So I'm just curious.
What is YOUR New Year's Resolution?
Mine is to quit cursing.
Honestly.
Wish me luck!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Christmas Recap
Okay, so Christmas was at least as good as I had hoped it would be. And probably a bit better.
Hmm. Yeah. Definitely better.
Christmas Eve was hectic at the beginning. Trying to get little people up and dressed while getting myself showered and dressed and at least resembling presentable. And meanwhile getting my husband up (he had worked late the night before) and getting him motivated to get himself showered and dressed. Let me tell you, it was hectic. Very hectic.
Finally sent the hubby and Evie on ahead of me and Elly. I had discovered that we were out of creamer the day before so someone needed to go by Walmart and since they were ready and Evie was anxious to get out of the house, poor Josh braved the Christmas Eve insanity. Evie, as usual, was UBER excited to be going to Walmart. She probably loved it more since it was jam packed with people.
Thirty minutes AFTER I was supposed to have left the house, Elly and I finally were loaded and in the car. Have you ever done your make up with a 10 month old on one hip trying to wrestle concealer, eye liner, mascara, toothbrush, etc. from your hands? The only thing that would distract her was my Christmas ornament earrings. Which she ripped from my ears multiple times. But if I sat her down she was crying and wailing and pulling on my pants leg. It was easier on my blood pressure to just deal with her on my hip.
So, finally in the car, finally on the way to my mom's house. We were supposed to do presents for the girls so Josh could participate and then we would have lunch. Josh had to be at work at noon. Which kinda stank. But the upside was he would be home before bedtime. So he could participate in the Christmas Eve bed time festivities.
Better late than never, we all arrived at my mom's house. Family was greeted and the girls quickly dove into opening presents. Evie was zealous. Perhaps overly so. Since she started trying to take other people's presents away and a couple of us had to be very firm with our "no." She was good at helping Elly with her presents. Though Elly was happier wrestling discarded paper and empty packaging than actually opening the rest of her stuff.
The girls got a lot of great stuff and us grown ups got some goodies as well. Josh said his goodbyes and the rest of the family sat down for lunch. Elly was entertaining. She makes eating a full-sensory experience. Like, rubbing it over her arms, sniffing it, kneading it, dropping it, brushing it into her hair, etc. as well as eating it. Evie wasn't able to sit still long enough to eat but she had some drive-by bites of ham, mashed potatoes and rolls.
After lunch was more play time for the little people. Extended family left and not long after the girls and I headed home. Getting both of them to wind down and take a nap was difficult. Very difficult. Involving some yelling and screaming and crying on the part of both parent and toddler. Finally, all little people were snoozing and I was too exhausted to do much. The holidays can really take it out of ya! But I managed to get the house cleaned back up and most of the toys and things put away. Prepared myself for round two with the girls.
After supper and playtime and baths, we put on Christmas pjs and watched all of our animated Christmas movies. The Grinch, Rudolph, Santa, Frosty and more. They were stoked when their Daddy came home and we read all the Christmas books we could find. We sat out cookies and milk for Santa, put Santa's magic key outside and Evie told Bernard (our elf) goodbye and off to bed they went.
I know in future years I will probably have to go to bed and get back up later, but for now we're safe putting Santa stuff out before we go to bed. So we brought the girls' big presents up, rearranged presents under the tree, filled their stockings and placed their Santa gifts at their doors. Then we headed to bed.
The next morning, I was the first person to wake up. I woke up a little after 7 and after lying in the bed for a little while I went ahead and got up and put cinnamon rolls in the oven. I got coffee ready and got my robe on and made sure everything was ready for breakfast. Then I went back to bed. At about a quarter til 8, Elly woke up and went and got her and brought her to bed with me. A short while later I heard Evie opening her door and jumped up to see her reaction to her stocking and her presents at her door.
At first she just stood there gaping. Then she leaned around the corner to make eye contact with me, a puzzled look on her face. I explained that was what Santa brought her and her face just lit up! She brought her present into the bed room and I got her stocking down for her. She tore into the wrapping paper and when she saw what it was her mouth just DROPPED. She was so surprised! Simply couldn't believe it!
There was the doll she had pined for!
It was Rapunzel!
Evie didn't even know what to think.
Then she was ecstatic!
"My Rapunzel doll!"
Let me tell you. It was totally worth all the aggravation of trying to get that doll.
