My baby's not a baby anymore!!!

About two weeks ago, when I was dropping Carter off at preschool, his teacher took a look at Mary Ava’s self-chosen outfit and said, “Boy, I can tell you’re a character.” After admitting that I can’t really come up with words to describe my precious THREE year old, she replied, “Well you got the rest of the year to think of a description for me.”


I didn’t really know how to respond to this. At the time I just kind of laughed it off, and I must admit, I was even a little offended. But even still, it made me think. Why can’t I come up with words to describe my not so little anymore bundle of joy?


Mary Ava was my easiest baby. She didn’t cry unless she was hungry, needed to be changed or was being picked on by one of her siblings. She was easy going and smiled at everyone. But after that first go with the flow year, she began to change. She morphed into a child with a STRONG opinion. A child that wouldn’t do anything she didn’t want to and everything she did. Right after her first birthday, before her vocabulary developed beyond a handful of words, Mary Ava began squealing and growling at anyone and everything if things didn’t go her way. I never thought I would have to tell my beautiful little lady to “Stop growling.” Now that she has many words, she doesn’t growl any longer, but she still practices her squeal whenever she can and has no problem letting her brother and sister know when they have pushed their luck.


At times, Mary Ava can be the sweetest, most thoughtful child but she can also give you a look that makes you think she is silently willing your head to pop off your body. Sometimes she will share her last bite of a special treat with Jenna or Carter and other times, she would rather throw away left over fruit snacks than share them with a sibling.


Mary Ava is feisty and full of opinion, but also loves to please her Mommy and Daddy—she actually gets quite upset when she knows she has done something wrong. She has a way of infuriating me with her “I do it by MESELF” faze, but then looks up at me with her gorgeous blue eyes and says, “You’re the best mommy ever!” She has her own sense of style and coordination, but likes to make sure she looks pretty!


Mary Ava is a smart little girl. She knows her ABC’s, can count, sing songs, and is beginning to learn some letter sounds (That’s a perk to having kids close in age. She is trying to keep up with Carter!) But, and this is a HUGE but, she absolutely refuses to be potty trained.


Really, I could list anecdotes forever, but there’s no need. After really thinking about it for awhile, clearly, I am able to describe my child. Just not in a set in stone way and not with just one or two words. But why should I? I began to realize that at this point in her short little life, I don’t have to come up with words to describe Mary Ava. They will come on their own. As she continues to grow, she will decide who she wants to become and as daunting as the years ahead may seem, I look forward to it.


But for today, I am just going to say HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY to my precious Mary Ava—my easy going but feisty, sweet but devilish, smart but stubborn, crazy but loving, beautiful baby girl. You have brought much joy to our family and I treasure the craziness and fun you have brought to our family. It is a great honor to be your mommy and I will continue to love you no matter who you become!!!

Every Little Girl Wants to Marry Prince Charming

Jenna is “love” crazy. She loves everything about people being in love and her favorite part of a movie is when the boy and girl finally fall in love or even kiss. Yes, I know she is only seven. But her intentions are innocent—she wants to see a happy couple. When Jenna was two, and on a major princess kick, she decided she was going to marry Prince Charming. This went on for a long time. (She has since moved on to Justin Bieber and has even “married” him—his picture at least.)

Right around this time I remember riding in the car with my very precocious little Jenna and she was once again talking about marrying Prince Charming. And that’s when it hit me. She should marry Prince Charming--HER Prince Charming. A prince who will love her unconditionally with all his heart, even during her worst moments. A prince who will treat her like a princess even when she is acting like a princess. A prince that will support and encourage her, laugh with her, grow with her, respect her, pick her up when she falls, and praise her when she succeeds. A prince, who above all else, devotes his life to making her happy.

Eighteen years ago, while on family vacation as a teenager, I met my Prince. And ten years ago today, after dating through high school and college, I married my Prince. He may be more the Shrek or Beast type prince, but he is MY prince and I love him more every day!

John…You are a wonderful man, father and husband. I thank God every day for bringing you into my life. I have enjoyed every minute we have shared and look forward to the making more wonderful memories in the future. Thank you for devoting your life to making me happy! I love you with all my heart and soul—Happy 10th Anniversary!!!

Jenna and Mary Ava…One day you will find your prince. And when that day comes, many years for now, I only hope you will be as happy as your daddy makes me!

Library streaking...it's a new sport!

When I had just Jenna, even for awhile after Carter was born, we went to the library regularly. We went at least once a week, sometimes even twice. But once Jenna started school (and now with Carter in preschool) it has gotten hard to fit Storytime or Play Art in around bus pick-ups and drop-offs. I still take my kids to the library, just not as regularly. Actually, most of the time, I just place a request and pick it up at the drive up window.

