It's Like This

There is this guy, who I once considered a friend.  And then I considered obsessive.  And then I considered sensitive.  And then I considered creepy.  And now I've come to realize that he's a manipulative ass.

The thing is, his wife is sweet and his daughter is an absolute doll.  Krya and his kid get along better then peas and carrots.  But I can no longer stand him.  I can't even stand the thought of him because his manipulative way throws me through loops and makes me think I need to step on eggshells to keep from harming his sensitive little soul before I realize... OH YA!  CREEPY GUY IS AN ASS! And then I get caught up thinking about how such a sweet woman could marry such a jerkish guy and have such a darling little girl and, geesh!, do I have ADD or something?

Here's where Creepy Manipulator gets annoying.  The whole thing blew up in his face when it finally dawned on me what he was doing and I called him out on it.  All this went down 5 or 6 weeks ago (I really don't keep count) in a way that he said "Call me when you're not mad anymore." and I said "Mmm hmm." and I have never called him again but dude is STILL CALLING ME!  And/or emailing and/or texting.  Like, EVERYDAY! I have not spoken to or responded in written form this guy since I called him out on his games.

Frankly, I'm not sure what to do anymore.  Jeremy is too much of a pansy, wallflower, wuss, passive person to want to get involved.  His point of view is Dude isn't trying to call me.  Every time I tried to talk to him in person he turned around and stuck his head up your ass.  Which, relatively speaking, is entirely correct. That being said, I can't quite count on Jeremy to talk to him Man to Man.  Ignoring the guy has clearly not done any good and I'm afraid that if I do respond to him I'm going say some harsh things out of anger... and really, I like to be a kind person if I can at all help it.

I explained to Kyra weeks ago that she probably wouldn't be able to see her friend anymore because the daddy doesn't know how to play nicely.  Kyra asked for a better explanation.  I told her that sometimes people say things and do things that hurt other people's feelings and when Mommy told this daddy that he wasn't being nice he laughed at Mommy and said "I was just kidding with you! **laugh laugh** I was only joking! **laugh laugh** I'm sorry, I was kidding! **laugh laugh**"  AND THEN CONTINUED HIS MANIPULATION.

Okay, so that last part I explained to Kyra in a more child appropriate manner.  

Kyra accepted our talk, said she would miss her friend and then moved on with her day.  Occasionally Krya still mentions her friend, but she seems to understand that she probably won't see her anymore.

Today comes and Creepy Manipulator calls twice.  And then emails.  I read the email and it essentially says, Hey! My kid wanted to call on her way home from school. I didn't put her up to it.  So then I listen to the message and, sure enough, it is his kid.  First messages says "Hi Alicia!" Second message says "Hi Alicia! Can Kyra come play at my house or can I come play at yours? I love you!"   

Uhhh......

So, Life?  Why is it my 4 year old can move on but a nearly 40 year old, umm, can't?

All Thanks to Network Befriending

I'll let you all in on a little secret. When I was younger I had a nickname, Lici. Short for Alicia. Now I can't figure out, why, for the life of me, someone along the way decided that if they cut off both of the A's in my name, this was either cuter or simpler. It's ugly. And stupid. And I hate that name with every fiber of my being.

Most people in my life call me Alicia. And I answer. But those who call me Lici, well, I tend to roll my eyes at them before I ever address them back.

In second grade, my teacher asked if any of us had a nickname we used versus our actual name. This was new territory for me, being allowed to pick my own name and what not, so I offered my "Lici" up as my new name. It was that year that I decided it was the worst possible name ever bestowed upon me. It was worse then my middle name, which as a kid I absolutely despised because whenever it was used, it meant I was in deep shit.

From there on out, everyone I met or came in contact with I introduced myself as Alicia. Those who called me Lici picked it up from hearing my immediate family use it.

Using this method, I've come to know who my real friends are. If you call me Lici, I'll know that you probably don't mean shit to me because I didn't bother to correct you, and if you did mean shit to me in the past, I've more then likely told you I hate that name and you continued to use it anyway. So I mark you off my list of "important people in my life."

So take the fucking hint Mom, Dad, Brother, and Grandmother whom I absolutely adore.

I tell you this to tell you about why I hate myspace and facebook, despite the fact that I absolutely love them, still.

With myspace and facebook everyone who ever sat behind you in study hall comes tramping back into your life. Whether you were particularly fond of them or not.

So this one chic, who still refers to me as Lici, has found me on both sites. (I'll just keep referring to her as This Chic, you know, just for anonymity purposes) I'm not enemies with her, I just once knew her in my younger I'll be your best friend even when you talk about me behind my back days. It only took a few years for me to get over that friendship and realize it was a crock of shit.