Then she wanted to open Elly's present, but we stopped her. Not that Elly would have minded.
The girls then got everything out of their stockings. Once Elly found goldfish she was happy. But Santa gave them each a dinosaur, some books, a movie, a couple of balls, some candy, some clothes, goldfish, and some others things. Like nail polish and bath salts.
After breakfast we let them open the rest of their gifts. It was a lot of fun. Elly of course was happy after the first toy and just wanted to be left alone to play with paper and boxes. Evie on the other hand wanted to take presents away from everyone else.
All in all it was a great day! We had a lot of fun. The girls absolutely loved it. Best Christmas yet!
Hmm. Yeah. Definitely better.
Christmas Eve was hectic at the beginning. Trying to get little people up and dressed while getting myself showered and dressed and at least resembling presentable. And meanwhile getting my husband up (he had worked late the night before) and getting him motivated to get himself showered and dressed. Let me tell you, it was hectic. Very hectic.
Finally sent the hubby and Evie on ahead of me and Elly. I had discovered that we were out of creamer the day before so someone needed to go by Walmart and since they were ready and Evie was anxious to get out of the house, poor Josh braved the Christmas Eve insanity. Evie, as usual, was UBER excited to be going to Walmart. She probably loved it more since it was jam packed with people.
Thirty minutes AFTER I was supposed to have left the house, Elly and I finally were loaded and in the car. Have you ever done your make up with a 10 month old on one hip trying to wrestle concealer, eye liner, mascara, toothbrush, etc. from your hands? The only thing that would distract her was my Christmas ornament earrings. Which she ripped from my ears multiple times. But if I sat her down she was crying and wailing and pulling on my pants leg. It was easier on my blood pressure to just deal with her on my hip.
So, finally in the car, finally on the way to my mom's house. We were supposed to do presents for the girls so Josh could participate and then we would have lunch. Josh had to be at work at noon. Which kinda stank. But the upside was he would be home before bedtime. So he could participate in the Christmas Eve bed time festivities.
Better late than never, we all arrived at my mom's house. Family was greeted and the girls quickly dove into opening presents. Evie was zealous. Perhaps overly so. Since she started trying to take other people's presents away and a couple of us had to be very firm with our "no." She was good at helping Elly with her presents. Though Elly was happier wrestling discarded paper and empty packaging than actually opening the rest of her stuff.
The girls got a lot of great stuff and us grown ups got some goodies as well. Josh said his goodbyes and the rest of the family sat down for lunch. Elly was entertaining. She makes eating a full-sensory experience. Like, rubbing it over her arms, sniffing it, kneading it, dropping it, brushing it into her hair, etc. as well as eating it. Evie wasn't able to sit still long enough to eat but she had some drive-by bites of ham, mashed potatoes and rolls.
After lunch was more play time for the little people. Extended family left and not long after the girls and I headed home. Getting both of them to wind down and take a nap was difficult. Very difficult. Involving some yelling and screaming and crying on the part of both parent and toddler. Finally, all little people were snoozing and I was too exhausted to do much. The holidays can really take it out of ya! But I managed to get the house cleaned back up and most of the toys and things put away. Prepared myself for round two with the girls.
After supper and playtime and baths, we put on Christmas pjs and watched all of our animated Christmas movies. The Grinch, Rudolph, Santa, Frosty and more. They were stoked when their Daddy came home and we read all the Christmas books we could find. We sat out cookies and milk for Santa, put Santa's magic key outside and Evie told Bernard (our elf) goodbye and off to bed they went.
I know in future years I will probably have to go to bed and get back up later, but for now we're safe putting Santa stuff out before we go to bed. So we brought the girls' big presents up, rearranged presents under the tree, filled their stockings and placed their Santa gifts at their doors. Then we headed to bed.
The next morning, I was the first person to wake up. I woke up a little after 7 and after lying in the bed for a little while I went ahead and got up and put cinnamon rolls in the oven. I got coffee ready and got my robe on and made sure everything was ready for breakfast. Then I went back to bed. At about a quarter til 8, Elly woke up and went and got her and brought her to bed with me. A short while later I heard Evie opening her door and jumped up to see her reaction to her stocking and her presents at her door.
