Happy Halloween! Or as I will forever remember it as "the day I found out I was pregnant with LM."
It must have been a trick. I didn't mean to get pregnant with her, but here we are one year later and she's sitting in my lap dressed up in her hand-me-down bumblebee costume (thanks, BigM!) chewing on whatever she can reach- my thumb, her hand, her sleeve; it's all up for grabs. Until she was born, I wasn't positive I could welcome her into our family as happily as I would have if we planned for her. But finding out I was unexpectedly pregnant when 2 dear friends of mine had been trying for years made me remember that every single child is a precious gift from God. And if He thought I was ready, who am I to question the Creator of the universe?
Yet she's such a treat. I could not imagine my life without her in it. As I am finding out, I don't really remember what life was like without children and now without my LM. I am sure I used to have a lot more free time, but what did I do with all of it? Waste it, I'm sure.
Yes, Little Mouse is the sweetest and best surprise I've ever gotten.
10.31.2008
M-I-C...K-E-Y...
It's official. Aside from finding the dead body (did I get your attention there?) the Mouse House has been returned to its "humans only" state. Mortimer (as he was dubbed by my friend, 'Tisha) has left the building.
After our early morning kitchen run-in, DM set up an enticing meal of peanut butter and cheese on a very very old snap trap. But Mortimer was a little too sneaky for that. He snapped that trap, stole my cheese and went back under the dishwasher. It was about that time that I noticed these little black specks in my bottom kitchen cabinets. A google investigation uncovered said black specks were, indeed, rat poop. (It's amazing what you find when you google "rat poop.") My pots and pans, tupperware and baking dishes were nothing but a playground for little Mortimer. So one by one, the pieces got run through the dishwasher and are still residing on my dining room table. I've got 2 mice of my own so I haven't had the time to get in there with the disenfecting cleaner. (note to self: stop blogging and do it now.)
My attitude towards Mortimer went back and forth, sometimes I felt sorry for the cute little guy and other times I was just hacked that the nasty rodent was invading my space. Late one night as I was sitting in the playroom, I saw him meander from the kitchen into the stairwell and presumably head down to the basement. With eyeballs as big as saucers, I ran back to tell sleeping DM and he just laughed. He also admitted he does not remember the exchange at all.
As Operation Put Cloth Diapers in Dryer had to be continued, battle tactics were launched:
1. Throw empty toilet paper roll (on it's way from the bathroom to the recycling bin) into the kitchen. Wait.
2. When nothing happens, set up child's chair, pick up e.t.p.r., stand on chair, flip on light and throw it into the stairwell.
3. When nothing happens, shake the door to see if enemy is hiding behind door or random box of junk that hasn't made its way downstairs.
4. When nothing happens, peer anxiously down stairwell.
5. When nothing happens, go back to kitchen to get load of laundry (find mouse droppings behind towel bin in pantry, BALLS!!!!!!), timidly walk down stairwell.
6. When nothing happens, flip on light and walk slowly down hall.
7. When nothing happens, flip on sitting room light.
8. When nothing happens, flip on kitchen light, peer anxiously around corner into kitchen.
9. When nothing happens, venture slowly into kitchen.
10. Almost wet pants as hear mouse scurry under unknown appliance.
11. With knowledge of enemy in hiding, continue OPCDID as normal.
12. Walk back upstairs and get mouse poison, take back to downstairs kitchen, place on floor and kick into corner.
13. Walk back upstairs and hear strange noises coming from upstairs kitchen, assume house is being taken over by rodents and plan to move in 2 1/2 months.
The following morning, DM and I went on a date (with our children) to Wal-mart to get the latest and greatest in mouse traps. DM reached for a snap trap the size of my keyboard, but my mood right then was "Mortimer is cute" so I opted for one of those live traps where you put a peanut butter cracker in it, mouse goes in trap, door closes, mouse is trapped and you can take him outside, alive and unharmed. I have a friend, Denise, who is a big animal fan and I kept picturing her crying as Mortimer got snapped up.
Next morning, no mouse. Left the house all day long, again no mouse- and this time I noticed a peanut butter smear on the side of the trap, shaped exactly like a mouse. (DM says it's where his finger smudged on the way out but I stand behind my observation.) I mentioned this fact to 2 of my friends, Marge and Shannon, and they both gently reminded me that rats breed like rabbits do and where there's one, there's usually a little mouse family. I so did not need to know that, so DM picked up a snap trap on his way home and I set up more D-Con under the cabinets. We left town for 24 hours and when we got home, both traps were empty. I have to admit I was a little disappointed. BUT, about 1/2 the D-Con was gone! Apparently, there was a mouse party and he (they?) all ODed.
After our early morning kitchen run-in, DM set up an enticing meal of peanut butter and cheese on a very very old snap trap. But Mortimer was a little too sneaky for that. He snapped that trap, stole my cheese and went back under the dishwasher. It was about that time that I noticed these little black specks in my bottom kitchen cabinets. A google investigation uncovered said black specks were, indeed, rat poop. (It's amazing what you find when you google "rat poop.") My pots and pans, tupperware and baking dishes were nothing but a playground for little Mortimer. So one by one, the pieces got run through the dishwasher and are still residing on my dining room table. I've got 2 mice of my own so I haven't had the time to get in there with the disenfecting cleaner. (note to self: stop blogging and do it now.)
My attitude towards Mortimer went back and forth, sometimes I felt sorry for the cute little guy and other times I was just hacked that the nasty rodent was invading my space. Late one night as I was sitting in the playroom, I saw him meander from the kitchen into the stairwell and presumably head down to the basement. With eyeballs as big as saucers, I ran back to tell sleeping DM and he just laughed. He also admitted he does not remember the exchange at all.
As Operation Put Cloth Diapers in Dryer had to be continued, battle tactics were launched:
1. Throw empty toilet paper roll (on it's way from the bathroom to the recycling bin) into the kitchen. Wait.
2. When nothing happens, set up child's chair, pick up e.t.p.r., stand on chair, flip on light and throw it into the stairwell.
3. When nothing happens, shake the door to see if enemy is hiding behind door or random box of junk that hasn't made its way downstairs.
4. When nothing happens, peer anxiously down stairwell.
5. When nothing happens, go back to kitchen to get load of laundry (find mouse droppings behind towel bin in pantry, BALLS!!!!!!), timidly walk down stairwell.
6. When nothing happens, flip on light and walk slowly down hall.
7. When nothing happens, flip on sitting room light.
8. When nothing happens, flip on kitchen light, peer anxiously around corner into kitchen.
9. When nothing happens, venture slowly into kitchen.
10. Almost wet pants as hear mouse scurry under unknown appliance.
11. With knowledge of enemy in hiding, continue OPCDID as normal.
12. Walk back upstairs and get mouse poison, take back to downstairs kitchen, place on floor and kick into corner.
13. Walk back upstairs and hear strange noises coming from upstairs kitchen, assume house is being taken over by rodents and plan to move in 2 1/2 months.