Anyway! I'm totally over it, I SWEAR!

So This Chic posted a picture oh, I don't know, a day or so ago on facebook of her son's head which is sporting the largest and biggest goose egg I have ever seen. He acquired such a mark from falling off his bike.... while not wearing a helmet. I, what I thought, jokingly suggested she get the kid a helmet, but apparently sarcasm doesn't come through in my typing. Even though within the sarcasm was a true, concerned suggestion on my part. This Chic wrote back saying that her 7 year old does own two helmets and he's strong willed enough that he didn't feel the need to wear them while riding his bike in the yard.

Ooooookay, to each his own, I guess.

Now This Chic posts her hourly update about how a "friend"- that being me!- got up on her motherly high horse (not her exact words, but I forget EXACTLY what insult she called me) and was telling This Chic how to raise her children even though the "friend"- once again, that's me!- has (a) less children then This Chic and (b) younger children then This Chic. To which my mouth dropped open and I promptly deleted her from my friends because, HELLO!, get a clue, right?

I mean, I too have a strong willed child (don't we all?), however, there are basic rules and if you don't want to follow the rules, um, you can forget about participating in the activity. Here's a rock and a stick, keep both feet on the ground and don't start trouble. Now, HAVE FUN!

So my point of this post is four part:
1. If you refer to me as Lici, I am probably not your friend. Someone you once knew, yes, but not your friend.
2. Is it just me or does the basic principal rule of "if you want to ride your bike and you are under the age of 18 while PLAYING (nope, you don't even have to live here for that rule to be implemented) at my house you WILL wear a helmet" stand firm at your homes to?
3. Do you have to be on a Motherly High Horse to suggest something that to most seems like common sense?
4. Just because you have younger and/or fewer offspring, does this make you any less smart in the whole "parenting" department of life?

I'd just like to know so that if I'm the one who is out of line here, you know, I'm not above apologizing. But from my view point, looking both over and under my high horse, I just don't get This Chic.

Crazy Few Days

It's been a crazy few days, between the Cry It Out nights, the do I or don't I Facebook, and then to top it all off, the ever bitter but still loved Nanny has been teetering between life and death since Friday and, yesterday, finally succumb to death.

To start things off, the whole Cry It Out has been going quite well! Day 2 she cried for a half hour solid and then the next half bitched for a few seconds before loudly sucking her thumb before she fell back asleep. Day 3 she cried for 15 minutes before the bitching and sucking that lasted another 15 minutes. Day 4 she slept through the night. Yea! And day 5, last night, another 15 minutes of crying 10 minutes of bitching/sucking. So, it's going well! I'm pleased and am hoping that by this time next week we'll have fully accomplished sleeping through the night EVERY night.

Next, boy oh boy are there some serious Facebook users out there! I never knew it had such a cult like following. And the farming game? I've read about it numerous times over at Chic with Sticks, but good golly, are you guys a dedicated following. I'm still a little up in the air about jumping in that barrel of fun, mostly because of the days I've had as of late, but man, you guys are convincing.

And finally, Nanny. I wrote about her once here. (click on the word "here," I know it's not highlighted, but I can't figure out how to do so) Anyway, she suffered from COPD and has finally left us for a better life in Heaven. I've been back and forth about whether or not I should go down there to say my goodbye's and I totally set myself up for being stuck here without realizing it.

Friday night, before I knew what was going on, I transferred nearly all of our money out of the checking account and into various other accounts, a transaction that I knew wouldn't go through and be available until Tuesday morning. I do such things so we don't spend excess money over the days Jer is off. So, basically while we have money, we were essentially broke until today.

Then there is the question of flying or driving. Flying would take 5 hours of my day and cost an ass load of money because it's so short notice. Driving would take 2 days and cost me my sanity. And either option, I'd be doing it alone with both the girls in tow.

I learned my lesson driving to the Land of the Country Bumpkin with Jeremy's help. I would rather fly.

BUT! I have this Gogo Kidz Travelmate that I use with Kyra when flying. (by the way, HIGHLY recommend anyone coughing up the money for one of these things. TOTALLY worth it's weight in gold.) The thing is, I only have one. If I fly I will need a rental car, thus I will also need car seats and while rental companies have them available, I don't trust a car seat that I did not buy and assemble in my own home. So. I would need another one of the Gogo attachments. They're sold in Babies R Us stores but when we called to make sure they have them in OUR store, um, they don't.

So. Can't fly. Won't drive. Will have to say our good bye's from our bedside as we pray. Hopefully she'll hear us.

