fun at the skate park

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October Road.

Is anyone else watching this show? I love it. Mike was making fun of me for my "girly sigh" while tuning in last night. It has a late time slot, but I'm hooked. I think I'd rather watch it than Grey's Anatomy; it's much cleaner these days, that's for sure.

Photoshoot

My friend, Molly, suggested we have a photo session today. I thought it was a great idea since I don't really have any good pictures with the kids.

Jonah is in this phase where he says "cheese" but refuses to look at the camera (even when bribed with a lollipop), and Lydia was just a little sad this afternoon--she's had cold. So, these are the best we got...

SmackDown

LIBRARY VS. ME

I've got on my fancy spandex. I've entered the ring. I'm prepared to fight.

Let me explain why.

I'm not one to lose sleep over trivial things, but I recently woke up angry in the middle of the night. I tossed. I turned. I groaned. Why? The library. I lost sleep over the local library. Go figure.

Our library just had a complete overhaul. It used to be cramped and severely outdated, so for the past year I've watched and anxiously anticipated the grand opening of a brand new facility.

I visited this beautiful place a few weeks ago and was shocked to find there was no section designated for children. Think back to any local library you've ever visited. There's always a special place for kids to sit and read, isn't there? It doesn't have to be anything fancy, but I don't really believe it's practical for kids and adult books to be in a shared space-- especially if you're designing a brand new facility! I remembered the old Pataskala library kids' section was a room behind the circulation desk. Heck, if Pataskala could get in right in 1980 then you would think this small town could figure it out today.

So I got mad.

I shared my frustration with Mike (yes, we had a conversation at 2 a.m. about the library). Apparently, the library director had come to a rotary meeting with the new plans, and when Mike asked what they were providing for children, everyone laughed.

Hmmmmm....I certainly don't live in a community with many young professional families, do I? You know, as long as they have a new room for the quilt club and a few tables for the old folk to come and read the daily newspaper, I guess they've supposedly met the needs of the community.

But my fight has only just begun.

Tune in to Smack Down next Friday night on the CW channel.

It just might be me you see.

A Lot Alike

I was just looking at old pictures of Jonah. I think this was taken when he was the same age that Lydia is now. They look alike, don't they?

Praise God

I had a bit of a scare this afternoon. Lydia started choking while eating lunch. I didn't panic initially-- when it has happened with the kids before, I know they just need to work it out by themselves (as long as they're still breathing). But as I was watching her and holding up an arm (a neighbor just told me about that last week), she stopped breathing and started turning purple. Thankfully, in the quick instance that I started to remove her from the high chair, she worked it out. It was a Disney DVD Bingo chip. The game was intact on the shelf so a chip must have found its way into one of her baskets of toys. And she obviously had it tucked in her cheek when I placed her in the high chair for lunch. Swallowing pears with a bingo chip doesn't work too well--

So scary.

I just put her to bed for the night. While rocking and looking at her precious face, I was reminded of what could have happened. Thank you, Jesus. Thanks for my little girl-- and thanks for protecting her.

I'm Just a Mom

Contrary to popular belief in this house, I'm not Wonderwoman. I can't leap tall buildings in a single bound, I can't be two places at the same time, a net doesn't fly out of my hands when I need something in another room, I don't bust out of my shirt and turn green when I'm trying to carry Jonah and Lydia simultaneously, and on occasion, I just may need to stop and rest.

I'm not a superhero--

And I would never wear those red boots.

The Bottomless Pit

a.k.a. Little Miss Lydia

Would you believe she ate half of a large sweet potato, a whole kiwi, and a chunk of cheese for lunch? Someone is growing...

Tap

I hate to miss tap class. So when I walked into class tonight, I taped my teacher performing the step they learned last week when I was gone. Thankfully, it's very simple.

For those of you that wonder what I do, here's a sample look at a step slowed down DRASTICALLY.


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I'm expecting a large cheering section at recital this year. Actually, that's a lie. I adore my class, but I could do without the performance.

At least I won't be eight months pregnant...

She's Officially Crawling...

...and doesn't know whether to laugh or cry!

My Sensational Boy

A whole new world has opened up for me this past week. Last Thursday night I attended Jonah's school conference. I was a little nervous at first-- worried that they were going to recommend Jonah stay in the special education program. They do want him to stay another year, but I was assured by his teacher that they're hoping to teach him to "self-regulate" next year so that he could move into regular education. She acknowledged that he was bright and capable, and for that, I am grateful. But I left the meeting realizing that, on a daily basis, we forget to acknowledge how much of his behavior is out of his control. When I'm trying to fix dinner and feed Lydia and Jonah is climbing, yet again, on top of the kitchen counter, it's easy to forget that he needs to climb. So it was perfect timing that we discovered the latest book about Sensory Integration Dysfuction (now called Sensory Processing Disorder) called "Sensational Kids."

My eyes were opened. As I read, tears filled my eyes. I was encouraged, relieved, and overwhelmed.

It feels like the whole book was written about Jonah. We knew he was sensitive to noise and lights, but I learned that Jonah is primarily considered a "sensory seeker." Of course! It all makes sense!

