Cheese Curls

"Cheese curls Mommy!" This has been a constant refrain around here for the last couple days. However, he's not talking about the snack food. He's talking about these little guys:

If you don't immediately recognize them, it's probably because you don't have little kids who love VeggieTales. These are persistent little creatures who impersonate a snack food in the VeggieTales movie The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything.

But why was Zachary saying it over and over? It wasn't because he wanted to watch the movie - he wasn't pointing at the DVD cabinet and saying it (like he does with How The Grinch Stole Christmas "Grinch Daddy!"). No, he mostly said it when he was near the kitchen, and I realized he was saying it while pointing at our Easter Lily.

(No, that's not our lily. That's a picture I plucked from the internet because a picture of our lily plant would include a picture of the state of our apartment and I want you to look at the flower, not the pig sty we live in. I say it's because there's not enough space to put everything. C says it's because I put priority on playing and going on outings. ...even if he might be right, it still doesn't change the fact that there simply isn't enough closet space here)

Then, one day I was on the other side of the counter and I looked at the lily from Z's point of view. And you won't believe what I saw:

Cheese Curls!!

If I stall, maybe the baby will go back to sleep...

I've been writing blog posts in my head, but can't seem to make the time to type them up blah blah blah. You don't really want to hear about that; I say it because it makes ME feel better.
--

Right after I wrote those words I was interrupted by this:

This is a 2.5 year old who's walking funny, pointing 'down there', and saying, "Yuck!" It was so yucky, in fact, that he is now in the tub while I'm sitting on his bed where I have an oblique view of the tub (his room is technically the "master", but it opens right into the living room, so we took the room down the hall), trying to write this post that's apparently going nowhere, taking breaks every 10 minutes to check on The Infant Who Will Not Nap Unless Someone Is Holding Him.

It's okay though. I don't mind. I just wish I could blog a little more often.

The most exciting thing going on in our lives at the moment is that we're THIS close to making a decision on buying a house! We've gone round and round, back and forth about whether we should rent or buy? Rent a house or apt? Buy used or new? Which community? What school district? etc. ad infinitum. (quick break....nope, baby's not asleep yet)

This is the floorplan we really like:Hopefully I'll have some blog posts in the future centered around the construction progress.

Other things going on...

My sister (in law) is getting married! The wedding is set for the end of August and C and I are both in the wedding party! I have a date with a friend this evening to try on bridesmaid dresses.

Since we'll be in PA for the wedding in August, we decided not to go there for July 4th like we did last year. And since a planned vacation is a terrible thing to waste, we're headed to CA for the Fourth instead :-) There are several family members who've never met D, and we really can't let that go on too much longer. (Speaking of D, I think he's actually asleep! I now start the stopwatch and hope it lasts longer than 30min!). It will be a whirlwind tour of CA, as usual: fly into So.Cal, spend a few days; drive through Bakersfield to Nor.Cal, spend a few days (C will fly home at that point); drive back to Bakersfield, spend a few days; finally the boys and I will fly out of LA. Yay!

I've now been the Area Director here for AuPairCare for five months. I only have three Au Pairs, but there's one on the horizon and I have a couple marketing possibilities in the next couple months that will hopefully yield a few more. I really enjoy the customer service aspect: talking with the families, spending time with the Au Pairs, answering questions, etc., but the marketing is a little harder for me. It's not as difficult as making phone calls for Cutco (another position where I enjoyed the people part), and my manager is very supportive and caring (unlike Cutco where they get so many people come and go that they just don't spend too much time with any single person)(don't get me wrong, I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Cutco cutlery and cookware, I just wasn't as good at the job). I lost my train of thought...moving on!

I should probably get Z out of the tub soon, but I remembered one more thing I've been meaning to post. I took this picture before packaging it up to send for my nephew (!!) before he was born:
(There's a whole backstory, but you know what? I just tried to tell you about it, but I can't remember exactly what happened! (Let's talk about sleep deprivation and its effects on short-term memory...) Anyway, I have a drawer full of almost another blanket worth of yellow and green squares, because at some point in the construction of the blanket I forgot what hook size I was using. )

I couldn't (obviously) post the picture before the gift was received and opened, and then, you know, life got in the way, and I still hadn't posted it 3 months later. BUT it turns out that I knew what I was doing because I received this picture earlier this week:
Yep, that's my nephew (how many times can I work that into a single post?) wearing the little jacket I made for him! It was really sweet of my sister-in-law to email it to me.

