Maren is currently wearing capri pants and at t-shirt ... as a punishment.
Yes, you read that correctly. Punishment.
See... Maren HATES to wear pants of any kind. The ONLY time I can get her in pants of any kind is if it's worn with a dress or tunic top that "looks like a dress".
Today... she stood in front of me and purposefully colored on her dress with green crayon. A time out just didn't seem to be the right thing .. and they don't seem to be making much of an impact these days. So... in a flash of what I like to call "mommy genius", I marched her upstairs had her remove the assaulted dress and told her I would be choosing what she wore for the rest of the day ... and it would involve PANTS!
She tried to tell me "NO!" ...but quickly realized resistance was futile.
On the way back down stairs she informed me "I'm NOT happy about this". LOL I told her I wasn't happy about her choice to color on her dress. She then gave me "the look". *giggle* I can't help but giggle a little.... and then that giggle quickly turns to a frown as I realize....
WE HAVEN'T EVEN HIT PUBERTY YET!!!!!
I think I'm going to need strong medication in about 10 years.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Rain, Rain and more Rain!
We've been stuck inside for days and days ... ok, maybe just 2 days. But it FEELS like an eternity. I think these walls are literally moving ... inwards. I'm sure of it matter of fact. There is decidedly less space in here today then there was yesterday. Or ... maybe it's just the fact Maren is going stir crazy, Charlotte is basically mobil now, and my house looks like an episode of hoarders 5 minutes after we wake up.
Quite honestly, I'm only GUESSING my house looks like an episode of hoarders because I REFUSE to watch that show for fear that THEIR houses actually look better then mine. True.
We will get out of the house today if it kills me. Today we are supposed to be rain free. So, once the babies are done *napping*, (I currently have one fast asleep and one refusing to sleep) and the mover guy comes to give me an estimate... we're outta here. I think the outing will be relatively short... a trip to Target. But hey... who doesn't love a trip to Target and typically during the day there aren't that many people there and we can have a lively game of Red Light Green Light.
Oh and yes... did you catch that... Charlotte... mobil. Not technically all fours crawling... but definitely military style crawling and occasionally she does this up on all fours leap thing. This is all in addition to the butt bounce. Tenacity. The kid has tenacity. Sophie is my talker. She tries to move about too ... but is much more interested in exercising her vocal abilities at this point.
Ahh... life in the circus.
Quite honestly, I'm only GUESSING my house looks like an episode of hoarders because I REFUSE to watch that show for fear that THEIR houses actually look better then mine. True.
We will get out of the house today if it kills me. Today we are supposed to be rain free. So, once the babies are done *napping*, (I currently have one fast asleep and one refusing to sleep) and the mover guy comes to give me an estimate... we're outta here. I think the outing will be relatively short... a trip to Target. But hey... who doesn't love a trip to Target and typically during the day there aren't that many people there and we can have a lively game of Red Light Green Light.
Oh and yes... did you catch that... Charlotte... mobil. Not technically all fours crawling... but definitely military style crawling and occasionally she does this up on all fours leap thing. This is all in addition to the butt bounce. Tenacity. The kid has tenacity. Sophie is my talker. She tries to move about too ... but is much more interested in exercising her vocal abilities at this point.
Ahh... life in the circus.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
The Birthday Party Challenge....
In a few days Maren will attend her first friends' birthday party. I'm rather nervous about how she is going to come out of this... as in... what will she think she needs to have for HER birthday.
So far, we've done a good job of managing expectations and keeping things simple. Her first party was the biggest bang with a lot of friends and family ... but really, other then a big cookout ... it was nothing over the top.
Her second birthday was actually rather sad.... just the 3 of us in a new town in a new apartment ... and a cupcake. Seriously.
Her third birthday was at a splash pad and just one other friend. We had invited more... but no one could come. She didn't care. She had a princess cake and her friend and water. She was a happy camper.