"Some degree of sensory seeking is normal in children as they learn, grow, and try to master new challenges, but children like [Jonah] are extreme in their quest. On a playground or in an amusement park, they may seek out a scary ride that other children approach with apprehension, and then gleefully return to it over and over, as if they can't get enough stimulation. At school, they clown around by throwing themselves against a wall and falling to the floor with such violence that supervising adults worry they'll hurt themselves. When their quest for sensation is thwarted, children who crave sensation can become extremely demanding-- even explosive. Most children can be a little wild at times, but the thrill-seeking of these children is well beyond average...[they are] not 'mean' or 'bad,' but people sometimes apply these labels because such children behave in ways that distress those around them....The dichotomy between [the child's] aggressive and upsetting sensation seeking and his equally energetic and endearing affection creates conflict in the people around him. Sensory seekers are often responsive, creative, and fun to be around. They can be immensely enjoyable. But when their drive for sensory stimulation is running their lives and running the lives of those around them, they can be overhelming, too."

Can you believe how perfectly this describes my son? It makes so much sense. No wonder he's bored at home. No wonder he's such an angel with new experiences. No wonder he rides big roller coasters five times in a row at the amusement park. No wonder he can be difficult and endearing at the same time. No wonder he's a daredevil in the skatepark. No wonder he wants to swing and play in the rain and spin in circles... He's seeking to fulfill sensory needs.

So after discovering this new information, we've tried some new techniques the past couple of days when it's not practical to leave the house. I've made him carry groceries, wear his weighted vest, carry large books, knock me over, jump on the couch/bed, etc. And it's worked wonderfully!

He certainly is a sensational kid!

Dirt Be Gone

Mike has dreamed of owning a Dyson vacuum cleaner for the past year. His dream came true on Sunday. The allergist informed us last week that Jonah has a serious allergy to dust mites so Mike finally had a good excuse to spend the money.

Let me just say, we have never been so excited to vacuum our home. The picture shows what the Dyson picked up in our bedroom after the carpet was freshly vacuumed with our Hoover Wind Tunnel. Can you believe it? That's the dirt it picked up in ONE room!! This clean freak is giddy!

Nashvegas

Although exhausted from a long travel day, the weekend was refreshing. Some highlights for me include:

- shopping
- sleeping without interruption
- straightening my hair :)
- conversations with friends
- long dinners

I learned a few things this weekend. I learned that I still don't like to stay out late (every party needs a pooper). I learned that my friend Becky is the coolest chic on the planet. I learned that I regress to my college personality when I'm with my college friends. I learned that our environment has shaped who we have become.

And I learned that I miss my kids when I'm not with them.

Recess

"You've probably heard analogies about life being like a book, with each stage of development occupying its own chapter. During your early life, you eagerly scribbled out your contribution on the clean pages of the first few chapters. But with the arrival of children, your own journaling changes its focus some, and also offers the time and space for you to help your child hold his crayon, poised and eager to write in his book of days....Rather than setting your own journal completely aide for these next few years of child rearing, why not carefully slot time to record a few paragraphs-- perhaps a single page and even a whole chapter?"

I read this quote last week in a book entitled "What Every Mom Needs" (okay, the English teacher in me is wincing at the fact that I just put that book in quotes instead of underlining it, but I don't know how to underline through this program on my Mac). It was perfect timing. I intend to write a paragraph in my life book this weekend when I fly to Nashville to spend time with college friends.

We've planned an annual girls' weekend since 1996. There's something easy about spending time with girls who knew me during those college years. Sure, we're different people than we were 11 years ago, but it doesn't matter.

We never have a definite plan of what we're going to do, but some of the potential activities, according to our lovely hostess, include:

shopping
a special art exhibit
manicures
Justin Timberlake concert

So pardon my blogging recess. I'm going to write a paragraph in MY book-- I'll be a better mom when I return.

Mr. Princess

I've said recently that at this stage in Jonah's life, he's a follower. If the kids around him are behaving, than he'll behave too. If the boys are aggressive, than he'll be aggressive too. If the girls are playing dress-up, than he'll play dress-up too!

Where's the Gun?

I am the antithesis of an animal lover. I never had a pet, and I'm allergic to them. I literally lose my appetite when I think about animals. (I had a student once that bought me Dixie cups with cats on them just to be funny. I didn't find much humor in it.)

As a child I was bit by a dog while walking home from Leslie Wetherington's house. The way I remember it, the dog had a dead animal in its mouth at the time it gnashed its teeth into my leg. I didn't go to the emergency room so the wound probably wasn't that bad, but the point is, I remember telling Mike before our engagement, "It's either me or a pet, because, honey, you'll never have one if you're married to me.

So when I was awakened this morning at 6:00 a.m. by human-like cries of some mangy white cat that's been hanging out on our front porch, I was less than thrilled. "Where's the gun?" I asked Mike. He didn't answer.

I guess I have a bit of my grandpa lurking in the depths of me. I'd like to bury this cat alive.

*****
Okay animal lovers, can we still be friends?

Watch out World!