The following morning, DM and I went on a date (with our children) to Wal-mart to get the latest and greatest in mouse traps. DM reached for a snap trap the size of my keyboard, but my mood right then was "Mortimer is cute" so I opted for one of those live traps where you put a peanut butter cracker in it, mouse goes in trap, door closes, mouse is trapped and you can take him outside, alive and unharmed. I have a friend, Denise, who is a big animal fan and I kept picturing her crying as Mortimer got snapped up.
Next morning, no mouse. Left the house all day long, again no mouse- and this time I noticed a peanut butter smear on the side of the trap, shaped exactly like a mouse. (DM says it's where his finger smudged on the way out but I stand behind my observation.) I mentioned this fact to 2 of my friends, Marge and Shannon, and they both gently reminded me that rats breed like rabbits do and where there's one, there's usually a little mouse family. I so did not need to know that, so DM picked up a snap trap on his way home and I set up more D-Con under the cabinets. We left town for 24 hours and when we got home, both traps were empty. I have to admit I was a little disappointed. BUT, about 1/2 the D-Con was gone! Apparently, there was a mouse party and he (they?) all ODed.
10.30.2008
"Write" on, Sister!
In my days before I was a Mommy Mouse, I was a personal trainer. (Well, when I just had BigM, I was a personal trainer then too, but now I'm just a Mommy Mouse.) Anyway, I still sub aerobics classes at the gym from time to time and tonight was one of those times.
When I came home tonight, I walked into the mud room and as I was taking off my shoes, I heard BigM say, "I wiwl tewl her dat we doen wite on Wittle Mouse." Seriously? I continue into the kitchen where I find DM consoling LM and he says, "If you heard that, you heard it correctly. BigM, do you have something you wanted to tell Mommy?"
Nodding her head very solemnly, she says, "Mommy, Ime sowwy I wote on Wittle Mouse."
While DM was on the phone in another room, BigM wrote all over LM's face with a ball point pen. I am positive it would have happened if I had been there but I'm hoping he will now believe me when I say, "You can't leave her alone even for a second." At least not with a ball point pen...
When I came home tonight, I walked into the mud room and as I was taking off my shoes, I heard BigM say, "I wiwl tewl her dat we doen wite on Wittle Mouse." Seriously? I continue into the kitchen where I find DM consoling LM and he says, "If you heard that, you heard it correctly. BigM, do you have something you wanted to tell Mommy?"
Nodding her head very solemnly, she says, "Mommy, Ime sowwy I wote on Wittle Mouse."
While DM was on the phone in another room, BigM wrote all over LM's face with a ball point pen. I am positive it would have happened if I had been there but I'm hoping he will now believe me when I say, "You can't leave her alone even for a second." At least not with a ball point pen...
10.27.2008
Big Talker
So why do I go and brag about how on top of things I am? Remember how I told you I was soooooo smart and saavy about getting my Christmas cards ordered and how clever I was to do them as change of address cards too?
Well... long story short, we're probably not moving into the house we currently own. We found out today that we may have an opportunity to purchase a bigger house in a "better" neighborhood (at the off chance I'm offending my existing neighbors, I apologize.) We'll know this weekend if we're taking the plunge but looks like I just wasted $45 and 60 of my hard earned Pampers points. And I have 100 Christmas cards that are completely useless to me now, unless the house has termites or no kitchen or something equally upsetting.
I'll let you know what we decide. As is the ongoing theme in my life, there's always a story.
Well... long story short, we're probably not moving into the house we currently own. We found out today that we may have an opportunity to purchase a bigger house in a "better" neighborhood (at the off chance I'm offending my existing neighbors, I apologize.) We'll know this weekend if we're taking the plunge but looks like I just wasted $45 and 60 of my hard earned Pampers points. And I have 100 Christmas cards that are completely useless to me now, unless the house has termites or no kitchen or something equally upsetting.
I'll let you know what we decide. As is the ongoing theme in my life, there's always a story.
10.26.2008
It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas
Well, only if you go to any major store. And I really don't like that, what happened to Thanksgiving? And for the last few years, Halloween? And this year, Summer? (I was in Kohl's at the end of August and they had trees and ornaments set up, already on sale. I have no words.)
But at the Mouse House, we took our Christmas card picture today! And after 100+ shots, I could narrow it down to 3 where both the mice were looking at the camera, both had pleasant looks on their faces and their hairdos weren't all over the place. Anybody who has even one child knows how hard it is to get a decent shot, but DM did a fabulous job taking the pictures and getting both of them to look at the camera at the same time.
Wonder where I was this whole time? Isn't the mommy usually dancing around, trying to make the kids laugh so they will be smiling (but we'll settle for just looking in the right direction, huh?) Not this MM. Nope, not me. I had a slightly more important role this year.
Picture it: we've got our classic red Radio Flyer wagon set up in front of the old magnolia tree. The mice are wearing their matching overalls with white long-sleeved t-shirts. BigM is sitting in the wagon and LM is sitting in her lap. (If you look at LM's ticker, today anyway, it will say she is exactly 4 months old. I know she's super baby, but I don't know many 4 month olds who can sit up unsupported. Mine certainly can't.) So that leaves MM lying flat on the ground behind the wagon, clutching LM's overall straps for dear life to make sure she stays upright. Are you picturing this? Are you laughing?
What inspired this impromptu photo shoot? Remember, I'm a professional bargain shopper, and shutterfly is offering a great deal if you order 50 cards by Oct 29th, they will give you an additional 25 cards free. Combine that with my Pampers points- another 25 cards free! and I got 100 Christmas cards for less than $45, shipped directly to my house! And these mice will be moving in January, so I did a combo Christmas/New Address card all in one. I have to admit, I'm a little proud.
Just so you know, I'll be the one laughing when I've got my cards stuffed, addressed, stamped and ready to be mailed 2 weeks before Thanksgiving. Have you taken your picture yet?
But at the Mouse House, we took our Christmas card picture today! And after 100+ shots, I could narrow it down to 3 where both the mice were looking at the camera, both had pleasant looks on their faces and their hairdos weren't all over the place. Anybody who has even one child knows how hard it is to get a decent shot, but DM did a fabulous job taking the pictures and getting both of them to look at the camera at the same time.
Wonder where I was this whole time? Isn't the mommy usually dancing around, trying to make the kids laugh so they will be smiling (but we'll settle for just looking in the right direction, huh?) Not this MM. Nope, not me. I had a slightly more important role this year.