However.... I KNOW what is happening at this birthday party on Saturday. Or at least most of what is happening. (like each child attending is getting a handmade, by the mama, little draw string back pack with their name on it to put their goodies in... seriously) I also know the mom fairly well and realize there are probably a million things she HASN'T told me that will be taking place. Would I totally LOVE to give Maren an incredible over the top so much fun you want to pee your pants and probably will at some point party? SURE! Who wouldn't! But, I also know myself... and know the challenges I face each and every day just making sure I begin and end the day with 3 kiddos along with trying to keep us fed and clothed in items that aren't crusted with last weeks lunch.
As much as I WANT to do... I know it won't get done. Either that or I would totally drive myself into the ground making it happen. I mean... I haven't even ordered the twins' birthday party invites yet!!! ACK! By this time for Maren's party I had the whole thing planned and was just waiting for the day. Yeah... not so much with the twins. We may end up with the cake my aunt is making and nothing else if I don't get my butt in gear!
So now my challenge will be to manage Maren's expectations now that she will KNOW something else exists. Previously, she didn't know anything else existed. But after Saturday .... that illusion will be burst. I want to make her birthday special and fun ... but I can not spend 3 months planning and prepping... that's for sure!
Oiy. Well... at least she will have fun at OTHER people's over the top I think I'm going to pee my pants because it's so much fun party even if she doesn't have one of her own.
So far, we've done a good job of managing expectations and keeping things simple. Her first party was the biggest bang with a lot of friends and family ... but really, other then a big cookout ... it was nothing over the top.
Her second birthday was actually rather sad.... just the 3 of us in a new town in a new apartment ... and a cupcake. Seriously.
Her third birthday was at a splash pad and just one other friend. We had invited more... but no one could come. She didn't care. She had a princess cake and her friend and water. She was a happy camper.
However.... I KNOW what is happening at this birthday party on Saturday. Or at least most of what is happening. (like each child attending is getting a handmade, by the mama, little draw string back pack with their name on it to put their goodies in... seriously) I also know the mom fairly well and realize there are probably a million things she HASN'T told me that will be taking place. Would I totally LOVE to give Maren an incredible over the top so much fun you want to pee your pants and probably will at some point party? SURE! Who wouldn't! But, I also know myself... and know the challenges I face each and every day just making sure I begin and end the day with 3 kiddos along with trying to keep us fed and clothed in items that aren't crusted with last weeks lunch.
As much as I WANT to do... I know it won't get done. Either that or I would totally drive myself into the ground making it happen. I mean... I haven't even ordered the twins' birthday party invites yet!!! ACK! By this time for Maren's party I had the whole thing planned and was just waiting for the day. Yeah... not so much with the twins. We may end up with the cake my aunt is making and nothing else if I don't get my butt in gear!
So now my challenge will be to manage Maren's expectations now that she will KNOW something else exists. Previously, she didn't know anything else existed. But after Saturday .... that illusion will be burst. I want to make her birthday special and fun ... but I can not spend 3 months planning and prepping... that's for sure!
Oiy. Well... at least she will have fun at OTHER people's over the top I think I'm going to pee my pants because it's so much fun party even if she doesn't have one of her own.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Ch-ch-ch-changes!
So many changes going on in our house. We're trying to BUY a house...which is a stressful, horrible, mind numbing process. We actually had a major disappointment yesterday and had to walk away from our first choice. The seller was just unreasonable and immovable.
But we know the "right" house is out there for us... we're doing our best to find it soon.
Charlotte is sitting right on the verge of crawling. She is SO frustrated with the fact she can't sit up from a laying down position and isn't crawling. SO frustrated. But I know that will just spur her on and soon she's going to be unstoppable! This doesn't mean she isn't mobile of course. She scoots and rolls all over the place getting into her sisters stuff that she happened to leave laying around! Too funny. Maren has had the run of the house for so long and now ... little sisters are finding her stuff very interesting. She's not quite sure what to do with this turn of events!
I was looking at pictures that were taken just after the twins were born, and it amazed me how LITTLE Maren looked! She seems so grown up now... I can't believe the changes that have occurred in her in just 10 short months. Incredible.
