Preschool a motivator?

I went walking with my friend today. She is also pregnant, but still comfortably in her 2nd trimester. Her son is in my daughter's kindergarten class and her 2nd son will be in the same grade as my 2 year old although he is at least 7 months her senior. Our 3rd's will not be in the same class even though they will be closer in age than our 2nd's. We found that interesting.
She is hoping for a girl. We're happy to be having a boy after 2 girls. So in that I am gleaning all that I can about boys from her. Her oldest son is the model boy child and I hope mine will follow suit - please?
Today she informed me that she has signed up her son for preschool next year. It's a 2 day a week break and the price wasn't too bad. I confided that I would love to put my daughter in something like that and she said she was old enough as long as she is potty trained. (Always a catch!)
We actually have been working on that recently, but I certainly cannot hope that she will be fully equipped by September. Her sister was a few months past 3 before she was fully trained for me. She also had the grand help of an expert potty trainer, her babysitter. I'm in this on my own for the first time and it's kind of intimidating really. And she is bound to regress once the addition to the family arrives in late June, right? I had thoughts to not even try until after the baby comes, but she showed signs of being so ready to start that I felt compelled to give it a try. So we've been at it aggressively on and off for about a week.
Today, she was presenting some resistance to her training. At dinner I mentioned to her that if she could potty train she might be able to go to school next year. She screamed in delight and begged down from her high chair.
As soon as she was released, she ran away. Moments later her sister came back to inform me that she had FILLED the potty. I didn't believe it. She tends to take at least 5-10 minutes before weilding trickling results and I was sure it had been less than a minute, not to mention she had on a diaper not easily removed. I had to see this for myself.
There is was - a half full potty. We dumped it out into the big potty and she delightfully flushed. Then she wanted to go again. She sat down and was reluctant to get up. After a little while I informed her that perhaps it was too early to try again at the moment.
I've not seen a child so excited about learning her ABC's and 123's at 24 months old. Where does she come from? Who knows? Maybe she will be ready?

Glucose Test

I passed! Yea! No three hour fasting blood sucking test!

Vacation Sick

This morning as we were getting ready to go, Jessica informed me that she hated school. I don't think she really hates school and I said, "Are you sure you're not just tired of school? It is the end of the year, you know." Being that this is her first year of public school she is still learning how it goes. I explained that most everyone gets tired when it's almost time for summer vacation and then after a long break we're all ready and excited to go back to school again. She thought this over and then said, "I'm vacation sick."
[Translation: A few weeks ago she explained to me that this means she is missing whatever she is sick for. I think she decided that because "homesick" means you miss home that you can replace "home" for anything that you are wanting at the moment.]

Ode to be 7 months pregnant

Glucose test

Hoping I pass

Please not another 3 hour fast

Hurting inside and out

Can't see my toes

Can my skin possibly stretch any further?

Kicking on both ends

Reminding me of the life within

Tossing and turning all night

So tired. Can't sleep.

Hunger pains and heartburn

Sorry can't lift that

Sorry can't clean that

Sorry can't remember that

Sorry can't help you with that

Wishing I could

Wishing for more energy

Don't forget the vitamins

And the water

Walking and stopping

Breathing through another Braxton Hicks

Just 10 more weeks

To hold that little one

In my arms

After the pain is done

So worth every minute

Ode to be almost 6

To have conquered the basic skills of man

Walking, Talking, Climbing, Biking

Reading, Writing and learning to tell time

Knowing what I want to say and what I want to play

School friends, parks and merry go rounds

Sand boxes, slides, and swings!

Cooking in an easy bake oven

Finding my own shows on TIVO

Big enough to care for my cat

And get my own treats

Birthday parties are fun

Christmas is magical

Santa is real

So is the Easter Bunny,

and the Tooth Fairy

No worries or cares

Except maybe the chores

That can wait til I'm done pretending

I'm a princess in a palace

Or a prima ballerina

Mom still tucks me into bed

Dad still kisses me goodnight

Even though I can count to 100

And read my own bedtime story.