I hear awake (and not particularly happy) noises coming from the direction of not-where-I-am, and so I check my stopwatch, and sure enough! 30 minutes. Almost on the dot. I guess I'm done!

This kid blows me away

I'm supposed to be making lunch so it'll be ready when C gets here, so I really shouldn't be blogging, but I HAVE to share this. And I have to share it NOW.

Z likes caring for his toys the way we care for him and for D (role playing, it's pretty cool), so he wanted my help putting Dinosaur down for nap:


He tucked Dinosaur in, kissed him, and then, AND THEN: he prayed with him. Because we pray with Z before turning out the lights and closing the door (and locking it, and yes, Z locked Dinosaur in too). At least we're doing one thing right :-)

Cloth Diapers ARE NOT complicated! Really!

I don't really have time to write a blog post (okay, I DO, but I should be spending the time in other ways), but I need to sit down for just a moment before attacking the next item on my list and I just HAVE to share this. It slays me! Okay, so we use cloth diapers. We chose a system that involves prefolds and covers. They're called "prefolds" because each diaper has multiple layers, unlike a flat diaper that needs to be folded into layers before using. We chose prefolds because, let's face it, it was the least expensive CD system (CD=cloth diapers). They are not the simplest system. Even though they're called prefolds, you have to fold the diaper before putting it on the child, and then you have to use something to secure it, either pins or a snappi, and then you need a waterproof (or water-resistant) cover to keep clothes dry. (Please tell me you understand the concept of "wicking"). (I'd link each of those italicized words, but I don't want to spend the time. If you'd like more definition than I gave, try http://www.diaperpin.com/dictionary.asp. For "snappi", check out http://www.snappibaby.com/products/snappidiaperfastener.html)

Here's the problem: care-givers are often confused by cloth diapers. I can even walk someone through a diaper change, step-by-step, when I drop Z off, but when I pick him up, I can expect to see some strange, less-than-effective, attempt. I usually find it humorous. I can't blame them for having trouble. So, with our new little D, I was ecstatic that our increased salary allowed for a little bit in the budget to pick up some pocket diapers. These combine a waterproof cover with a fabric layer, leaving an opening. You stuff something absorbent (like microfiber, or even a prefold diaper) in the "pocket" and the diaper is just like a disposable: pull it out of the bag, put it on the child, secure the velcro or snaps, and you're done! No folding, no pins/snappi - Easy!

THE POINT OF MY POST:
So today I went to bible study. I explained that Z is in cloth diapers, but that they're very easy, just like a disposable. And then I left, completely confident that all was well as far as Z's heiny was concerned (he barely said goodbye to me, he was so busy already, so I was also confident that he was going to enjoy himself). Fast forward a couple hours: we're back at home, I'm trying to get D out of his seat before he COMPLETELY loses it, Z is hanging on me and whining for something (you know, the usual scene) and something about the back of Z's pant waist catches my attention. I was so startled, I stopped unbuckling the car seat and pulled Z's pants down. You will not believe what I saw: THE DEAR LADIES AT CHURCH THIS MORNING HAD PUT Z'S DIAPER ON INSIDE OUT. INSIDE OUT!! How can one possibly confuse the inside of a pocket diaper with its outside?? One side is soft and comfy and the other is...the outside. The waterproof outside. And it has snaps! They had the snaps against his skin! I think I died laughing. (Which Z probably didn't appreciate "Mommy, my pants are on the ground and you're laughing so hard you're crying...")

I'll still try to have a pocket diaper on hand whenever I have to drop either boy off with someone, but I think I'll spend just a moment to pull the diaper out and explain how it works ;-)

It's better abbreviated, trust me

I like telling stories, which is why I like blogging (when I get the time AND can remember what I wanted to blog about, which is rare). I have a story from today, but I don't really feel like telling it, and I've written this post over and over and keep deleting it 'cause it's just not coming out right. So I'll just summarize: SUNSHINE! PLAYGROUND! KEYSLOCKEDINTHECAR! RAIN! TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR! AAA RESCUE!
the end.

Isn't all clothing reversible??

I had a chiropractic appointment this morning. It's the fourth one in a week! I'd been seeing a chiropractor regularly - once a month - in Nashville (Dr. Sanford). However, this guy (Dr. Russell) took one look at my x-ray and has me coming in three times a week for six weeks, then twice a week for five weeks, then once a week for another three weeks, before we'll be ready to only come in once a month. That's a lot of visits! C and I are really glad that I'm going to get everything fixed. On the other hand, we're wondering why the other guy (Dr. Sanford) was content to have me come in only once a month. A little disconcerting. Complacent doctors are the worst kind.