Picture it: we've got our classic red Radio Flyer wagon set up in front of the old magnolia tree. The mice are wearing their matching overalls with white long-sleeved t-shirts. BigM is sitting in the wagon and LM is sitting in her lap. (If you look at LM's ticker, today anyway, it will say she is exactly 4 months old. I know she's super baby, but I don't know many 4 month olds who can sit up unsupported. Mine certainly can't.) So that leaves MM lying flat on the ground behind the wagon, clutching LM's overall straps for dear life to make sure she stays upright. Are you picturing this? Are you laughing?
What inspired this impromptu photo shoot? Remember, I'm a professional bargain shopper, and shutterfly is offering a great deal if you order 50 cards by Oct 29th, they will give you an additional 25 cards free. Combine that with my Pampers points- another 25 cards free! and I got 100 Christmas cards for less than $45, shipped directly to my house! And these mice will be moving in January, so I did a combo Christmas/New Address card all in one. I have to admit, I'm a little proud.
Just so you know, I'll be the one laughing when I've got my cards stuffed, addressed, stamped and ready to be mailed 2 weeks before Thanksgiving. Have you taken your picture yet?
10.21.2008
America's Next Top Model
You already know I'm "that mom." Today, I took LM to the Picture People at the mall for her 3 months pictures. Let's pretend she's not 3 3/4 months old, okay? BigM got her 3 (4, whoops) month pictures done at a super professional studio and I ended up spending 1/10 of my salary on pictures for her in the first year of her life (unfortunately, that is embarassingly true.) And now that I'm not working, spending any part of my "salary" on pictures for LM would be impossible, unless I take my own digital pictures and never print them.
Before we left, I gave LM a bath and when she comes out of the tub, her hair is a mass of curls. Yet somehow (given I have no training in hair styling) every single hair on her head ends up completely straight. Except today. All but about 28 strands were straight all over her head except around her left ear, one little curl decided to stick out, and it wasn't a pretty little curl, just the top curled so it ended up looking like she had slept on it wrong. So being a resourceful MM, I went into the bathroom and put water on it. So then it was wet and sticking out. And the photographer wanted to get started. So we took a billion pictures of her looking like she had some grease in her hair. Not cute (the hair anyway.) The rest of her is another story, she's adorable. Really. I can prove it- or...
apparently, I have "sucker" tatooed across my forehead, because the saleslady printed and blew up a couple of the pictures to 11 x 14 and put them in triple matted frames.
"Aren't these the most beautiful pictures of her? They really are wonderful! And they are only $149 each! A real steal!"
Well, little did she know I am a professional bargain shopper and I not only had a 30% off coupon, but I was only getting 4x6s on sheets. I kindly declined her *generous* offer and as I was leaving, she ran out and said, "Would you be interested in signing a modeling release so we can hang these in our studio?" I agreed so she hands me this release form saying she could not only hang the pictures but they could use them in nationwide advertising. So watch out, mice fans, you may just see LM in the Picture People ads!
Before we left, I gave LM a bath and when she comes out of the tub, her hair is a mass of curls. Yet somehow (given I have no training in hair styling) every single hair on her head ends up completely straight. Except today. All but about 28 strands were straight all over her head except around her left ear, one little curl decided to stick out, and it wasn't a pretty little curl, just the top curled so it ended up looking like she had slept on it wrong. So being a resourceful MM, I went into the bathroom and put water on it. So then it was wet and sticking out. And the photographer wanted to get started. So we took a billion pictures of her looking like she had some grease in her hair. Not cute (the hair anyway.) The rest of her is another story, she's adorable. Really. I can prove it- or...
apparently, I have "sucker" tatooed across my forehead, because the saleslady printed and blew up a couple of the pictures to 11 x 14 and put them in triple matted frames.
"Aren't these the most beautiful pictures of her? They really are wonderful! And they are only $149 each! A real steal!"
Well, little did she know I am a professional bargain shopper and I not only had a 30% off coupon, but I was only getting 4x6s on sheets. I kindly declined her *generous* offer and as I was leaving, she ran out and said, "Would you be interested in signing a modeling release so we can hang these in our studio?" I agreed so she hands me this release form saying she could not only hang the pictures but they could use them in nationwide advertising. So watch out, mice fans, you may just see LM in the Picture People ads!
10.19.2008
That Sucks!
LM is obsessed with her pacifier. As in, it's the equivalent of crack for babies. It's borderline comical. BigM didn't really take one, so this is a new adventure for this MM. I always sort of cringed when I saw those moms who let their 5 year olds suck pacifiers as their shopping carts passed mine, but as I've found out on more than one occasion, you can't judge a mommy until you've walked around in her flip flops. (Although, if we let it go past 6 months, I'll be surprised. Ok, a year, tops.)
LM is a great sleeper once she gets there, but putting her down is a small hassle in the Mouse House (although it could be worse, she's been sleeping through the night since 11 weeks.) First we wait until BigM is asleep. Then have our last nursing session around 9ish, get a fresh diaper, read a quick story and it's off to the pack & play in our room. LM has no problem being put in her bed, but she will struggle and squirm around until she gets "just right." And you better believe one of us has to stand there and hold that paci in her mouth. She finally drifts off and we tip-toe tip-toe tip-toe out of the room where we then sit and wait. Without fail, about 7 1/2 minutes later, she starts fussing because that dang paci has fallen out of her mouth. I skitter down the hall (remember, I'm a mouse) as fast as my legs will carry me so she won't wake up her sister across the hall. Insert paci, instantly back to sleep. And sometimes, she will grab hold of the paci and pull it out of her own mouth. You should see the expression on her face, "Who the heck did that? Why would anyone do something so incredibly mean to me? Show your face, you thief!" I then wrench it out of her tightly closed fist (angering her further) and silently shove it back in her mouth... and she's out like a light. Repeat, repeat, repeat and she's down for the night.
So every once in awhile, that same paci-bandit strikes during naptime, which is why when DM came home this afternoon, he found LM snoozing in the bouncy seat- a paci in her mouth and one tightly clutched in each of her cute little fists.
LM is a great sleeper once she gets there, but putting her down is a small hassle in the Mouse House (although it could be worse, she's been sleeping through the night since 11 weeks.) First we wait until BigM is asleep. Then have our last nursing session around 9ish, get a fresh diaper, read a quick story and it's off to the pack & play in our room. LM has no problem being put in her bed, but she will struggle and squirm around until she gets "just right." And you better believe one of us has to stand there and hold that paci in her mouth. She finally drifts off and we tip-toe tip-toe tip-toe out of the room where we then sit and wait. Without fail, about 7 1/2 minutes later, she starts fussing because that dang paci has fallen out of her mouth. I skitter down the hall (remember, I'm a mouse) as fast as my legs will carry me so she won't wake up her sister across the hall. Insert paci, instantly back to sleep. And sometimes, she will grab hold of the paci and pull it out of her own mouth. You should see the expression on her face, "Who the heck did that? Why would anyone do something so incredibly mean to me? Show your face, you thief!" I then wrench it out of her tightly closed fist (angering her further) and silently shove it back in her mouth... and she's out like a light. Repeat, repeat, repeat and she's down for the night.