Lydia is eight months old today...and she's on a mission! It's amazing how inquisitive she's become in the past week. Her latest interests include: playing with diapers, crawling backwards, feeding herself grapes (peeled and quartered, of course), playing peek-a-boo by herself, holding her arms high to say that she's "so big," and constantly moving when Mommy is trying to take pictures.

Banned

I hate Spongebob Squarepants. I refuse to let Jonah watch it. If he's going to watch television than I'd much rather him watch Blues Clues or Dora the Explorer. That got me thinking about shows my parents wouldn't let me watch. Would you believe that my mom, for a time, woudn't let me watch Growing Pains. Hello? Didn't Kirk Cameron grow up to play Buck in the Left Behind series?

What's greatly ironic about this is that I watched Three's Company every day after school. My mom was obviously making dinner and not very aware of the show's content. So I wonder... what awful thing would I have learned from the Seaver family?

Now Hiring

I've decided I want a laundry maid. My life would be so much easier. I wouldn't need to take 20 trips down the basement stairs, I woudn't spend every "free" moment folding clothes, and Mike would always have neatly ironed shirts (I'm assuming my laundry maid would do the ironing too).

Resumes will be accepted until 3/18/2007.

Everyone Has a Twin?

I recently saw a 20/20 show about look-a-likes. The idea is that someone, somewhere looks just like you. A Canadian photographer, Francois Brunelle, has been taking pictures of these "twins" and compiling them for a book. Here's an example of his work:


I have another recommendation for his book.

Mike:

Rainn Wilson:

What do you think?

Cold #2834

Miss Lydia is terribly congested and miserable. I think she's had a cold most of the winter. My goal today was to keep her happy.

Nothing worked: rocking, walking around the house, singing, eating Cheerios, watching Jonah, listening to the vacuum, etc.

What worked? Watching Baby Einstein snuggled under her blanket. She was actually content for 20 minutes.

Perhaps I should fan our adorble Queen of Sheba while Jonah feeds her some grapes.

Just Call Me Alexander

When I got out of bed this morning I heard Jonah dumping over his basket of instruments and Lydia whining in her room and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

While attempting to get out the door, Jonah decided he didn't want any help untying his shoes. I said he needed to let me help him. I said he was a big boy. I said I could untie his shoes for him, and he threw a huge tantrum.

I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

I could tell because the "car carts" were all being used at the grocery store, and I barely had any room in the normal cart for food since both kids were wearing their winter coats.

It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

That's what it was because while attepting to make dinner tonight with Lydia in the Bjorn and Jonah on the step-stool, I misread the recipe and messed up the meal. Try it again next week, Mike said.

Next week, I said, I'm going to Australia.

While eating my last-minute dinner, Jonah decided he had to sit on his jumperoo and while taking a bath he had a meltdown and we ended up with more bathwater on the floor than the tub.

I am having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, I told everybody. No one even answered.

We pay bills every Wednesday night and I hate paying bills.

Lydia won't go to sleep, I keep stepping in pieces of my failed dinner Jonah put on the floor, and I still have laundry to fold. I hate folding laundry.

Mike says some days are like that.

Even in Australia.

Snowfight with Daddy, Second Try

For those of you who couldn't see the picture:


While walking in the door I heard Mike say, "I'm sorry, Jonah, for hitting you in the face with an ice ball."

I chose not to comment.

It Won't Be Long...

I am so looking forward to my flower garden this year. With the addition of Lydia last year, I just wasn't able to concentrate much on this new love. But the other day I heard birds singing and I instantly thought, "FLOWERS!" I am most excited to see:
- hibiscus
- hydrangea
- stargazer lilies

My 2007 gardening goals:
1. Replant coneflower and black eyed susans. They all but disintegrated by the end of the summer last year-- go figure.
2. Use annuals more effectively. Last year I tried new groupings of annuals, and I didn't think too many of them looked good. Back to the drawing board...

I'm still trying to decide on my three hanging baskets for the front porch. Should I go with ferns and chance my neighbor thinking I'm copying her, or should I use a mixture of cool colored annuals like I did last year?

Christmas in March

Thanks, Cousin Brady!

Vertigo

No, I'm not talking about U2.

I woke up at 4 a.m. with the room spinning as if I had been on a carousel for the past six hours. It was back-- the vertigo.

I can't remember ever having a normal inner ear. I was the little girl who could never roll down a grassy knoll or spin on a merry-go-round or even perform a somersault. I always got dizzy.

About seven years ago I took medication daily for this annoying ailment. I've stopped the meds, and now I never know when it's going to strike.

When Mike and I started dating I was in Lansing to meet some of his friends for the first time. I had to sleep in the car in the restaurant parking lot before joining them for dinner inside. And while shopping with friends, I remember countless times when I had to "sleep it off" in the car outside the mall. I think my Indianapolis friends got to the point where they didn't even bat an eye if I had to go sleep after being in a car. "Yeah, Traci's in the bedroom....sleeping again. She'll be out in about 20 minutes..."

But let me just say, now that I'm a mom, it's not so fun. Well, it never was fun....you know what I mean.

Mike had to take a sick day. The kids were out of their routines. And I was completely out of commission.

As Mike says, "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."

We'll hope for a better day tomorrow.