So, at the chiropractor's this morning, he (Dr. Russell) pointed out that my shirt was on backwards. I wasn't really that embarrassed, at first, until he laughed so hard. I didn't think it was very nice. I mean, obviously I have my hands too full with two little boys to be worried about which way I have my shirt on. But besides the obvious, I was rather distracted this morning while I was trying to get dressed. We were running just a little behind this morning because I didn't get up until Z came into my room at 7:20. (You remember we lock his door? Well, apparently it doesn't always latch. So even though it's LOCKED and the knob won't turn, it still pulls open because it isn't LATCHED. Rather frustrating) Did I mention that C is out of town again? He got whisked away for three days for business. So I was on my own this morning to get all three of us pottied, clothed, fed, and out the door. I was about to put my shirt on when Z came into my closet holding two pieces of glass. Broken glass. Yes, my two year old had gotten ahold of broken glass and was PLAYING WITH IT. I dropped my shirt on the floor and took care of the child. Fortunately he came away with just a little cut on his thumb, which was easily patched with a band aid (which is still on at almost 5pm, surprisingly). When I finally got back to my closet to finish throwing clothes on, I (obviously) didn't pay attention to whether my shirt was right-side-out or not (I don't throw my clothes in the hamper after wearing them just once; they go on the hanger inside out to be worn again. This is repeated until (a) laundry day or (b) the item is too stained to go into public.)

So I didn't think it was very nice of Dr. Russell to laugh so hard. I didn't bother explaining though. I'll just be sure that my shirt is on right when we go in tomorrow. Maybe it'll motivate me enough to get up on time!

On motherhood

I miss blogging. I have been dying to blog! There are so many things I want to blog about! But I have so many other things to do, that blogging gets pushed back indefinitely. And everyday that I don't get here is another day's worth of topics floating around in my head, and then I just get overwhelmed, forget them all, and start over.

Laurie's post inspired me this morning. I don't have people loudly complaining (or complaining at all) when I don't blog (though sometimes I wish I did), but she inspired me nonetheless.

What I've been meaning to blog about: response to another fantastic post by Meagan Francis. I don't remember which post it was, or when she wrote it, or I'd link directly to it. I just spent the last ten minutes looking for it, which also happened to be the last ten minutes of D's nap, so now I'm trying to finish this with a squirmy baby on my lap. So far so good!

Where was I?

Meagan's post was about the responsibility that comes with motherhood. Not just parenthood, but motherhood. There's something special about Mom. And it's not just that she can feed baby and no one else can until he's been introduced to a bottle. I didn't understand or realize this until I read her post. I thought it was a parent thing and that C and I were equal partners. I would often lament/scold that I was the only one who got everything needed together when we went out. Why couldn't he remember the sippy cup of water for once? But after reading Meagan's post, I realized that it was probably unrealistic of me to expect him to take over sometimes. He's just not wired for it. It's my responsibility and privilege to remember the sippy cup.

The exclusiveness of my role as Mom was further revealed to me over the holidays while we had family visiting. They always looked to me. If there was a question regarding one of the boys, it was me they turned to, expecting me to have all the answers and tell them what to do. I remember the same thing when Z was a baby. My internal response was often, "but you (speaking to my mom or my mother-in-law) have more experience with babies, shouldn't you know what to do?" I realize now that it wasn't just about raw number of hours caring for children, it's also a question of whose children they are!

Another example: Z picked up a cold (at the dr's office, again) and kindly shared it with as many of us as he could, including his 1-month old brother. (I tell ya, there's nothing sadder than a congested infant!). As C and I were getting ready to go to sleep, we listened to D's congested breathing and C commented that I was an amazing woman. "Why? What do you mean?" I asked. He explained that I had a sleepless night ahead of me, but that I was going to do it (care for sick D). I had two simultaneous reactions. One was positive ("Yes, I AM going to take care of my baby!") and the other was negative ("You don't have work tomorrow, why do I have to be the only one who suffers?").

Yes, I am Mommy (hear me roar!). I forget sometimes, and get irritated at C (and other family), but in the end, I wouldn't trade it for anything! (Though I wouldn't have minded being able to finish this post in one sitting without infant and toddler interruptions...)