So every once in awhile, that same paci-bandit strikes during naptime, which is why when DM came home this afternoon, he found LM snoozing in the bouncy seat- a paci in her mouth and one tightly clutched in each of her cute little fists.
10.14.2008
Stillbirth Awareness and Research Act
I post this in memory of my friend Marge's precious little boy, Dekar. He was born and passed the day after LM was born, and it's hard for me to look at my sweet little mouse and not remember my dear friend's loss.
Please copy and paste the following on your blog if you have a minute.
October 15th is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day in the United States. More than 25,000 children are stillborn in the United States every year leaving mothers, entire families and communities devastated. Estimates of the rate of occurrence of stillbirth make it at least as common as autism.
Stillbirth is not an intractable problem. Greater research would likely significantly reduce its incidence, but good research requires good data. H.R. 5979: Stillbirth Awareness and Research Act is under consideration by Congress. This proposed bill would standardize stillbirth investigation and diagnosis, thus providing more data for the needed research. Better research means fewer children born still.
On October 15th, remember the thousands of unfinished children lost and the families who remain to grieve them. Honor them by taking action. Let’s help pass H.R. 5979.
Action Steps:
Step 1. Use Your Blog to Enlist Others-Copy the contents of this entire post and publish it on your blog immediately.
GOAL: Enlist 10 of your readers to spread the word
Step 2. Use Your E-mail to Enlist Others-E-mail 5 bloggers and ask them (nicely and in an unspammy way) to publish these action steps on their blog. Consider contacting celebrity bloggers, political bloggers, medical bloggers, or bloggers who are not part of your reading community.
GOAL: Enlist 3 bloggers outside of your normal blog sphere to spread the word in other online communities.
Step 3. Help Pass the Stillbirth Awareness and Research Act-By October 15th, publish a post on your blog supporting H.R. 5979 Stillbirth Awareness and Research Act. For maximum impact, title your post: “Stillbirth Awareness and Research Act.”
GOAL: 1,000,000 Google results on October 15th when that term is searched for. Currently, Google only returns 20,400 pages - most of which have nothing to do with the bill.
Thank you to Antigone for starting this movement.
More information HERE
Please copy and paste the following on your blog if you have a minute.
October 15th is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day in the United States. More than 25,000 children are stillborn in the United States every year leaving mothers, entire families and communities devastated. Estimates of the rate of occurrence of stillbirth make it at least as common as autism.
Stillbirth is not an intractable problem. Greater research would likely significantly reduce its incidence, but good research requires good data. H.R. 5979: Stillbirth Awareness and Research Act is under consideration by Congress. This proposed bill would standardize stillbirth investigation and diagnosis, thus providing more data for the needed research. Better research means fewer children born still.
On October 15th, remember the thousands of unfinished children lost and the families who remain to grieve them. Honor them by taking action. Let’s help pass H.R. 5979.
Action Steps:
Step 1. Use Your Blog to Enlist Others-Copy the contents of this entire post and publish it on your blog immediately.
GOAL: Enlist 10 of your readers to spread the word
Step 2. Use Your E-mail to Enlist Others-E-mail 5 bloggers and ask them (nicely and in an unspammy way) to publish these action steps on their blog. Consider contacting celebrity bloggers, political bloggers, medical bloggers, or bloggers who are not part of your reading community.
GOAL: Enlist 3 bloggers outside of your normal blog sphere to spread the word in other online communities.
Step 3. Help Pass the Stillbirth Awareness and Research Act-By October 15th, publish a post on your blog supporting H.R. 5979 Stillbirth Awareness and Research Act. For maximum impact, title your post: “Stillbirth Awareness and Research Act.”
GOAL: 1,000,000 Google results on October 15th when that term is searched for. Currently, Google only returns 20,400 pages - most of which have nothing to do with the bill.
Thank you to Antigone for starting this movement.
More information HERE
"Welcome to OnStar"
This is the story of the day my dad almost gave up grandfathering. (He really said that.) I'll give you a little background, but really this story speaks for itself. One of my very best friends from college was getting married and DM had a school committment so he had to come a little later as I was in the wedding party and I was requested to attend the bridesmaids' luncheon the day before the wedding. So my parents very graciously offered to make the 5 1/2 hour drive with BigM and me. A few things I haven't told you about BigM as a baby:
1. She had horrible colic (horrible. Cried for 16 hours a day, straight. I'm not exaggerating, even though I tend to do that. She really did cry every second she was awake.)
2. She nursed every 1 1/2, for 45 mins. Meaning I nursed every 45 mins for 45 mins. It's a wonder I agree to be pregnant ever again.
3. She didn't particularly care for her carseat.
4. She never napped.
So this simple 5 1/2 hour trip ended up taking over 9 hours. And my dad really did say, "I think I would like to give up grandfathering. Is there any way we can trade this child in for another one?" So here goes. This is a true story. None of the account you are about to read has been exaggerated in any way.
“G-Pops, you just can’t pull into the Cracker Barrel and drop her off. She can breastfeed in the back of the car. No one will see her.” I can see the blood creeping up the back of my dad’s neck. All you have to do is mention the word “breast” and he turns purple.
But she’s right, I would rather park in the back parking lot than sit out front in one of those rocking chairs to nurse. BigM is now crying so hard she is holding her breath. Dad pulls the car in the Comfort Inn parking lot and announces he’s going on a walk. Fine, I think, just go. I don’t want you to see my breasts anymore than you want to see them. He practically jumps out of the driver’s seat before the car has even stopped and is gone before we can even say goodbye.
“Honey, what can I do to help,” my mom asks. As well meaning as she is, there’s not much she can do in this situation. I get BigM out of her carseat and she starts sucking like she has never eaten before. Peace and quiet, finally. Ha. As if it were that easy. Before I can stop her, BigM has let go and spits up all over me. “Crap,” I say (in front of my mother!) “She just spit up.” Now, of course, my mom (who is not always the most level headed when it comes to a crisis) says, “Oh Mommy Mouse, don’t let it get on the leather seats, your father is going to freak, let me help…”
WHOOWHOOWHOOWHOO… as my mom opens the door to help me, the car alarm starts to go off. “Shut the door, mom? How do you turn this thing off?” I scream. BigM starts screaming. Mom is screaming. The noise is deafening and people are starting to look.
Ring, ring. What the hell is that? “Hello,” shrieks my mom. “Hello? Yes?” I forgot my dad has that surround sound car cell phone thing. “Mrs. Jones, this is David calling from OnStar, we received an alert that your car alarm has gone off. Is everything o…”
“Oh David, you would not believe, my daughter is in the backseat breastfeeding and I got out to try and help her and then the car alarm started going off and her father has gone off with the keys because he can’t stand to see her breasts and I don’t know how to turn it off and I just don’t know what to do…” I kind of wish she would stop talking, but at least I don’t know this David character.