Life is always changing. Life is always moving. I'm just hanging on for dear life so I don't fall off!
But we know the "right" house is out there for us... we're doing our best to find it soon.
Charlotte is sitting right on the verge of crawling. She is SO frustrated with the fact she can't sit up from a laying down position and isn't crawling. SO frustrated. But I know that will just spur her on and soon she's going to be unstoppable! This doesn't mean she isn't mobile of course. She scoots and rolls all over the place getting into her sisters stuff that she happened to leave laying around! Too funny. Maren has had the run of the house for so long and now ... little sisters are finding her stuff very interesting. She's not quite sure what to do with this turn of events!
I was looking at pictures that were taken just after the twins were born, and it amazed me how LITTLE Maren looked! She seems so grown up now... I can't believe the changes that have occurred in her in just 10 short months. Incredible.
Life is always changing. Life is always moving. I'm just hanging on for dear life so I don't fall off!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Bustin outta here!
The search is on. We're looking for a new home. When we moved to this largish town we gave ourselves 2 years in a rental. Well, we're a little shy of that...but hey! With the unexpected arrival of TWO babies vs. one... you have to make adjustments.
I'm nervous, excited, scared, and joyous all at the same time. I know it will be great for the kiddos.... particularly M right now. She's like a caged animal around 3:30p each day. Too much energy and no where to put it. I figure just having more space between point A and point B in the house will use up a fair amount of energy. (I'm fairly certain on this aspect as her "hyper" mode is much more manageable when we visit my parents)
It's such a process however. We saw 9 homes last weekend... and we'll be seeing another 9 this weekend. That doesn't count all the open houses we've attended over the last couple of months! ACK! It's so strange to walk into someone's living space and start trying to picture yourself there. Looking beyond their decor, their bad taste in clothing, their strange choice in wall color ..... and try to imagine how it would feel if all of their stuff was gone and all of YOUR stuff was there in it's place. Very surreal. Because I am the way I am I find myself getting caught up in the creation of a story in my head about who these people are...what they are like.... what brought them to the choice to sell the house. That last one often the realtor can help answer, and it's actually a good question TO ask when you're thinking of purchasing a home. I mean.... did they find monsters in the wall and that is why they want to move? Or is it something more mundane like the husband just wants a larger garage so he can store all his man toys. (which is actually the situation with a home we've considered) In that latter case, it gives the impression the sellers do not HAVE to move... therefore trying to negotiate possession at close could be tricky. Possession at close is something rather important to us as our own self imposed time line so we do not have to pay an extra month in rent is looming before us. With the average time to close being 30-45 days.... we have to be putting in an offer by the end of next week if we want to make that deadline.
We waited and waited and waited for Mark to get confirmation on where his job would be located.... and now, here it is. We're just a week away from putting in an offer! Surreal. Very surreal.
I'm nervous, excited, scared, and joyous all at the same time. I know it will be great for the kiddos.... particularly M right now. She's like a caged animal around 3:30p each day. Too much energy and no where to put it. I figure just having more space between point A and point B in the house will use up a fair amount of energy. (I'm fairly certain on this aspect as her "hyper" mode is much more manageable when we visit my parents)
It's such a process however. We saw 9 homes last weekend... and we'll be seeing another 9 this weekend. That doesn't count all the open houses we've attended over the last couple of months! ACK! It's so strange to walk into someone's living space and start trying to picture yourself there. Looking beyond their decor, their bad taste in clothing, their strange choice in wall color ..... and try to imagine how it would feel if all of their stuff was gone and all of YOUR stuff was there in it's place. Very surreal. Because I am the way I am I find myself getting caught up in the creation of a story in my head about who these people are...what they are like.... what brought them to the choice to sell the house. That last one often the realtor can help answer, and it's actually a good question TO ask when you're thinking of purchasing a home. I mean.... did they find monsters in the wall and that is why they want to move? Or is it something more mundane like the husband just wants a larger garage so he can store all his man toys. (which is actually the situation with a home we've considered) In that latter case, it gives the impression the sellers do not HAVE to move... therefore trying to negotiate possession at close could be tricky. Possession at close is something rather important to us as our own self imposed time line so we do not have to pay an extra month in rent is looming before us. With the average time to close being 30-45 days.... we have to be putting in an offer by the end of next week if we want to make that deadline.