Now. To end this, we have 9 pounds of strawberries sitting on my table. We had plans of making jam out of them with my mother's recipe, but my mother is dealing with funeral arrangements at the moment.... so... um.... so any of you have a good recipe to share? What about your mother or grandmother? Come, on! Doesn't anyone in your family make homemade jams?

Is She Teething?

I think Lydia is teething. But lets have you tell me what you think.

-she's not red or swollen in her mouth
-she's not drooling anymore then usual
-she's not really biting, either
-she IS a cranky ass baby today
-and clingy. Whoo boy. I think we've regressed to when she was a mere infant again.
-she has a red pee pee, not her bottom, just her pee pee (and, no, I am not mature enough to use the correct terminology)
-she is not pulling at her ears
-she is not snot nosed

Based on that there, I have no other thing to think then then maybe she's teething? But I'm not certain. So I've shoved Tylenol down her throat anyhow and I'm SEVERELY against shoving medicine into my children when there is no proven medical reason.

What do you think is wrong with her? I've been out of this baby loop a few years and frankly, I don't know what to do except let her cry it out, but then it makes it hard for Kyra to hear the television over her sister's screaming.

That's right folks, television! It's ALL TV ALL DAY over here! Between the RAIN still falling from the heavens and the constant screaming from our fallen angel who REFUSES to be put down and if I both put her down AND leave the room, oh, holy hell, I just don't know what else to do with poor Kyra then to reward her with ALL TV ALL DAY!

So, what's wrong with the half pint?

In My Shoes

If you were in my shoes would you take your two small children by your self to your in-laws house in A) a plane, which will cost you in the larger $400 region and take up 4-5 hours of your day, or B) a car, which will cost you in the middle $100 region if your own brother would let you shack up with him for a night because otherwise it would take just over 24 hours to drive strait through.

If you were in my shoes, would you choose to save your sanity or save your money?

I only ask because both options are dear to my heart.

Ya, Um. Disregard That Last Post About Pre-K

Remember this post? The one where I said we were going to enroll Kyra into Pre-K next year? If you'd politely disregard that post, that'd be great. We've decided we're going to home school.

No. Seriously. Stop laughing.

And if you tell me my kid is going to be an unsocial weirdo, forgive me if I punch you in your ignorant face. If you tell me I'm going to completely and utterly screw up my child's ever expanding mind and fill it with recipes on how to make chocolate chip cookies or how to can peaches... then, you may be on the right path.

The thing is, I don't know how to quite go about doing this whole home school thing yet. So I need your advice. I'll even include for you guys an e-mail I sent out to a couple of friends I know who home school their children. This way, if you guys have any knowledge, advice or tips.... you too could help a sista' out.

Because, once again, you two are the smartest people I know on this topic, I turn to you.

A year ago Jer and I started talking about home schooling Kyra vs. sending her to Catholic School (which before that point had always been our plan). We were all YEA! and WE CAN DO IT! and gung-ho about it and told our families who said our children would turn out to be utter weirdos. Once we dismissed that thought we were once again all YEA FOR HOME SCHOOLING! I GET TO HAVE MY BABY WITH ME FOREVER! (which, by the way, she already promised me she'd never leave me and I could even live with her in her dorm at college).

By pass 7 months and we've moved here... to which Kyra promptly started acting atrocious and horrid and I wanted to sell her for a new pet monkey... because at least I'm allowed to lock pet monkey's in a cage if they start acting out. So we rethought that whole home schooling thing and was like NEVER MIND! JUST KIDDING! We toured schools. Gathered information. Filled out paperwork. And then just sat there. We don't want to do it. Everything we read on home schooling just points us into that direction.

But now we're lost.

We have no idea when to start the actual curriculum. Do I start with pre-k stuff this fall when she's 4 or do I just go on with life as normal until she is supposed to start kindergarten at 5? I mean... we read copious amounts of books everyday. We go over ABC's, and just started teaching her how to spell her name and recognize numbers. I mean. This is everyday stuff to us/her, so is that considered pre-k material or....? I don't know.

Tell me the When's, Where's and How's as to going about this home schooling business. When do we get started for serious, law abiding business. Where do we go to find materials and support? Where do we find more "weirdo's" to associate with. And how do we even get started in the right direction before the law is after us for screwing up our child without their permission?

THANK YOU BOTH IN ADVANCE!!!!

Alicia

-----PS!!! And how do I go about doing this with Lydia either screaming from her bouncer seat or attached to my chest. Because, right now, it is COMPLETELY distracting to Kyra. Though, that could also be because she's 3 1/2 and has the attention span of a gnat. But what do I know?