“Well, um, well Mrs. Jones, I can, uh, turn the alarm off for you if you would like.” Poor David, I know his face is red and I can’t even see him. Thankfully, the noise stops. “Oh, David, that would be wonderful. This baby is just more than we can handle. She’s…”
“Is there anything else I can do for you today,” David interrupts. Yeah, he’s required by the company to ask that question. David here wants to get off the phone as fast as he can so he can flick the lights and get everyone’s attention in the call center and tell them about the crazy nut he just talked to. (“Everybody listen, you guys will never believe this one…”)
Oh great, I’m going to be one of those commercials. I start laughing, mostly because there is not much else I can do. I have always told my mom she gives way too much information, but this really tops the cake. “Mom, you could have said, ‘Thank you for calling, I accidentally set the alarm off. Could you please turn it off?’ That poor guy is going to have nightmares for weeks!"
Now he’s sitting there with the phone in his hand wondering, ‘Just how was that woman supposed to help her daughter breastfeed?’”
1. She had horrible colic (horrible. Cried for 16 hours a day, straight. I'm not exaggerating, even though I tend to do that. She really did cry every second she was awake.)
2. She nursed every 1 1/2, for 45 mins. Meaning I nursed every 45 mins for 45 mins. It's a wonder I agree to be pregnant ever again.
3. She didn't particularly care for her carseat.
4. She never napped.
So this simple 5 1/2 hour trip ended up taking over 9 hours. And my dad really did say, "I think I would like to give up grandfathering. Is there any way we can trade this child in for another one?" So here goes. This is a true story. None of the account you are about to read has been exaggerated in any way.
“G-Pops, you just can’t pull into the Cracker Barrel and drop her off. She can breastfeed in the back of the car. No one will see her.” I can see the blood creeping up the back of my dad’s neck. All you have to do is mention the word “breast” and he turns purple.
But she’s right, I would rather park in the back parking lot than sit out front in one of those rocking chairs to nurse. BigM is now crying so hard she is holding her breath. Dad pulls the car in the Comfort Inn parking lot and announces he’s going on a walk. Fine, I think, just go. I don’t want you to see my breasts anymore than you want to see them. He practically jumps out of the driver’s seat before the car has even stopped and is gone before we can even say goodbye.
“Honey, what can I do to help,” my mom asks. As well meaning as she is, there’s not much she can do in this situation. I get BigM out of her carseat and she starts sucking like she has never eaten before. Peace and quiet, finally. Ha. As if it were that easy. Before I can stop her, BigM has let go and spits up all over me. “Crap,” I say (in front of my mother!) “She just spit up.” Now, of course, my mom (who is not always the most level headed when it comes to a crisis) says, “Oh Mommy Mouse, don’t let it get on the leather seats, your father is going to freak, let me help…”
WHOOWHOOWHOOWHOO… as my mom opens the door to help me, the car alarm starts to go off. “Shut the door, mom? How do you turn this thing off?” I scream. BigM starts screaming. Mom is screaming. The noise is deafening and people are starting to look.
Ring, ring. What the hell is that? “Hello,” shrieks my mom. “Hello? Yes?” I forgot my dad has that surround sound car cell phone thing. “Mrs. Jones, this is David calling from OnStar, we received an alert that your car alarm has gone off. Is everything o…”
“Oh David, you would not believe, my daughter is in the backseat breastfeeding and I got out to try and help her and then the car alarm started going off and her father has gone off with the keys because he can’t stand to see her breasts and I don’t know how to turn it off and I just don’t know what to do…” I kind of wish she would stop talking, but at least I don’t know this David character.
“Well, um, well Mrs. Jones, I can, uh, turn the alarm off for you if you would like.” Poor David, I know his face is red and I can’t even see him. Thankfully, the noise stops. “Oh, David, that would be wonderful. This baby is just more than we can handle. She’s…”
“Is there anything else I can do for you today,” David interrupts. Yeah, he’s required by the company to ask that question. David here wants to get off the phone as fast as he can so he can flick the lights and get everyone’s attention in the call center and tell them about the crazy nut he just talked to. (“Everybody listen, you guys will never believe this one…”)
Oh great, I’m going to be one of those commercials. I start laughing, mostly because there is not much else I can do. I have always told my mom she gives way too much information, but this really tops the cake. “Mom, you could have said, ‘Thank you for calling, I accidentally set the alarm off. Could you please turn it off?’ That poor guy is going to have nightmares for weeks!"
Now he’s sitting there with the phone in his hand wondering, ‘Just how was that woman supposed to help her daughter breastfeed?’”
10.11.2008
Potty Talk
I honestly hope this is the last post I make about the potty. I'm getting a little tired of this subject, but this blog is suppsed to be about my little mice (the people kind, not the one hanging in my kitchen) and right now, BigM is much more interesting than LM. So she gets first billing- and this is what she did today.
Today was our first real attempt at potty training BigM. She woke me up saying, "Mommy, somfings wong" which is her new thing. Decoded, that means, "Mommy, I am going to make something up so you will come in here and play with me." But since it was 7:06, I knew we had to get moving if we were going to make our morning date with Greg, Anthony, Murray and Jeff. She surprised me by saying, "I want to twy my potty." Okay, here we go.
A few minutes in, I tee-tee on the big potty and lo and behold, she tee-tees on the little potty! (Sorry if that is TMI, but when you have kids, it's all over in the TMI dept. I promise not to discuss really gross things with you. If you're just learning that people tee-tee on potties, you need to be reading something more scientific than my blog.) So big girl panties it is, BigM!
So I plan to sit her on the potty every 30 mins. At 28:39, the first accident occurs. I'm not phased. So I plan to sit her on the potty every 20 mins. At 17:42, the second accident occurs. I'm still not phased. So I plan to sit her on the potty every 15 mins, we sit. Nothing. We get up. We sit again. Nothing. We get up. We sit again. Still nothing and now it's time for lunch (that sit/nothing/get up thing happened a few more times but I figured you get the idea.) My uncle stops by so I let BigM run around outside with Sassy in nothing but her panties and a t-shirt- call me a redneck if you want to. I stand by my decision, and I'm no dummy, if she's outside, she's not peeing on my floor. After a good 20 minutes, she comes back inside and I tell her she HAS to sit on the potty RIGHT NOW. She's game, so we go back and she sits. Hello, little poop! Oh, and I discover wet panties. She must have done that outside.