We waited and waited and waited for Mark to get confirmation on where his job would be located.... and now, here it is. We're just a week away from putting in an offer! Surreal. Very surreal.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Back from the dead.....
Oiy. Ok, that's the LAST time I suggest it's time to loose weight publicly. Seriously.
After putting up my last post.... THE VERY NEXT DAY I got sick. And by "sick" I mean "one foot in the grave shooting me in the head would have been a better option hey I don't think I can feel my hands because I'm puking so much" sick. I know I said it was time to loose some weight and get in shape.... I didn't really want to loose weight THAT way.
I was down and out for the count. Didn't start to feel human again until Saturday. Thought we were on the right track Friday....but it was really Saturday that things were straight again.
Anyway... new week. I'm healthy again. Now if the weather would just cooperate!
And to clear up any confusion.... my secret DESIRE is to run a marathon. Not that it is EVER going to happen. Once.... a hundred years ago I managed to work up to 3 miles. I thought I was going to die just about every time I went out...which is why that little endeavor never continued. This has actually been a secret desire of mine for years. (I blame you, Kim btw....) It sort of got pushed away... and then was rekindled the last couple of years when several of my FB friends started training for marathons. These are not 20 somethings, like my sisters friend who has been a runner most of her life and regularly runs marathons. No, these are people MY age (which is somewhere between dinosaurs and dirt). Some of whom haven't been really "active" since high school. Suddenly, they are finding the energy to go run! Triathalons... marathons.... 10K's.... it's ridiculous. And here I sit with my jiggly butt eating fudge pops. LOL
Gets you thinking...what example am I setting for my kids. So.. we'll start slow, with walking. Thank goodness for a good stroller. I'm thinking a good game of "Red Light Green Light" will keep her entertained at least long enough to get in a good walk. Now... if it would just stop snowing.......
After putting up my last post.... THE VERY NEXT DAY I got sick. And by "sick" I mean "one foot in the grave shooting me in the head would have been a better option hey I don't think I can feel my hands because I'm puking so much" sick. I know I said it was time to loose some weight and get in shape.... I didn't really want to loose weight THAT way.
I was down and out for the count. Didn't start to feel human again until Saturday. Thought we were on the right track Friday....but it was really Saturday that things were straight again.
Anyway... new week. I'm healthy again. Now if the weather would just cooperate!
And to clear up any confusion.... my secret DESIRE is to run a marathon. Not that it is EVER going to happen. Once.... a hundred years ago I managed to work up to 3 miles. I thought I was going to die just about every time I went out...which is why that little endeavor never continued. This has actually been a secret desire of mine for years. (I blame you, Kim btw....) It sort of got pushed away... and then was rekindled the last couple of years when several of my FB friends started training for marathons. These are not 20 somethings, like my sisters friend who has been a runner most of her life and regularly runs marathons. No, these are people MY age (which is somewhere between dinosaurs and dirt). Some of whom haven't been really "active" since high school. Suddenly, they are finding the energy to go run! Triathalons... marathons.... 10K's.... it's ridiculous. And here I sit with my jiggly butt eating fudge pops. LOL
Gets you thinking...what example am I setting for my kids. So.. we'll start slow, with walking. Thank goodness for a good stroller. I'm thinking a good game of "Red Light Green Light" will keep her entertained at least long enough to get in a good walk. Now... if it would just stop snowing.......
Sunday, March 20, 2011
It's time.
I've started physical therapy for the ab muscle separation I have going on. I'm also hoping it will help my back issues... because let's face it.. everything is connected and if your core is not strong then your back is doing overtime. I STILL need to find a chiropractor, I know things are not right structurally "back" there. It was confirmed today when I woke up this morning from laying on my back ... and my heels were numb.