So... anyone have anything for me? Go ahead, you can tell me I'm insane and crazy if you want. I'm already well aware of that point.

End of an Era...

Or so I'm hoping.

You see. I'm as large as the broad side of a barn. And in noticing this these past few weeks, it now comes as no surprise to me because I'm hungry all. the. fucking. time. Generally its a common thought that when you've begun eating the entire contents of the refrigerator... you're going to to get fat. Quickly.

Breakfast- I force myself to eat.
Lunch- usually either skipped or is very light.
Snack- makes up for the slack during lunch time.
Dinner- FULL PLATE.
Dessert- might as well be another meal in itself.
11 o'clock munchies- why in the hell am I still starving to death?
3am pee break- seriously, I am not going to get something to eat at this hour because I'll never get back to sleep. But damn am I still hungry.
Breakfast- do I seriously have to eat breakfast?

It is because of this awful eating habit I can no longer see my feet. I also can't seem to keep my belly covered with any maternity shirt that claims to be a medium. I like to claim it has much more to do with the fact that all my medium shirts have all-of-a-sudden shrunk length wise and has absolutely nothing to do with my enormous eating abilities between the hours of noon and 3am. Although this shrinking shirt theory could also be linked to the fact that the Termite has apparently decided to drop as my belly does not seem to be encroaching on the boobies' space anymore.

The OB said last week that I am past the point of stopping labor should my body decide to truly love me and go a little early. Knowing this, I'm hoping maybe my dropping belly and engorged eating habits may be a sign that I'll be going a bit early.

With Kyra I started eating everything in sight about two weeks prior to and my belly dropped 3 days before D-Day. I'm crossing my eyes, fingers and toes hoping maybe these are signs. Maybe my body truly loves me and will pop within the next few days/weeks.

But then again, I know better; Kyra was estimated to be 2-3 weeks late when she finally came into the world. Knowing that, I'm certain my body has no idea what the term "labor" really means until every millimeter of space is fully occupied by the fetus and, with that, I am also certain there are still a few more centimeters here and there. I have no doubt I won't be throwing my legs in the air to push any time soon.

So I guess there is nothing else to do but continue to get fatter by eating everything in sight. Maybe if my stomach gets engorged enough with food, my uterus will have no other choice but to push the expendable fetus out into the world.

Until that happens, any other ideas as to how I could induce labor naturally? Lets just go ahead and take sex and laxatives off the table. Can we come up with something a little less traumatic?

Summing Up the Weekend

1- I might very well have ate my weight in salad this weekend. Pregnancy cravings or normal reaction to hot weather?

2- If I lived anywhere near a very tall cliff, Saturday could have very well been Kyra's last day on earth. She was an absolute holy terror and by 6 o'clock at night we were both in our respected beds crying when Jeremy came home from work. I'm sure his first reaction was an overwhelming desire to be back on the boat. Today? She was a peach. An absolute peach.

3- Kyra's latest thing is to pick up random books and ask if we'll read Army Wives to her. She's never seen Army Wives and I have no idea where she picked it up from, but Jeremy's using this as another reason for my corruption of his little girl. Shaking his head he repeats "First Oprah, then the news, now Army Wives." How can this possibly be my fault when Army Wives comes on at 10 and Kyra is in bed by 8?

4- Bishop and Cricket are still scratching and driving me crazy. Jeremy's been slathering them with some kind of flea spray every other day and tonight they received their second flea dip in a week. He says he didn't see a single flea on either of them while they were in the bath. Does this mean their flea free or the fleas jumped off and hunkered down in our rug until the dip effects wear off? Also, do you know if I can put two doses of Front Line a dog in three weeks?

Lets Just Say...

You have a 2 year old daughter who enjoys bouncing off the walls, fighting naps, driving Mommy up the wall and talking to ghosts for over 4 hours when she's supposed to be going to bed. Now, lets also say you've found your child behaves much better when she is enrolled in some random class that lets her get all her energy out for an hour or so several times a week.

Knowing all of that, what would you do? Gymnastics, Ballet or both?

You Make Me So Proud

Write notes to your wee one... Take tons of pictures... Don't worry how much your babe is eating.... Talk about some damn good advice!

I started writing notes to Kyra when I began pulling out of my PPD. My first note the day she turned 9 months old, my last note unfinished from last summer. Lisa reminded me I should get back on that train.