Diaper time, because it's Quiet time. But not for long. "Mommy, Daddy, I go poo-poo in my diaper (liar), I want to sit on my paaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhtttttttteeeeeeeeeeee." Fine. We're back to the every 15 minute deal. After still another accident, I tell her she can have a piece of candy if she goes tee-tee on her potty and send DM in search of said candy. (I have forgotten to mention she only has one more sticker to go to get an ice cream treat!) So DM comes back with M&Ms (aka NMMs.) We don't do fast food, we don't do candy, so this is a big deal. BigM gets her first taste of the m&ms and she is psyched! "Tan I haf anodder one?" I explain the deal, you have to tee-tee on the potty to get another piece of candy.
What do you know, that little sneak sits down, tee-tees like she's been doing it her whole life and says, "I'd wike my tandy now, Mommy." And of course she gets her sticker so we're off to get ice cream! With sprinkles and eyes. Yum, yum!
Today was our first real attempt at potty training BigM. She woke me up saying, "Mommy, somfings wong" which is her new thing. Decoded, that means, "Mommy, I am going to make something up so you will come in here and play with me." But since it was 7:06, I knew we had to get moving if we were going to make our morning date with Greg, Anthony, Murray and Jeff. She surprised me by saying, "I want to twy my potty." Okay, here we go.
A few minutes in, I tee-tee on the big potty and lo and behold, she tee-tees on the little potty! (Sorry if that is TMI, but when you have kids, it's all over in the TMI dept. I promise not to discuss really gross things with you. If you're just learning that people tee-tee on potties, you need to be reading something more scientific than my blog.) So big girl panties it is, BigM!
So I plan to sit her on the potty every 30 mins. At 28:39, the first accident occurs. I'm not phased. So I plan to sit her on the potty every 20 mins. At 17:42, the second accident occurs. I'm still not phased. So I plan to sit her on the potty every 15 mins, we sit. Nothing. We get up. We sit again. Nothing. We get up. We sit again. Still nothing and now it's time for lunch (that sit/nothing/get up thing happened a few more times but I figured you get the idea.) My uncle stops by so I let BigM run around outside with Sassy in nothing but her panties and a t-shirt- call me a redneck if you want to. I stand by my decision, and I'm no dummy, if she's outside, she's not peeing on my floor. After a good 20 minutes, she comes back inside and I tell her she HAS to sit on the potty RIGHT NOW. She's game, so we go back and she sits. Hello, little poop! Oh, and I discover wet panties. She must have done that outside.
Diaper time, because it's Quiet time. But not for long. "Mommy, Daddy, I go poo-poo in my diaper (liar), I want to sit on my paaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhtttttttteeeeeeeeeeee." Fine. We're back to the every 15 minute deal. After still another accident, I tell her she can have a piece of candy if she goes tee-tee on her potty and send DM in search of said candy. (I have forgotten to mention she only has one more sticker to go to get an ice cream treat!) So DM comes back with M&Ms (aka NMMs.) We don't do fast food, we don't do candy, so this is a big deal. BigM gets her first taste of the m&ms and she is psyched! "Tan I haf anodder one?" I explain the deal, you have to tee-tee on the potty to get another piece of candy.
What do you know, that little sneak sits down, tee-tees like she's been doing it her whole life and says, "I'd wike my tandy now, Mommy." And of course she gets her sticker so we're off to get ice cream! With sprinkles and eyes. Yum, yum!
Quiet as a Mouse
I really do live in "the Mouse House."
I'm pretty upset about it. One morning last week, I heard something scratching around in my closet, but I refused to admit I really heard anything (if you remember from my Godzilla the spider experience, I'm a very girly girl.) After all my mice go to sleep, I stay up awhile and staighten up a little around this mouse house. Well, a few nights ago, I saw something out of the corner of my eye. It *looked* like it *could* have been a mouse but I sometimes see things out of the corner of my eye anyway, and it was really late- after midnight. (Please don't think I'm weird because of that. There are many more valid reasons to question my normal-ness.) So I sat there, mildly petrified, for a minute before I decided it was my imagination. Which is very vivid. (That must be where BigM gets it.)
This morning, I took BigM downstairs to wake Sassy up to tell her she tee-teed in the potty right after she woke up (are you as excited as me?) We head back upstairs to get breakfast, and I step into the kitchen and apparently disturb the real little mouse that lives in my house! He (it?) darted quick as a bunny under the dishwasher. We set up a trap and you better believe that is not the kind of mouse that is allowed in my house. I'll let you know if (when!) we catch him.
I'm pretty upset about it. One morning last week, I heard something scratching around in my closet, but I refused to admit I really heard anything (if you remember from my Godzilla the spider experience, I'm a very girly girl.) After all my mice go to sleep, I stay up awhile and staighten up a little around this mouse house. Well, a few nights ago, I saw something out of the corner of my eye. It *looked* like it *could* have been a mouse but I sometimes see things out of the corner of my eye anyway, and it was really late- after midnight. (Please don't think I'm weird because of that. There are many more valid reasons to question my normal-ness.) So I sat there, mildly petrified, for a minute before I decided it was my imagination. Which is very vivid. (That must be where BigM gets it.)
This morning, I took BigM downstairs to wake Sassy up to tell her she tee-teed in the potty right after she woke up (are you as excited as me?) We head back upstairs to get breakfast, and I step into the kitchen and apparently disturb the real little mouse that lives in my house! He (it?) darted quick as a bunny under the dishwasher. We set up a trap and you better believe that is not the kind of mouse that is allowed in my house. I'll let you know if (when!) we catch him.
10.09.2008
Don't be a Chicken
On my way home from spin class, I called Sassy to tell her I was coming home. She suggested I stop by KFC for some fried chicken to go with the yummy array of veggies she had planned for supper. (Don't you know I love having someone cook for us?) We debated back and forth about exactly what to get and decided we needed at least 1 breast, 2 legs and a large coleslaw. And no biscuits (yes, we really said that. We're both trying to get rid of a little extra weight; mine is thanks to LM.)
In general, I rarely frequent fast food restuarants, so I parked my car and headed inside just because I didn't want to hold up the line at the drive thru while I figured out the best deal. I saw that a 6 piece bucket of chicken was $8.99 and a large coleslaw was $2.99. That's what I want, I'm sure of it. I place my order and the cashier says, "You can get the meal with 3 biscuits for $11.79." Sign me up, it's cheaper that way and you're going to toss in a few biscuits?
As she is about to scan my card, the manager walks by and says, "You can get the 7 piece meal for $9.99." Same exact thing I originally ordered, plus 3 biscuits and another piece of chicken, for $2 cheaper. What in the world? No wonder we have an obesity epidemic in this country. They're practically giving away fattening food and charging less for it!
Oh but you know I'm going to have a biscuit with my supper. I might have 2.
In general, I rarely frequent fast food restuarants, so I parked my car and headed inside just because I didn't want to hold up the line at the drive thru while I figured out the best deal. I saw that a 6 piece bucket of chicken was $8.99 and a large coleslaw was $2.99. That's what I want, I'm sure of it. I place my order and the cashier says, "You can get the meal with 3 biscuits for $11.79." Sign me up, it's cheaper that way and you're going to toss in a few biscuits?