Yeah...that's not right.
Anyway... that's not the point of this entry. While I was at therapy this week I was talking with the therapist who was working with me that day. (aka *stick woman*) She apparently had a "5" diastisis (ab separation) meaning... you could stick FIVE FINGERS in her gap. YEOW! Now... no gap. YAY! Ok, so these exercises are a pain, but they work. In our discussion I was talking to her about when she started, and how long it took and what not. She said, that when she realized she was STILL saying "I just had a baby" when her baby was 13 months old, she realized it was time to do something and get things in gear.
Well, my babies are not 13 months... but we're staring down the barrel of 10 months. And... it's time. Yes, in the early months it's best to not just jump back in. You need to let your body rest, you need to ensure that your priority is giving your precious bundles good mama milk nutrition and you want your energies to go toward that end... not necessarily burning up reserves to loose weight.
But... babies are eating more and more solids. Milk production is pretty solidified at this point and this body is in serious need to help. Summer is around the corner and I am not even capri ready let alone "bikini ready". Not that I ever HAVE nor ever would wear a bikini. (although, I must admit... if there is ever a time where due to some tilt in the universe I could be described as "rockin" ... I may just have to buy a bikini. But that is about as likely as me growing a penis.)
I need/want to be healthy. When I exercise I feel better. I want to set a good example for my kiddos. I want to demonstrate a healthy lifestyle... with healthy choices. And... shhhhh... I have a secret ambition to run a marathon. CRAZY! I know. I mean.... this body doesn't run well. I did get up to 3 miles once upon a time...but that was eons ago and I don't know if I could do that again. I'm old. I have many creeks and cricks. Regardless... first I need to get my back sorted out. There is NO way I could start running with my back in this condition. That's just asking for trouble. So, for now... that ambition will sit on a shelf and I'll look at it from time to time.
However... right now? I can walk. I can stretch. I can utilize the gym in our community and I can begin the journey of wellness.
Tonight was my first walk. It felt great. :-)
Yeah...that's not right.
Anyway... that's not the point of this entry. While I was at therapy this week I was talking with the therapist who was working with me that day. (aka *stick woman*) She apparently had a "5" diastisis (ab separation) meaning... you could stick FIVE FINGERS in her gap. YEOW! Now... no gap. YAY! Ok, so these exercises are a pain, but they work. In our discussion I was talking to her about when she started, and how long it took and what not. She said, that when she realized she was STILL saying "I just had a baby" when her baby was 13 months old, she realized it was time to do something and get things in gear.
Well, my babies are not 13 months... but we're staring down the barrel of 10 months. And... it's time. Yes, in the early months it's best to not just jump back in. You need to let your body rest, you need to ensure that your priority is giving your precious bundles good mama milk nutrition and you want your energies to go toward that end... not necessarily burning up reserves to loose weight.
But... babies are eating more and more solids. Milk production is pretty solidified at this point and this body is in serious need to help. Summer is around the corner and I am not even capri ready let alone "bikini ready". Not that I ever HAVE nor ever would wear a bikini. (although, I must admit... if there is ever a time where due to some tilt in the universe I could be described as "rockin" ... I may just have to buy a bikini. But that is about as likely as me growing a penis.)
I need/want to be healthy. When I exercise I feel better. I want to set a good example for my kiddos. I want to demonstrate a healthy lifestyle... with healthy choices. And... shhhhh... I have a secret ambition to run a marathon. CRAZY! I know. I mean.... this body doesn't run well. I did get up to 3 miles once upon a time...but that was eons ago and I don't know if I could do that again. I'm old. I have many creeks and cricks. Regardless... first I need to get my back sorted out. There is NO way I could start running with my back in this condition. That's just asking for trouble. So, for now... that ambition will sit on a shelf and I'll look at it from time to time.
However... right now? I can walk. I can stretch. I can utilize the gym in our community and I can begin the journey of wellness.
Tonight was my first walk. It felt great. :-)
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