I even go through spells with my picture taking. Some days Kyra is probably walking around seeing flashbulbs permanently ingrained into her cornea. Other weeks, not a single picture is taken. Coming from Johnina who has school age girls as well as a sweet little bundle in blue, she should know what it's like to look back and remind yourself what life was like when snapping off all those photos.

Don't worry about how much your baby is eating. Though I didn't always worry about what Kyra ate, we all know once her pediatrician piped up about her not gaining weight, I have had a very difficult time letting go of that worry. Thanks Joelle. You're onto something with that whole "adding to the stress level." Seriously, why do we as mothers like to over stress?

None of this advice was meant for me but it helped me out anyway, and I bet Jennifer appreciates it too. None the less, you guys are a couple of smart Mommies and I thank you for sharing what you know to the newest member to the club.

Now, on to more advice and opinion requests. If your toddler tells your husband she wants to go to gymnastics so she can walk on the balance beam would you a) enroll her in the first tot sized gym class you can find or b) save your money and let her continue to walk on all the curbs and parking bumpers she can find?

Really, This doesn't Seem like A passing fad. What's your call?

***Updated to add:
The parks and zoos are not the only places she does her balance beam act. Sidewalk curbs, parking stops, and any painted line she sees will, too, become a balance beam. She's also doing somersaults all around my house, although, this wasn't part of her request for gymnastics, but I'm still certain we're going to have to fix a hole in the wall because of it. Its not like Kyra is the most graceful thing, she is only 2.

Required- As In, Not And Option

Wanna do something sweet and wonderful and down right fabulous for a new mom? Go over here and tell Jennifer how adorable her new bundle in pink is. Also, just because I asked and you love me to pieces (Heather, Joelle, Candace, Erica, Johnina and Lisa), while you're over there pass along to her the very best piece of advice someone gave to you when your first had your beautiful little girls.

Don't know what to tell her? I'll give you a head start:

Jennifer,

The best advice given to me wasn't "sleep when the baby sleeps" or even "you know your baby best, trust your instincts." The best advice ever given to me was "don't rush to the next stage of your babe's life, and don't wish she be one step farther then she is today, because when she's walking and talking you'll be wishing she was still crawling and cooing. When she's running and climbing, you'll wish she was still toddling and reaching to be picked up. Enjoy your baby for what she is today. Take it all in with wide eyes and patience because in 3 months you're going to miss the way she looked and acted today.

Now, hop on over and give her your two cents. Was there some baby object you couldn't live without? Some words of wisdom that changed your way of thinking or doing?

What are you waiting for? You've all been there before, you know how her first few weeks and months are going to be. This is your written invitation to meet someone new and make her feel loved. So get. GO!

To Change or Not to Change- What'da Ya Think?

It's not unusual for me to find a rogue grey hair in my head once in a while. I'll pull it out and be on my merry way, waiting 6 more months before another one that decides to try taking up residence again. But today was different. I found 4 rogue hairs. One after the other. Black patch, white hair, black patch, white hair, black, white, black, white. You get the idea. So I didn't pull it this time. I decided I'd get even. (Even though you can't see the grey thanks to the flash, I swear they're in this very spot.)


With some of my birthday money (thanks Granma!) I hopped right out to the store and picked myself up a box of this:

And I asked Jeremy if he'd help me put a halt on those pesky greys. Here's the before (please excuse the rotten appearance of my hair as it had been in a pony tail all day):

The during:


And the after:

What'cha think? Not much difference, I'm aware. Thank you Captain Obvious. My hair is dark brown to begin with but I added a touch of "gold" which in turn with my natural red high lights is a pretty, oh, I don't know- goldish/red tented, but mostly a dark brown with a hint of red when the light shines on it. And most importantly- no grey to be found.

Make sense? No? Eh, that's okay. Its a terrible explanation.

Anyway, so then I've been thinking, I still have a nice bit of birthday money from my mom (thanks Mommy!) and wanted to spend it on a good hair cut. Not like Fantastic Sam's offers for $14.99 but go to one of those good, costly, salons that you can bring in some random celebrity picture and they make your hair look so fucking fabulous you could kiss your hairdresser.

The problem is, I can't decide if I want to lop my hair off or keep it long. So tell me what you think. Here's today:

I was either torn with doing something like this:

Long layers, framing the face, easy to style and manage. Same thing I've had most of my life just a little more umph to it. You know, kinda like it's done me quite well for this long why change it too much.

Or, I have the urge to lop it all off and be done with the longness with something like this:

Cute, fresh, sassy and completely different from anything I've ever had. With this, I'm afraid once I chop it that short I'm going to hate it and cry and do the whole dramatic dropping to the knees, hands to the heavens, tears streaming down, screams of "Why? Why God, why did I do this?"

