Lessons From The Barbie Pool

Since moms are great at creating "teachable moments" I thought I'd share what we learned today, playing with Mimi's new Barbie Pool:

1. You don't have to look exactly alike to be friends with someone. 

2. Little Barbies always need supervision by the pool

-And-

3. Always make sure there's a man nearby to serve a refreshing boat drink...

(surprisingly it was Mimi's idea to put Ken on cabana duty, not mine.)

Hopefully the one lesson Mimi doesn't come away with is that clothing is optional at the pool.

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*These were the "lifeguards" that Mimi put on the side of the pool. To me, they just looked like the mean girls, heckling everyone. *

Who Needs Sleep?!

Um. Apparently I do.

Sleeplessness does weird things to you. You just don't necessarily notice them or attribute them to being sleep deprived because when you're in this stage of life, it's just your norm.

(latest victim of my absent-mindedness)

Things I've done recently:

1. mailed Valentines to friends and family with their street address. And our city and zip code.

2. Caused a head-on collision with another woman's shopping cart as I rammed her son in his little "car"...leaving them and any bystanders in a state of shock. (and me shopping at super speed the rest of the time to avoid the embarrassment of seeing any of them later in the store). Oh, yeah, and in that "fast shopping" I came a millimeter away from another woman's cart. This time there was no "car" or child involved. Just another reason to find another grocery store to shop at.

3. Drug a bright orange traffic cone away from the parking lot at Mimi's school. Until I stopped to investigate what the loud noise was under the car, just to have a woman standing nearby yell to me, "you're dragging a CONE!" No joke, my first thought was, "I hope that wasn't the woman who witnessed me and my reckless driving at the grocery store." 

I almost didn't post these little anecdotes because I'm too proud. I was too proud of my sweet "baby/sleep training" skills with Mimi the first go round. Too proud of my "nerves of steel" that let her cry when I knew it was best. And too proud (or maybe tired) to get any advice on the matter. Don't worry. I have the books. I've read them cover to cover and highlighted as well as sticky-noted the pages. I've even tried my same techniques. For weeks. (albeit, not very consistently). Bode is just not so much a "rock" of a sleeper. At least not at this stage. He doesn't take 2-3 hr naps, and he isn't sleeping through the night. Just like during the stage of trying to get pregnant, a million people will tell you A MILLION things that "worked for them" and they swear will work for you. Rice cereal (nope), switching to formula (the boy won't take a bottle...but we ARE getting good with a cup), etc...Right now, it just is what it is. And like any thing in parenting, you just make it work. It's really not that bad. On average we're talking 2 times a night. And please don't read this as complaining. I just had gathered up those funny stories of my recent mishaps and was excited to share with the class. As well as update my friends who read my blog and I've shared many a conversation about this subject (because sleep problems seem to be something that plagues all of us at one point or another). Thank you dear Bode for teaching me that I'm not perfect. Shoot. I really thought I was getting close.. ;)


But seriously. Is there anyone in the whole world who would be good at hearing this little sweet thing cry?! I'm a big sucker. 

*It does need to be said that we've had some victories. We've committed to a week of "crying" and each night the time has decreased...it wasn't that bad. Last night it was only 10 minutes! * But then that's just to get him to get to 12/1am to eat...baby steps!

Bode's New Tricks

Bode's new tricks: pushing himself up to a sitting position and spitting.

(of course the spitting thing is just a new sound he's learned to do with his mouth and has nothing to do with being "naughty." But we think it's funny to pretend like he's misbehaving..it's fun. Like when we say, "where's Daddy?" and then he spits. It's good fun. Maybe we need to get out more)

And Bode has started "talking." It's fun to hear him grunting at things (cat, food, Mimi)..the first stages of communicating (some men really never move beyond grunting actually ;) Just kidding!

In this clip he even says "yeah!" ;) So advanced.

Virus Killer

My baby girl is sick :( 

We had it pretty good for the first two years of her life and made it without many (if any) illnesses. We just knew that our luck would run out some day. And that day seems to be any day this year so far! Mims is running a fever, sore, congested and basically spending any waking moment moaning...poor baby. 

I found this recipe for a "Virus Killing Soup." I made a bunch yesterday and froze two bags full, just to have on hand. I like thinking that I have something that can actually fight those nasty germs...it's chalked FULL of garlic, chicken and a yummy broth. Even a hint of cayenne for warmth. It was sort of labor intensive, but I know that I will love pulling it out the next time someone feels under the weather.

(but, I do have to say, that of course after all of that work and fantasizing about Mimi sucking down that "good for you broth" and going "Bruce Lee" all over those germs, Mimi wouldn't touch the stuff. Classic. At least Ben and I can try our hand at "fighting the virus" cause no doubt they're coming for us next..)

Here's the recipe:

Good For You Soup

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Yes, I DID Just Take Pictures of a Toilet...

After my post about how cruel the outside world can be to moms, I had to give a shout out to things that have been put in place to make moms' lives easier. Sometimes it's not all out to get us. 

