they ate and what they did and what they learned. They just EAT and DO and LEARN - in the moment and move on with their fun lives.
Last year (kindergarten - age 5) we found a balance. He couldn't volunteer information about his day upon request but I could ask questions and he could answer them. Did you have gym today? Yes. Did you eat all your sandwich? No. Did you play with so-in-so at recess? Yes. Then often he'd come up with things to tell me when we'd snuggle at night before bed. So-in-so has a cow in their backyard that woke them up with it's moo-ing in the middle of the night. There are aliens in the haunted house behind the playground. So-in-so killed an invisible alien today but it was invisible so I couldn't see it. Always interesting these stories... and they often led to conversations intended to solicit just a tiny bit of critical thinking from my gullible young one.
So now we're in 1st grade (age 6) and he's a bit older. He gets that I want a few nuggets about the day and he's more willing to share. He had three things to tell me today - unsolicited. I won't go into detail about them all - just one.
I can't write it clearly because it didn't make sense totally. He seemed to be saying "pat on the back" but was clapping like a "round of applause"... so I'm not exactly sure what words were said but there was clapping as a form of praise.
He said, "Ms. T told us to give ourselves a (round of APPLAUSE) and everyone clapped. Then I said, 'Everyone give Ms. T a (round of APPLAUSE)' and she said 'Thank You!'" He was BEAMING and then gave me a hug so hard it hurt us both.
I love that about him. What 1st grader does that on their 2nd day of school?! She gave them praise and it made him feel good so he immediately gives her praise that I'm sure made her feel good. I'm telling you. He's a natural born leader that one.
He's also always thinking outside the box (especially for bedtime snacks). Do you want A or B? C. No. How about D? No - you can have A or B. That's it. Nothing else. Pick one or you get nothing.
It makes for interesting parenting because I love that about him and it will serve him well later in life but there are plenty of times I want him INSIDE that box. So sometimes he gets C and sometimes he has to pick from A and B no matter how wonderfully creative C is.
One last story:
He had to pick 5 words to describe himself on his homework tonight. Here they are:
1) LOVE TEACHER (how cute!)
2) HAPPY
3) FRIENDLY
4) FUN
5) SMART
Last year (kindergarten - age 5) we found a balance. He couldn't volunteer information about his day upon request but I could ask questions and he could answer them. Did you have gym today? Yes. Did you eat all your sandwich? No. Did you play with so-in-so at recess? Yes. Then often he'd come up with things to tell me when we'd snuggle at night before bed. So-in-so has a cow in their backyard that woke them up with it's moo-ing in the middle of the night. There are aliens in the haunted house behind the playground. So-in-so killed an invisible alien today but it was invisible so I couldn't see it. Always interesting these stories... and they often led to conversations intended to solicit just a tiny bit of critical thinking from my gullible young one.
So now we're in 1st grade (age 6) and he's a bit older. He gets that I want a few nuggets about the day and he's more willing to share. He had three things to tell me today - unsolicited. I won't go into detail about them all - just one.
I can't write it clearly because it didn't make sense totally. He seemed to be saying "pat on the back" but was clapping like a "round of applause"... so I'm not exactly sure what words were said but there was clapping as a form of praise.
He said, "Ms. T told us to give ourselves a (round of APPLAUSE) and everyone clapped. Then I said, 'Everyone give Ms. T a (round of APPLAUSE)' and she said 'Thank You!'" He was BEAMING and then gave me a hug so hard it hurt us both.
I love that about him. What 1st grader does that on their 2nd day of school?! She gave them praise and it made him feel good so he immediately gives her praise that I'm sure made her feel good. I'm telling you. He's a natural born leader that one.
He's also always thinking outside the box (especially for bedtime snacks). Do you want A or B? C. No. How about D? No - you can have A or B. That's it. Nothing else. Pick one or you get nothing.
It makes for interesting parenting because I love that about him and it will serve him well later in life but there are plenty of times I want him INSIDE that box. So sometimes he gets C and sometimes he has to pick from A and B no matter how wonderfully creative C is.
One last story:
He had to pick 5 words to describe himself on his homework tonight. Here they are:
1) LOVE TEACHER (how cute!)
2) HAPPY
3) FRIENDLY
4) FUN
5) SMART
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
1st Grade!
These pictures don't reflect Will's excitement about school starting back up, but he woke up and started shouting, "Mom! I'm awake and I can't wait (for school)!" He did a happy dance right before this photo was taken.
Then we went outside for the annual front door pose...
and some photos with the rest of the family...
until he collapsed from all the paparrazi! 
Then off to school for the first day of 1st grade!
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