What do you think- subtle and long, dramatic and short or leave it alone I'm already one sexy bitch and why mess up a good thing? Be honest. Even brutal if you think I look terrible and could, without a doubt, use some professional help because, hey, what are friends (and relative strangers) for?

By Show of Hands

How many of you think Jeremy and I should attempt at having another cute and cuddle baby?

You see, we've been talking about this subject since Scotland. That trip was the first time I had ever spent any kind of extended time away from Kyra and every single baby/toddler we passed I had the barely controllable urge to snatch up the unsuspecting kiddo- squeezing, hugging and kissing him/her until my little heart was content.

I chalked this up to missing my own little cutie pie and tried to dismiss the thought.

Then, oh, but then the damned thought just didn't go away! Every newborn I passed... awww, I want one! Every mother with multiple non terror inflicting children I passed... awww, I want a whole bunch of little ones!

Here is some brief background for ya: I was an unhappy pregnant person. I didn't glow. I didn't have an aura about me. I didn't enjoy one bit about being fat, uncomfortable and constantly put on diet restrictions by my doctors because I was gaining weight "too quickly". Shit, I topped out at 40 pounds.... when I was well more then a week past my due date!

Seriously, some people are meant to be pregnant, I am not. But, damn it if I don't want another one!

Jeremy and I are split 50/50 on this decision.

On one hand, we are very happy and content with Kyra and can't picture our lives with anyone other then the three of us. Not only was I a miserable pregnant lady, but I had a serious case of postpartum depression that didn't completely go away until Kyra was 9 months or so old. (I wanted desperately to off myself because I was certain Jeremy could find a better mother for Kyra then me) Frankly, I'd rather not go there ever again.

On the other hand, we keep flirting with the idea of adding to our family. We flirt, flirt, flirt. Oh, it would be so much fun to have a little baby in the house all over again. Kyra would have someone else to entertain, someone else to talk to when she can't confide in Mom or Dad (think about when you were a teen). And really, we're kinda looking at it as Kyra would have someone to hold on to when Jeremy and I are old, grey and do exit this life.

But we can't decide and we both seem to think we should figure this out, soon, like rightthisveryminute!

The thing is, we're moving to the Mason Dixon line in a little over a month. Probably to a much smaller house/apartment that we'll reside in for less then a year before the government decides to relocate us yet again. We still have Kyra's pack and play, Exersaucer, crib and various other baby items that we'll have to either find somewhere to rent and store for less then a year or get rid of these items all together.

If we decide to get pregnant again, is it worth it to save all these things in some rented cubical. Or should we dismiss this thought of getting pregnant all together.

Do you think Jer and I should take on a miserable pregnancy and a terrible postpartum depression all for the experience of having another demanding mouth to feed, first smile to witness and first steps to catch on video tape or should we forgo it all and stay ridiculously happy and content with our little family of 3 and offer to babysit for all of our friends newborns at every possible opportunity for the glory of having a quick baby fix and sending it home?

What's your call?

Age Appropriate Toys

I am really quite anal retentive about age appropriate toys for Kyra. I'm a pretty big believer that the posted ages are accurate as far as age appropriate and skill level are concerned.

There are some exceptions to the rule, like she has a kitchen set and several cabbage patch dolls that are for ages 3 and up. But off hand, I think that is all she owns that doesn't have a 2 or under age recommendation.

But there is this toy Jeremy and I are considering asking Santa bring her for Christmas. The VTech Kidizoom Digital Camera seems to be the perfect alternative to Kyra playing with my camera. It's toddler proof, takes decent pictures, and is has high recommendations from other parents.

The thing is, it's for ages 3 and up. Is the 3 and up because it's going to be too complicated for Kyra to understand the concept of point and shoot, or are there little lead painted parts Kyra's just going to stick in her mouth and ingest? (yes, she still puts everything in her mouth)

My mind is going, Hmm.. it says 3 and up for a reason, just wait another year. But my desperate wanting for her to leave my camera alone but not squish her enthusiasm for taking pictures says I should suck it up and get it for her... and if she doesn't get the hang of it in the beginning she. will. learn.

So what do I do, bend my own age appropriate toy rules and have Santa bring a really cool camera or put it off for one more year, until then keep a careful eye on her while she plays with my really expensive camera?

Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace

1) Can you see the video on yesterdays post? I can. As well as my 2 commenter's (where in the world did the rest of you go?) and 1 friend who stopped by and verbally commented on it. But my mom? She can't seem to see it. She says there is nothing more then a blank space where the video should be. Just her computer or is that why the rest of you didn't comment?