Since I had items that needed to be returned, I decided to take Carter and Mary Ava to Play Art. Everything started out great. We got there early enough to select new books and movies before Play Art began and the kids even sat and listened quietly to the story being read by the librarian.

For those of you that have attended Play Art, you know there are are two kinds of moms. The ones that for whatever reason, whether it's the need to be in control, to make their children appear perfect, or maybe even just because they like to do childish art projects themselves, they will not let their child complete the art project themselves. Then there are moms like me, the ones that let their child do the entire project. Even if it includes cutting strips of garbage bag and stapling them to a paper plate with a ghost face drawn on with a Sharpie marker. Who cares if the face is a bunch of scribbles instead of the traditional ghost eyes and mouth? Who cares if Carter's strips of bag were cut in half length wise and were shorter than all the others. Who cares? Right???

Before she even touched the Sharpie to the plate, Mary Ava had marker on her hands. If you know my children they can't stand for their hands to be dirty. As soon as Mary Ava her marked up hands, she wanted to wash them. Somehow I convinced her to wait until she was finished the project and she continued coloring. After she finished, I tied the string on the top of the plate to hang her ghost, Mary Ava ran over to the sink to wash her hands and I moved on to help Carter finish up his ghost plate.

I guess Mary Ava was a little over zealous in washing her hands because when she came back to the table, her sleeves were wet up to her armpits. To say the least, she freaked out! Of course, I left the diaper bag in the car, but we were getting ready to check out, so I took her shirt off, put her coat on and zipped it up. This made her happy!

As we walked to the check out desk, Carter and Mary Ava headed for their usually waiting place...the chairs about 10 feet from the counter. I began placing the books and movies to be checked out on the desk when I felt a coat hit my bag. I didn't think anything of it, I figured it was one of my kid's coats. Even when the librarians behind the desk were looking towards my children laughing out loud, I didn't think anything of it. As I turned to see what was so funny, I realized that it was Mary Ava's coat that had been thrown at me and she was currently topless, running around the library and ever so happy about it!

At that point, as my two-year-old was running around the library naked, I finished checking out, grabbed her coat, put it on my streaking baby and headed for the door!

Kiwi

Several years ago, when Jenna was still an only child, I remember standing at the stove making breakfast when my precocious little lady ran in and announced,"Daddy has a kiwi!" I stood there in a state of confusion. I am the one who does the grocery shopping and I knew for a fact that there were currently no kiwi in the house. Several moments later, John walked in and clarified the situation for me. Apparently, Jenna walked in on him using the bathroom and promptly named his boy parts kiwi. From that day on we jokingly continued to call boy parts kiwi and have carried on the "kiwi" tradition with Carter. (FYI-Jenna is aware that there is other terms for said body parts but refuses to use those terms.)

Fast forward to this morning. Jenna and Carter were sitting at the table eating their cereal when Mary Ava woke up. I changed her diaper, wiped the snot off her face, kissed her cheek and put her in her high chair.

As I walked to the refrigerator and opened the fruit drawer, I asked Jenna if she wanted a kiwi. To which she replied, "I don't like kiwi."

Then I wondered aloud, "Will Mary Ava eat kiwi?"

At this point, my little man looked at me confused. He stood up on the chair, covered his crotch with his hands and said, "No Mommy. Mimi no eat me kiwi."

Jenna and I looked at each other and started cracking up. I was flabbergasted. As you know, Carter doesn't talk much. I think these seven words may be the most he has ever put together at one time. And to top things off, he thought Mommy was going to feed his baby sister HIS "kiwi." Even after showing Carter the green fruit I just cut, I still don't think he was convinced.

Needless to say, Carter wouldn't even think about tasting the kiwi fruit this morning. Turns out Mary Ava doesn't like it either. I guess I am the only one in the house who likes kiwi.

Carter marks his territory

Warning...This is a very candid account of the day in the life a potty training mommy. If you don't like to hear about bodily fluids please stop reading now.



I am done, giving up, conceding.

I am so over this potty training business. This is the third week of underwear only for Carter and I must admit I have become very trained at getting him to the bathroom. Most days we make it through the day with only one, maybe two accidents. But today, for some reason beyond my understanding, we have had more accidents than I can remember. There are currently four pair of peed on underwear in the sink and I know I already put some in the wash.

Speaking of wash--the laundry! I cannot begin to tell you how many extra loads of laundry I have been doing a day to clean up the numerous pair of urine soaked underwear and towels used to clean up said accidents. I know I have added at least one if not two extra loads a day to my already mountainous pile of laundry. Most times, Carter's underwear don't even make back into his drawer. They go straight from the laundry basket, to Carter's precious bottom, right back into the laundry pile.