As she is about to scan my card, the manager walks by and says, "You can get the 7 piece meal for $9.99." Same exact thing I originally ordered, plus 3 biscuits and another piece of chicken, for $2 cheaper. What in the world? No wonder we have an obesity epidemic in this country. They're practically giving away fattening food and charging less for it!
Oh but you know I'm going to have a biscuit with my supper. I might have 2.
10.08.2008
Oops, I Did It Again
It was another big night at the Mouse House:
Sassy is here helping me with my mice and it was blaff (bath) time. BigM was sitting at the table as Sassy was cleaning up the dishes and she tooted (BigM, not Sassy)... so Sassy asked her if she needed to go potty. By this point, I had taken LM to another room in the house so when BigM said, "Yes, I need to go potty" I jokingly yelled, "Liar!" As I said, we've been down this road many times. So Sassy sets her up, hands her a book and heads back to the kitchen. All of the sudden, Big M shouts, "I did it, I went poo-poo in my potty." Sure you did. I'll believe it when I see it. (Amazing how well that phrase applies here.)
Well, when I'm wrong I'll admit it. (DM may disagree with that statement.) What do I find in the potty but another little pile of poo and a very happy BigM. I, of course, get super excited jumping up and down, call in Sassy and we all freak out together. We are all jumping and dancing and all of the sudden we're doing "Ring around the Rosy?"
Sassy asks BigM if she needs to go some more and BigM sits back down on the potty. About 45 seconds later, we hear this incredulous little voice say, "Wook Mommy, I tee-teed too! Is in my potty!"
It may have all been an accident, but I think we're one teeny step closer to panties. At least I hope we are...
I promise my next post will not refer to poop in any way, shape or form.
Sassy is here helping me with my mice and it was blaff (bath) time. BigM was sitting at the table as Sassy was cleaning up the dishes and she tooted (BigM, not Sassy)... so Sassy asked her if she needed to go potty. By this point, I had taken LM to another room in the house so when BigM said, "Yes, I need to go potty" I jokingly yelled, "Liar!" As I said, we've been down this road many times. So Sassy sets her up, hands her a book and heads back to the kitchen. All of the sudden, Big M shouts, "I did it, I went poo-poo in my potty." Sure you did. I'll believe it when I see it. (Amazing how well that phrase applies here.)
Well, when I'm wrong I'll admit it. (DM may disagree with that statement.) What do I find in the potty but another little pile of poo and a very happy BigM. I, of course, get super excited jumping up and down, call in Sassy and we all freak out together. We are all jumping and dancing and all of the sudden we're doing "Ring around the Rosy?"
Sassy asks BigM if she needs to go some more and BigM sits back down on the potty. About 45 seconds later, we hear this incredulous little voice say, "Wook Mommy, I tee-teed too! Is in my potty!"
It may have all been an accident, but I think we're one teeny step closer to panties. At least I hope we are...
I promise my next post will not refer to poop in any way, shape or form.
10.07.2008
Oh, Poo!
It's a big day in the Mouse House.
We've been trying to get BigM to use the potty for a few months now. She turned 2 back in April, but with the impending arrival of LM, we decided to forgo the training until after things setttled down and we got into the routine of having a newborn around.
DM got the big idea that it was time to train when LM was only 2 weeks old. His sister (Choo-choo) had come to visit, so I agreed to give it a try. After BigM tee-teed on the floor twice in less than an hour, I was done.
Tee-tee on the floor + newborn baby = Unhappy MM
So needless to say, we've been encouraging but not pushing with the whole potty deal. We've had a few fruitless attempts, and most of the time BigM tells me repeatedly while sitting on her little potty, "I'm Abigail!" (In reference to our good friend who is already using the potty like a good little mouse should!) Not a drop of tee-tee or a bit of poo has graced the little seat in our hall bathroom.
This morning, as we were getting ready for school, I could tell BigM was struggling to poo (she will just die if she reads this when she's older!) so I suggested she sit on the potty and try. Amazingly, she agreed- but I wasn't getting my hopes up. We'd been down that road a few times too many. I continued to get things ready to go and all of the sudden, I hear her shout, "Mommy, I did it!" I yell back a half-hearted, "You did? Well, let me come see!" (BigM has cried "poo" too many times for me to believe her until I see it with my own eyes.) But when I arrive in the bathroom, what do I see, but a big poo sitting in her potty. Woo-hoo! Success! Don't you know I freaked out!
We, of course, called DM, Sassy, Lolli (DM's mommy), Pop (DM's daddy) at work and thought about leaving a message for Choo-choo. We were late for school, but it's not every day that your BigM poops in the potty. Oh wait, well, I am hoping it WILL be every day that BigM poops in the potty...
I have a confession to make. I love watching Jon and Kate + 8, mostly because she reminds me that if she can do it with 8 kids (and a camera crew) then I can do it with my 2. On one episode, they were potty training "little kids" and one of them pooped in the potty... and Kate said she always takes a picture of the proud child with his or her proud little poop. *I did that.* Poor BigM, she really will be embarrassed when she gets older. But she won't be going to college in diapers...
We've been trying to get BigM to use the potty for a few months now. She turned 2 back in April, but with the impending arrival of LM, we decided to forgo the training until after things setttled down and we got into the routine of having a newborn around.
DM got the big idea that it was time to train when LM was only 2 weeks old. His sister (Choo-choo) had come to visit, so I agreed to give it a try. After BigM tee-teed on the floor twice in less than an hour, I was done.
Tee-tee on the floor + newborn baby = Unhappy MM
So needless to say, we've been encouraging but not pushing with the whole potty deal. We've had a few fruitless attempts, and most of the time BigM tells me repeatedly while sitting on her little potty, "I'm Abigail!" (In reference to our good friend who is already using the potty like a good little mouse should!) Not a drop of tee-tee or a bit of poo has graced the little seat in our hall bathroom.
This morning, as we were getting ready for school, I could tell BigM was struggling to poo (she will just die if she reads this when she's older!) so I suggested she sit on the potty and try. Amazingly, she agreed- but I wasn't getting my hopes up. We'd been down that road a few times too many. I continued to get things ready to go and all of the sudden, I hear her shout, "Mommy, I did it!" I yell back a half-hearted, "You did? Well, let me come see!" (BigM has cried "poo" too many times for me to believe her until I see it with my own eyes.) But when I arrive in the bathroom, what do I see, but a big poo sitting in her potty. Woo-hoo! Success! Don't you know I freaked out!
We, of course, called DM, Sassy, Lolli (DM's mommy), Pop (DM's daddy) at work and thought about leaving a message for Choo-choo. We were late for school, but it's not every day that your BigM poops in the potty. Oh wait, well, I am hoping it WILL be every day that BigM poops in the potty...