Oh to be almost 6!

Ode to be 2

Glancing down at my tiny 2 year old
laying down beside me
sucking her thumb with one hand,
holding her "po" with the other
while I rub the soft skin of her back.
The world must be so big from 32 inches tall.

Her little feet padding double time to keep up.
What comfort to know all is well.
No problem too big that mama can't fix

Hugs and kisses abound
Oh to be 2.

Branch Campout

We just got back from our branch campout to Lake Somerville. I contemplated a hotel room since I am 7 months pregnant, but economics won out and I got a double high air mattress instead.
We put up our tent for the first time in two 1/2 years since we bought it. We'd forgotten what it was supposed to look like, but not to worry, it was a nice tent with double rooms for the girls and us. I was pleased with the space it offered and we all did farely well last night - well once the noise died down long enough for me to sleep.
I must say I have the best behaved kids. I can only be grateful. While the other families fought their little ones to go to sleep last night, mine informed me it was time and were both out by 9:30pm before anyone else. I tucked them in after a quick prayer, kissed them good night and away I went. The other moms asked if my kids were asleep. I said, "I think so. I don't really hang around to find out." They couldn't believe that even in an unknown environment they would just do that. I never thought about it. They both had their security blankets (Lily had her pillowcase) and that was enough familiarity for them I guess. They both reported a good sleep last night so. . .?
Jhonny was on call and so he was there and gone and there and gone again. At least he was available to set up and take things down. He even slept a bit which was nice. It got kind of cold and I was happy to have him to snuggle up against. I'm also extremely grateful for the allergy shot he got a few weeks ago. No snoring!! I was grateful for that while we slept under a moss covered tree and on top of grass.
We went on a boat ride this morning. I pondered as we scooted across the waves of the lake about having a boat. Jhonny has been mentioning this need for one. I of course look at the bank accounts and deny the need. However I was thinking how nice it would be to have one to build fun memories with our kids. My grandparents had one while my dad and his siblings grew up and all they talk about are the stories of going water and snow skiing as a family.
Skiing is in my blood. Over the years, I've miraculously learned how to do both. I could be better with more practice, but I still enjoy a good ski trip. I looked at my kids and wondered if they would get those same experiences some day. I hope so. There's nothing quite so exhilarating as skidding across the wake in a water weenie and being thrown off to tumble into the water.
It would be nice to even go out in a row boat and go fishing on the lake. A row boat can't be too expensive can it? I wouldn't know - I've never perused prices in that area.
As my pains got worse from chasing Lily and walking back and forth from one area to another, I realized that in my state, water skiing (although available this morning), swimming in the freezing lake, or even hiking on the trails were out of the question. Jessica had her fill of the freezing cold water earlier and since Jhonny got the call to leave for work and was gone, I decided it was time to pack up the kids and go home. They didn't complain.
We'll go back someday. It was fun, but I imagine the whole experiencing being WAY more fun when I'm not pregnant. I would not have made a good pregnant pioneer. I feel for the person or ox that would have had to carry me across the plains to avoid a premature labor.
Goodbye Lake Somerville. Until next year or sooner!?!

Leftover S'mores in the microwave. (I forgot to take the camera on the trip)

Kittens for Free!

Anyone?

More Bluebonnets

Jessica had a day off school yesterday. So as promised, I took her and Lily for a photoshoot with the wildflowers. What a beautiful day!

Ga$ Humor

Thanks, Tiff. I needed a good laugh today.

Happy Yoyo

Last Thursday Lily turned 2! We made a quick trip to Houston to pick up Jhonny and went to Olive Garden to celebrate her birthday (April 10) and our anniversary (April 11 & 12).

Friday we got ready for Lily's birthday party. I tried my hand at cake decorating. It turned out better than I expected! Jessica was jealous that I haven't done something like that for her, but I promised to try again for her party. Then Jhonny and I went out for a date. Saturday we finished the final touches and waited for our guests.