The final straw was this afternoon when Carter had three accidents in less than two hours. And I'm not talking a little tinkle. I'm talking full fledged, let's pee a gallon on the floor accidents. He's like a wild animal. I don't think there is a room in the house where he hasn't marked his territory. Up until this point, I would like to think that I have remained calm. That I have used positive reinforcement, blew accidents off like it was no big deal, told him "you'll get the potty next time." But today, that all changed.

While throwing a fit because Aunt Tara left, Carter chose the steps as his next location to mark his territory. I promptly carried him to the bathroom, wiped him down, put new undies right back on, cleaned up the stairs, and went about my business making dinner. No more than 20 minutes later Jenna, who was ever to happy to report any news that may get her brother in trouble, broke the news that Carter just peed.

I left my dinner preparations and walked into my room. My room, the one that was perfectly clean not more than 30 minutes earlier. The one where the bed was actually made. And I will admit this is not a regular occurrence. All of my freshly laundered, 400-thread count sateen sheets, covers, and pillows had been pulled off the bed, spread across the bedroom floor and were spilling onto the bathroom floor. This is where Carter decided to leave his next puddle.

This is when it happened. This is when I became psycho mom. (You can ask my sister, I was on the phone with her. She was probably scared for her life, thinking that at any minute I might reach through the phone and get her too.) I was screaming, slamming doors, throwing peed soaked sheets down the steps. All while Jenna and Carter looked at me like I was the crazy one. Yet again, I cleaned Carter up and sent him downstairs, started more laundry, and finished dinner. Not more than fifteen minutes later, Carter was screaming "Mama pee" up the steps. By now you know the routine. Only this time a threw a bath in for good measure and then I conceded.

After his bath, I put a pull-up back on him. Not only because I couldn't handle cleaning up yet another puddle, but for no other reason than all of his underwear are currently in the washer, dryer or in the laundry pile. So for tonight, we are done.

Maybe tomorrow we'll try again. No child has ever gone to kindergarten in diapers have they? I still have a good three years before that will happen. If we don't make that goal maybe I'll shoot for middle school.

4 week countdown

In exactly four weeks, I will be the mother of a kindergartner. Jenna is excited, but I have mixed emotions. I know she will be fine. She is a very smart, caring little lady. But it is me I am worried about. As much as she drives me crazy, as much as I long for some time away, (even if only for a 20 minute jog) I will miss her terribly.

For five years I have been Mommy, the one and only. The one to pick her up and wipe her tears when she falls, the one to help with art projects, the one who knew the answers to everything--at least she believed the answers I gave her. In four short weeks, that will change. In four short weeks, school will start. And in four short weeks, Jenna will begin to spread her wings. She will be taught to pick herself up and brush herself off when she falls, start over when a mistake is made, and ask questions until she is sure she knows the right answer.

Of course, I know she will still need Mommy--my love, guidance, and support. Of course, I know she will always be my little girl. But for some reason I help but feel like this is the beginning to the end. She starts kindergarten this year and before I know it she will be talking about boys and driver's licenses (and that's as far as I'll go for right now because I can't even begin to think about what comes after that.)

Don't get me wrong--I am super excited for Jenna. I am excited for her to make new friends, watch her learn all there is to learn and see my sweet baby grown into a wonderful person. But I am sad for me. I am sad to lose the sweet innocent little lady I have had for the past 5 years. So for the next four weeks I am going to hold on tight. I am going to hold on to every last minute I have with my sweet girl before school starts; because in four weeks I probably won't be able to see through the tears to watch her get on the bus.

I am "the people"

Growing up my brothers were responsible for collecting the garbage from around the house on garbage night and taking out. If my brothers didn't do it or weren't around to do it, my Dad usually took over the chore. After my brothers and I moved out, my dad asked my sister to collect the garbage from around the house one night and she replied with "Don't the people do that?"


Since I have been both a daughter and now a mom, I realize the sincerity of her response. Until you are a mom, (Maybe even a dad--maybe not. But that is a whole new post) do you really realize and appreciate everything your parents did for you. As a child, you don't pay attention to all the chores being done around you--laundry, cleaning, dishes, etc.--but they get done. As a parent, you become "the people."


In my house, I am the laundry doing, sheet changing, dish washing, toy cleaning, diaper changing, "I'm going to pull my hair out if I have to clean this living room up one more time" people. But I am also the boo boo kissing, cuddle up and reading, Barbie and tractor playing, arm tickling when you tuck me in at night people.


I have become "the people" and I wouldn't change that for the world!!!