2) What the hell is up with Gray's Anatomy this season? Its lacking something and I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe the writers were too busy planning for their strike? Is it me, or are the rest of you noticing this too?

3) I'm looking for some kind of Photoshop type of thing to start playing with and learning on. Free would be wonderful, inexpensive would be great, $100 is too much with the holidays coming up. Any ideas?

4) So far I have 10 hungry mouths attending my annual "If you can't go home for the holidays you're welcome here" Thanksgiving Dinner. Anyone else in the New England area need a place to go for a hot, fresh, home cooked meal?

Speak now or forever hold your peace.

Let the Voting Begin

It's your turn to help pick Kyra's Halloween costume this year. Jer and I were originally split between making Kyra either Little Red Riding Hood or Dorthy from Wizard of Oz. Mainly so one of our Mutts could either be the Big Bad Wolf or Toto on steroids.

Dorthy was quickly ruled out, as one of our friends jumped on the costume for they're own little cutie pie and, well, I'm just not that big into who's kid is the cuter Dorthy so we turned instead to finding Little Red Riding Hood.

Apparently Miss Hood is much, much more popular in the stripper format then it's original innocent form.

Again, we changed gears when we stumbled upon this pirate costume. Super cute, eh?

A day after we bought her pirate outfit, a toddler sized Little Red Riding Hood was found at our local Wal-Mart. So it was bought too.

Then, as I talked to my mother last night and she reminded me about the lion costume she bought for Kyra- 2 years ago. I tried this particular costume on her roughly two months ago when I was sorting through a box of 2t clothes. At that time, it swallowed her. Today when I pulled it out to show Jeremy, it fits. (apparently I have been blaming the tapeworm in her stomach for the reason she's eating us out of house and home, instead I think it was a growth spurt)
Here lies our problem. Which costume do we pick? We have three cute costumes and are hopelessly deadlocked as to which costume to use.

You. must. help us. Pick your favorite, include your reasoning and maybe by the time Halloween rolls around one (or two) of the costumes will be returned to get our money back.

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On an unrelated note, check me out over here at The Mom Trap.

When She's Gotta Go, She Can't

***Now updated.

This evening has been spent listening to Krya cry out in pain "Poooooo-pooooo! Poo-poo Mummy, pooo-poooo!" Tears streaming down her face while she sits on the potty straining. Its starting to really upset me to see her like this.

She became a permanent attachment to my hip as she wouldn't let me put her down. Nor would she let me sit down with her on my lap. No, the only thing to stop the screaming and tears was to remain in constant motion with her on my hip. We remained like this until she fell asleep on my shoulder.

She hasn't managed to do any important business in 2 days. I called my mom and she suggested putting soap up her butt. Um, it's a little more invasive then I feel comfortable with. She also suggested giving her a laxative, I don't currently have any in my house. What I have managed to do is cram half a box of raisins and 6 ounces of warm water down her tiny little throat hoping this might help the situation tomorrow.

Any one else have any advice? Is there such thing as toddler laxatives? Do you think this has come about because she's on a hunger strike? If this doesn't fix itself soon, how long should I wait before calling in reinforcements?

***About 4pm today business was restored to normal working conditions. I don't know if it was the water and raisins from last night, the Corn Syrup in her milk, or the lone prune she ate at lunch that did it for her. Your advice was greatly appreciated as my hair grows in thin and I don't know if pulling any out would have been an attractive look for me.

Tips That Work- For Me

I'll share with you some tips that have been passed along to me in the last month that have worked wonders in my house.

Potty Training

1) Let your toddler run naked for a few days (or I was told weeks, actually) to start the potty training. I have no idea why it works, but after a few accidents Kyra got the hang of "holding it" long before I could pick my doubtful jaw off the floor.

2) Do. Not. put them back in diapers. Okay, so I cheated on this the first week. I didn't trust Kyra to suppress her business even on the short "we're out of all the essential food" trips to the grocery store. But after I tested the waters in church (of all places I figured The All Mighty might help me out here the most) I stopped putting a diaper on her for anything more then nap and bed times. Accidents happened, heck, they still do but for the most part it is usually my fault for not paying enough attention to Kyra's warning signs.

Bed Times

1) If your child wants to climb into bed with you in the middle of the night, and this causes you to get a crappy nights sleep... put them back into their own bed! It may take you 4 and 5 times a night, every hour, on the hour - for two weeks - and you begin to wonder if it's just not worth it to go ahead and let them sleep with you already, don't give up. I've been there, done that, still have residual bags under my eyes to prove it. They will scream and cry and let you know you are the worst Mommy in the whole wide world, but eventually they'll figure out they are not even going to step so much as a toe in your bed to sleep.