Friends and cousins came. We played in the backyard. We sat and talked. We ate cupcakes and rootbeer floats. We pulled strings on a piñata. We opened lots of Dora gifts. We played some more and then our guests left. We cleaned up. We went to another birthday party for our neighbor's daughter. We came home. The girls went to bed. Jhonny cleaned up more. I worked on sharing time for Primary. We went to bed late. What a great day.

All week Lily was singing a song, "Happy yoyo." It wasn't until I turned the volume up on the strawberry shortcake movie in the car that I realized the song was "Happy Birthday to you." She loved getting phone calls from her aunts, grandma and friends to sing Happy Birthday to her over the phone.

From what I am discovering, Dora is sort of losing popularity in the birthday party department, but not for Lily. She is obsessed. I don't really know where she discovered Dora. One day she asked to watch it (I didn't know she knew it existed) and now her first words to me in the morning are, "I want Dora and Boots!" Last night at the neighbor's house, she found the remote control for their TV and came up to me with it and said, "Dora, mom. Gimme Dora!"

Needless to say, she had a great birthday party.

Allergies Part II

The good news is Lily is not allergic. So the doctor who told me last summer that she was merely suffering from allergies when her nose would not stop draining and I feared an ear infection which she did develop within days was sadly mistaken. She has little to no allergies at all. No wonder the very expensive Clariton that he prescribed did NOTHING for her. I'm pretty sure the poor girl was suffering from a sinus or upper respitory infection. Definitely NOT allergies. Now at least for the future I can say - she was tested. This is not an allergic reaction.
Jhonny, on the other hand, has a problem. He tested severely or stongly allergic to just about everything they pricked him with. All oak trees, ragweed, cedar, dustmites, cats, etc. Everything but food and mold. He will be starting a series of shots because as the doctor said - it's impossible to avoid the things he is allergic to. His allergies are so bad right now that he can scratch his skin and it turns into a welt.
His comment to the doctor, "But I never had allergies until I moved here from Venezuela." Naturally, I thought. What vegetation is there on a beach, but palm trees, the one tree he is NOT allergic to? My thoughts - he was just never exposed before he moved here to the land of vegetation.

Men and Medicine

Tomorrow we head to the allergist to find out what Jhonny and Lily are allergic to and hopefully clear up this constant sinus problem that is keeping both Jhonny and I awake at night.
I'm sure other wives can relate to the fact that if it weren't for me he would never go to the doctor. I've bugged him over the years to go, but he never gets around to calling and making the appointment. I didn't bother this time. I called myself.
Do single men ever go to the doctor? Or is it just my husband who doesn't know how to pick up the phone and admit that he has a medical problem?

Conference Bingo

This weekend when we explained to Jessica that it was General Conference, she eagerly asked if we were going to do our Conference Bingo again like last time. It's amazing how quickly 6 months passes. It seems like yesterday that we were trying out this new gimmick to get Jessica (and some others) to stay awake and pay attention to conference. I assured her we would and stocked up on the M&M's and Jellybeans for the game. I think we have started a new tradition that hopefully will make pleasant and positive memories for our kids during Conference.

We set up conference on the TV in our living room thanks to a nifty cable Jhonny bought to hook up the computer to the TV screen. The Bingo works pretty well for 5 year olds who might not otherwise listen to a word going on. She actually looked forward to all four sessions and never complained that we didn't do much else all weekend! Wow. I don't think I ever sat through two days of conference at her age.

It didn't work so well for our almost 2 year old however. She ate all her pieces within the first fifteen minutes and tried to steal everyone else's. She pretended to play along for a little while, but ended up in a nap before the first session was over.

Overall, I enjoyed watching conference and sustaining our new Prophet. My favorite talk however came at the very end by Elder Ballard. He spoke to mothers. How appropriate! I loved his advise to maintain sanity by finding time for ourselves and enriching our lives so that our buckets will get replenished to give to everyone else. Enjoy the fleeting moments, and don't overschedule yourself.