I have a confession to make. I love watching Jon and Kate + 8, mostly because she reminds me that if she can do it with 8 kids (and a camera crew) then I can do it with my 2. On one episode, they were potty training "little kids" and one of them pooped in the potty... and Kate said she always takes a picture of the proud child with his or her proud little poop. *I did that.* Poor BigM, she really will be embarrassed when she gets older. But she won't be going to college in diapers...
10.06.2008
Something seems fishy...
BigM makes me laugh everyday. Today was no exception, and when LM is older, I will have to ask her to forgive me for letting BigM torment her- it's always with love but it's hard to be "soft and gentle" when you're two.
This morning, I had strapped LM into her carrier as we were running out the door for an appointment, and I ran out of the kitchen to grab something- when I returned, BigM was squeezing LM's cheeks, saying, "Little Mouse, you're a fish!" While it was hilarous, I had to make her stop. LM's face was turning red. Poor little mouse!
Later this afternoon, out of the blue, BigM said, "Mommy I want to make Little Mouse a fish." It took me a minute to figure out what she meant, but okay, so I let her and even snapped a few photos. Which I emailed out to all our family. It was so incredibly funny!
While I may have knocked myself out of the running for "Mother of the Year," I have a priceless memory (with pictures to prove it!)
This morning, I had strapped LM into her carrier as we were running out the door for an appointment, and I ran out of the kitchen to grab something- when I returned, BigM was squeezing LM's cheeks, saying, "Little Mouse, you're a fish!" While it was hilarous, I had to make her stop. LM's face was turning red. Poor little mouse!
Later this afternoon, out of the blue, BigM said, "Mommy I want to make Little Mouse a fish." It took me a minute to figure out what she meant, but okay, so I let her and even snapped a few photos. Which I emailed out to all our family. It was so incredibly funny!
While I may have knocked myself out of the running for "Mother of the Year," I have a priceless memory (with pictures to prove it!)
10.05.2008
Big Girls Don't Cry
DM is a student. MM is a SAHM. DM's schooling requires him to leave the Mouse House for 2 weeks at a time, 3 times during his senior year (which is now- see the counter to your right? You can click on the link and see exactly when he will be accepting his diploma. Can you tell we're a little bit excited?) He will be gone for the next 2 weeks, completing the second of the 3 externships, so the past 24 hours have been a scramble trying to get him packed- including a cooler's worth of food, clothes, all his gear, etc, etc, etc. Squeeze in church attendance and my weekly Sunday grocery shopping and it was a hectic day, to say the least.
BigM had a BM (haha) during "Quiet Time" so she of course had to tell us all about it and decided she needed to sit on the potty for 30 minutes afterwards. We're encouraging, but not pushing the potty thing so we let her sit with a few books while we scurried around the house like, well, mice. Needless to say, skipping naptime is not a positive thing for BigM. She was in a lovely mood: argumentative, sassy, grumpy... definitely not her normal sunny personality. I had about had it before DM even left at 3:30 and to compound it all, I had forgotten that the movie we rented on Friday was due back at noon today (I remembered at 5:37.) So I loaded up the mice so we wouldn't have an astronomical late fee and to check out a total chick flick (27 Dresses, if you're wondering which one) since I never get to do that. By the time we got home, BigM was just really showing her stuff so during dinner, I kept warning her that her antics were hurting MM's feelings and MM was going to cry... well, she pushed a little too hard and I couldn't hold back the tears.
I don't think she's ever seen a grown-up mouse cry. Her sweet (I can say that now, she's been in bed for 4 1/2 hours) little eyes filled up with tears too and she jumped out of her chair and ran over to me, just sobbing. I, of course, assured her that I loved her no matter what and that sometimes grown up mice get sad too (especially when little mice act like little monsters. I'm kidding! I didn't tell her that!) We both ended up giggling but that didn't stop her from "being a bad listener" a few more times before she finally crashed.
As angry as she makes me- and as frustrating as it can be wandering through the minefield of the "terrible twos," just the thought of her getting bigger makes me want to tear up all over again. I never want my mice to grow up!
BigM had a BM (haha) during "Quiet Time" so she of course had to tell us all about it and decided she needed to sit on the potty for 30 minutes afterwards. We're encouraging, but not pushing the potty thing so we let her sit with a few books while we scurried around the house like, well, mice. Needless to say, skipping naptime is not a positive thing for BigM. She was in a lovely mood: argumentative, sassy, grumpy... definitely not her normal sunny personality. I had about had it before DM even left at 3:30 and to compound it all, I had forgotten that the movie we rented on Friday was due back at noon today (I remembered at 5:37.) So I loaded up the mice so we wouldn't have an astronomical late fee and to check out a total chick flick (27 Dresses, if you're wondering which one) since I never get to do that. By the time we got home, BigM was just really showing her stuff so during dinner, I kept warning her that her antics were hurting MM's feelings and MM was going to cry... well, she pushed a little too hard and I couldn't hold back the tears.
I don't think she's ever seen a grown-up mouse cry. Her sweet (I can say that now, she's been in bed for 4 1/2 hours) little eyes filled up with tears too and she jumped out of her chair and ran over to me, just sobbing. I, of course, assured her that I loved her no matter what and that sometimes grown up mice get sad too (especially when little mice act like little monsters. I'm kidding! I didn't tell her that!) We both ended up giggling but that didn't stop her from "being a bad listener" a few more times before she finally crashed.
As angry as she makes me- and as frustrating as it can be wandering through the minefield of the "terrible twos," just the thought of her getting bigger makes me want to tear up all over again. I never want my mice to grow up!
10.02.2008
My hero...
(Pretend I posted this on August 31, 2008, 'cause that's when it happened.)
Today while we were riding home from church, DM and I were talking with BigM and while I forget exactly how it came up, DM said, "Big Mouse, sometimes I want to be just like you."
BigM responded, "You want to be a little girl just like me?"
DM (after he cracked up) replied, "No honey, I don't want to be a little girl, I just meant you do a lot of things and you act in certain ways so that makes me want to be like you. You are sweet, so that makes me want to be sweet, too. Do you understand?"
After pondering that for a second, she said, "Yes, Daddy. You want to be a little girl sometimes?"
Today while we were riding home from church, DM and I were talking with BigM and while I forget exactly how it came up, DM said, "Big Mouse, sometimes I want to be just like you."
BigM responded, "You want to be a little girl just like me?"
DM (after he cracked up) replied, "No honey, I don't want to be a little girl, I just meant you do a lot of things and you act in certain ways so that makes me want to be like you. You are sweet, so that makes me want to be sweet, too. Do you understand?"
After pondering that for a second, she said, "Yes, Daddy. You want to be a little girl sometimes?"
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