For example, when I was GIGANTICALLY pregnant with Bode and it hurt to walk, I publicly declared my love for those "pregnant mom/mothers with strollers" front row parking spaces...they were LIFESAVERS. How amazing are those?

And the other day, I started a new love affair. With "Family Bathrooms." (as can be seen by the arsenal of pictures I took below). 

On Monday the kids and I made a trip to the mall. After many unsuccessful trips trying to get there (let's just say I'd been carrying around a CHRISTMAS present that I was hoping to exchange...it had been that long that we'd been trying to get there), we finally made it out the door and to our destination. We arrived a few minutes before 10 am, so the parking lot was ours. I snagged a wonderful "family" parking spot, unloading the kids, stroller, lunch/snack bag, diaper bag, purse and christmas present and headed into the mall.

Since it's not smart to go into any large setting, filled with people without first having full bellies and potty breaks, we headed to the restroom sign. There it was, like an oasis, calling out to us "FAMILY RESTROOMS." This one was delightful. Not only was it big enough to pull our stroller into, it had a tiny toilet and little person sink, next to the big ones. Mimi, who had been adamant about not  needing to go to the bathroom, suddenly changed her tune when she saw the toilet that was "Mimi-sized!" (she's a sucker for "kid-sized" things. I guess I would be too if I lived in a world where everything was double my size!) She went to the bathroom by herself without any assistance (a recent conquest) and even washed her hands without help too. It was the most pleasant experience. Our own little sanctuary, if you will (oh man. I really was in love with this place!) 

Mimi, who wants nothing to do with my urge to document our wonderful time in the family bathroom.

 We had a great rest of the morning at the mall, even in spite of the fact that it was President's Day and it was PACKED! (I will give credit to the Family Bathroom stop off)

We liked it so much, we even stopped on the way out (with this tired shopper). 

The perfect bookends to our day.

So it just goes to show that the world does have a mom's back once in awhile!

(And let's not forget giant areas in shopping centers dedicated to a place for kids to play, 

where we made a stop off as well!)

-Thank you world-

*I'm sure glad that I apparently have given up any reservations or dignity I'd had before about blogging, seeing as I have now devoted a whole post to a bathroom. Leave it to blogging to make a seemingly meaningless experience, noteworthy! ;) *

Grabby McGrab Pants

(how Mimi feels about Bode grabbing her stuff..)

But they always make up :)

And then he's off to the next conquest:

So many things to grab. So little time.

So Cliche

When Ben and I were newly married, I really wanted a baby.

So naturally, we got a cat.

It's so cliche, but that seems to be how the process goes. Young couple decides it's not the right time for kids, so they get a pet. They treat that pet like a child and spoil it, baby it and talk about it all the time (or even cry real tears when they leave it on a long trip.)

Then they have a real baby.

And want to get rid of that said pet.

It's sad, but so true.

Everyone knows that we're down one cat in the Turrill household (and Mimi likes to remind me on separate occasions during our day that we used to have TWO CATS. Woops).

Lately, the cat that I actually do like and has survived my post (and pre) pardum times has started peeing on the carpet in the basement.

The same cat that lets Mimi and Bode grab the heck out of it, that plays fetch, that acts more like a dog, that gives us space and affection, but just the right amount of both. The one I searched the neighborhood for when he was lost for two hours. 

Just in time for our house to be on the market. 

So today we trudge ourselves to the vet for his overdue check up and for some answers. 

I dug out cat carrier and was embarrassed by the stickers that I put on it once upon a time.

Here's proof that once upon a time, my little kitties were my babies:

(and also proof of my misdirected mothering)

Feels Like Home

 

On Sunday (during yet another house showing!) we had a date with the Fays while they were in town. 

Rusty is Ben's long time friend from childhood. There are more pictures of these two naked as preschoolers than you can count. The families lived next door to each other when the boys were young. Rusty's mom Gail is full of great stories about Ben's mom Mimi and I love pulling these from her every chance that we're together. 

It's a super special bond that these boys have, so it's always fun to get together. Now it's even more fun to get the "babies" together to play when they are in town.

Mimi and Aubrianna (2)

 Are you kidding me?! How cute is this face?!

"Gigi Gail" reading to the kidlets

Rusty's wife, Rachel and Bode

Mimi and Aubs had the drum machine going. 

Even though this wasn't our grandparent's house, we sure made ourselves at home like it was! The longevity makes it feel like we're grafted in.. :)

Bode and Rusty

Sweet smiley boy xo

Two little girls, who are the spitting images of their daddies :)

M-i-m-i

Mimi started learning how to write her name.

I never thought I'd love writing on a page so much.

Let's just say that I've taken about as many pictures of these four special letters as I have at the grocery store... xox

Sunshine!

 Today Mimi came home from preschool in the SUNNIEST mood. Which was appropriate because the weather seemed to match her :)

We had a fun picnic lunch outside and let Bode taste some mud, while Mimi made a mudpie.

Mimi, striking her pensive "model" look...

HOORAY FOR SUNSHINE!