The best advise had to be when he spoke to husbands and children about what they could do for mothers - give her appreciation, validation and a break once in a while, do your chores without being asked, say THANK YOU more often, and give her hugs and tell her you love her! Amen and Amen!

His words reinforced exactly what I have been feeling in the past few months as I've eased into this stay at home full time mom routine. It was very validating. My only regret was that I didn't have more room in my journal to get it all down. I will be reading this one for sure!

April Fools

It occured to me this morning that it's April Fools Day. It's not really a frequent holiday celebrated around here. I only remembered because Jessica said something about it yesterday.

Jessica: Mom, can we have Lily's birthday party tomorrow for April Fools Day?
Me with a confused look on my face: No.

I tried to think of some brilliant joke to play, but I think I was already played by the Insomnia Fairy and my brain wouldn't work.

Nose Bleeds

Jess had her first nose bleed at school yesterday. Cause? No idea. This morning I found some evidence of another one last night. Later I found even more evidence on her bed. I still don't know the cause.
I tried to think back to my own nose bleeds. I don't remember mom ever taking them too seriously, but they usually occured from hitting my nose or something. She didn't seem to even think she had had one. If she didn't hit her nose, where is it coming from?
It's a mother mystery to solve. I'm waiting to see if there are reports of another one today.

Insomnia

I woke up last night at 2 am. I do almost every night, but last night, I couldn't go back to sleep. My mind was busy keeping me awake as I planned two upcoming birthday parties and wondered if I should maybe write the ideas down somewhere since inevitably I will forget my brilliance. Then my mind moved on to other things.
I am currently writing my life history while I still remember it. I was up to preparing to go on my mission and stopped to take a break. So I was thinking about my progress and if there was anything I had left out and writing and rewriting the whole thing in my head. I wondered if I wasn't in too much of a hurry to get to the present. Maybe I should slow down and put in more details. . .or maybe I should erase some parts??
I'm tempted, but as difficult as it may be to write - my grandmother has inspired me. I just finished her story and she left in the parts she probably would rather have erased. I was grateful. As difficult as it must have been to write, I know that without conflict, there isn't a story. Her justification of trucking through the mud? "If I don't tell the whole truth, what's the point of writing it?" I have to agree. It's a painful process at times to relive the embarrasing naive choices and mistakes of my youth, but if I leave them out who will benefit and who will want to read it?
I hope that someday when my grand daughter is feeling rather dumb at making a silly mistake and wonders if she is the only one, she will find hope in my story that she is not and there is redemption. Maybe she will even gain something from my mistakes. I do plan on being a miraculously perfect human being by the time I die by the way.
Anyway, after lying there for over an hour, I finally got up and went into the other room as to not disturb my sleeping, snoring husband (perhaps that was part of the cause?) who is suffering from rhinitus of Spring Allergy Season, and opened my story. I wrote until 6 am before I quit and decided I might finally fall asleep for an hour before having to get up. I tiptoed into my bedroom to find my husband now up studying for his big presentation tomorrow.
He wanted to talk. I wanted to sleep. After twenty minutes of mm-hmms, I finally informed him that I intended to get some shut eye before I had to be up in 40 minutes. He left me alone and I finally slept. That is until 7am when I woke up to help get Jessica on her way to school. Fortunately Jhonny was home this morning to take her. He does when he doesn't have to take off for work at 3am.
Lily of course wouldn't let me go back to bed. Now I'm up and I can't sleep again. It's 1:30pm and I'm still in PJ's as is Lily who is taking her nap. Some days are like that I guess. If only I didn't have to go get dressed so I won't be entirely embarrassed as I pick up Jessica from school. I envy those who get to wait for a school bus to bring home their precious children. 1/2 mile more and I could have enjoyed that luxury myself. Sigh.