2) If your sweet little ball of sunshine is getting up consistently before the sun, let them cry in their bed for 15 minutes before you come in to get them. Keep pushing back that 15 minutes until they they are waking up when (a)it's an acceptable hour and (b) they get the understanding that you will come get them when you are ready. One of my girlfriends passed this tip on to me as her son was much like mine- up by 6:30 every morning, if not earlier. When she told her pediatrician's nurse, the lady swore by this, and now so does my friend and so do I.

Kyra would wake up between 6 & 6:30, I'd tell her to get back in bed (and sometimes put her in when she refused to budge), let her cry for 15 minutes before letting her crawl into my bed and watch some PBS kids for a few minutes until I could pry my eyes open. Folks, for the last (almost) week now she's been getting up between 7:20 & 8. Instead of crying in bed for 15 minutes she's now quietly playing with her dolls until it's time for Curious George or Clifford the Big Red Dog. She gets to watch one full (or partial we miss the beginning) episode before morning routine begins. It's my way of rewarding her for making it past the early hours when Clifford's Puppy Days is showing.

Now, if any of you have tips on how to make my child eat, as she is lately taken aback at the thought of swallowing more then a bite or two of for meals and snacks are now used to fatten up the dogs, I'll gladly accept them. Last thing I need her doing is loosing any weight before her 2 year well baby check up next week.

Nap Time Question

Is 23 months of age too early to give up a nap entirely?

Kyra has not wanted to take a nap for a solid week and a half. I have made her lay in bed for up to 3 hours before she finally falls asleep.

I don't believe she's ready to give up a nap because on no-nap days she is an absolute bear by the time supper rolls around (promptly at or before 5). But this whole fighting her for 2 and 3 hours to take a nap is killing me.

I'm drowning here.

I think she needs a nap. Hell, I need her to take a nap. That is MY 2 hours a day of piece and quiet, to stroll outside in my rocking chair and read my book in the easy New England afternoon breeze.

She was a no nap infant who didn't embrace the power of sleeping while the sun was up until she was nearly 1. Now that she's nearly 2, we're having the same technical difficulties.

Got advice? Anyone? What about your Mama, does she have anything?

I miss my books.

Entertain Us

1) I've been thoroughly enjoying the song Rockstar by Nickelback since I first heard it. I have no idea why, just seems to be a catchy tune that sticks in my head. Yesterday I saw the video for the first time and now I'm obsessed. Maybe it's all the cameo appearances, maybe it's still the catchy tune. Either way, I'm loving it right now and so is Kyra. If I had Joelle here to record it, I'd post a video for you guys to see. She has a few new dance skills.

2) Did you see Hef's Girlfriends in the video? My mom has me addicted to watching thier TV show "The Girls Next Door". My mom is cool like that.

3) I've been a nice mommy. (my mom says Jer and I are mean because we don't let Kyra watch TV all that often) We've been watching "Clifford's Puppy Days" every morning in my bed for the past week as I hope to get an extra half hour of shut eye.

You see, Kyra has started waking up at the ass-crack of dawn again. While in the Sunshine State I became quite used to her sleeping in until 8. Now, I'm extremely lucky to find my eyes still shut at 6:40. I tried to be on top of these early risings last night and went to bed at 11. My body on the other hand decided to toss and turn until sometime after midnight.

Any advice on how to fix this? Either my going to sleep earlier or Kyra waking up later? It's not that I don't like Clifford, its just that I still don't get an extra half hour of sleep because when Clifford barks Kyra does too or if there is another animal she knows on the show, like today there was a lion, she insistently forces my face toward the screen saying "Lion Mama. See? Lion! Rawwww!"

4) I'm thinking of enrolling Kyra into 4 activities this fall. Three of them are one day a week and the fourth is two days a week. They are all 45 minutes long. Do you think we're taking on too much? I'll even list and describe them for you:
~Level 1 Swim Class- this is the one On Base that I talked about and the only one that's 2 days a week
~Fun with Rhythm and Music- from the description they "reach, jump, wiggle and glide.... exploring dance movements"
~Tumbling Tots- focuses on motor skills and socialization (I'm curious to know where the tumbling is)
~Baby & Me- swim class "using activities and songs" (the city we reside in runs this class and doesn't allow children under 3 to enter any of the level classes)

5) Kyra is thrilled when the mowers come around once a week to maintain the grass. Don't tell Jeremy, but I think she's crushing on a few of them.