At first she just stood there gaping. Then she leaned around the corner to make eye contact with me, a puzzled look on her face. I explained that was what Santa brought her and her face just lit up! She brought her present into the bed room and I got her stocking down for her. She tore into the wrapping paper and when she saw what it was her mouth just DROPPED. She was so surprised! Simply couldn't believe it!
There was the doll she had pined for!
It was Rapunzel!
Evie didn't even know what to think.
Then she was ecstatic!
"My Rapunzel doll!"
Let me tell you. It was totally worth all the aggravation of trying to get that doll.
Then she wanted to open Elly's present, but we stopped her. Not that Elly would have minded.
The girls then got everything out of their stockings. Once Elly found goldfish she was happy. But Santa gave them each a dinosaur, some books, a movie, a couple of balls, some candy, some clothes, goldfish, and some others things. Like nail polish and bath salts.
After breakfast we let them open the rest of their gifts. It was a lot of fun. Elly of course was happy after the first toy and just wanted to be left alone to play with paper and boxes. Evie on the other hand wanted to take presents away from everyone else.
All in all it was a great day! We had a lot of fun. The girls absolutely loved it. Best Christmas yet!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Life goes on
No matter how old I get it is still a rude reminder that life isn't fair.
And no matter how many candles are on my next birthday cake, it is still hard to resist that inner toddler that wants to throw a fit and be upset.
But as adults we are of course expected to grin and bear it. Take a deep breath and move it. Put on your big girl panties, so to speak, and just hang in there like a hair in a biscuit. Was that a yummy mental picture or what?
When a friend lets you down. When someone stands you up. When you get passed over for an award. Or maybe your spouse forgets your birthday. Or your dog throws up in your favorite sneakers. Your neighbors park blocking your drive, again. And the cat from across the street has brought you yet another dead bird and left it on your porch. Then of course your kid brings home an F and your preschooler has completely forgotten that she's potty trained.
Life likes to throw us lemons. And it's hard to think of those lemons as learning moments. But that is what they are. Learning moments.
I keep telling myself over and over. When I feel like I'm going to explode, start tearing my hair out and scream like a banshee...this is a learning moment. This. Is. A. Learning. Moment. *deep breath* This. Is. A. Learning. Moment.
The terrible two's are...well...terrible. Being a parent is hard. And working around my husband's difficult (at best) schedule is a challenge in itself. Working full-time adds a whole different sort of monkey to the barrel. Compound that with mildly OCD tendencies towards house work and an inability to cut myself a break on ANYTHING and...well...this barrel is chocked full of uncooperative monkeys believe me. And sometimes it just feels like there is no end to the let downs. The disappointments. The "wish I had"'s and "I can't believe they did"'s. Sometimes the bitter taste of the way things SHOULD be, yet aren't, is so strong it just chokes. And crying about it stopped helping decades ago.
Life is full of disappointments. Whenever God closes a door, he opens a window. I just need to keep my eyes open. I try to remember to be hopeful. And remember that everything happens for a reason.
Like that Anna Nalick song from back when..."Well, you can't jump the track we're like cars on the cable, and Life's like an hour glass, glued to the table. No one can find the rewind button, boys. Say it if you understand. And breathe. Just breathe. Oh, breathe. Just breathe."
It's true. Sometimes breathing is all you can do.
I am going to try to eliminate some of the seriously unnecessary drama from my life. So, drama-inducing people, consider yourselves warned! People who do more harm than good gotta go as well. That includes those who are two-faced or barely there.
I am going to try to remember that my challenges are opportunities for growth and a chance for me to become a better person. It is only through adversity that we realize our greater potential and are able to evolve. And whether that challenge is heartbreak, disappointment, failure or difficult times, life manages to go on and we must all muddle through some how.
I mean what's the alternative, really?
So, here's to chins up and eyes clear. And let's toast one for tomorrows, best wishes and fond adieus.
And no matter how many candles are on my next birthday cake, it is still hard to resist that inner toddler that wants to throw a fit and be upset.
But as adults we are of course expected to grin and bear it. Take a deep breath and move it. Put on your big girl panties, so to speak, and just hang in there like a hair in a biscuit. Was that a yummy mental picture or what?
When a friend lets you down. When someone stands you up. When you get passed over for an award. Or maybe your spouse forgets your birthday. Or your dog throws up in your favorite sneakers. Your neighbors park blocking your drive, again. And the cat from across the street has brought you yet another dead bird and left it on your porch. Then of course your kid brings home an F and your preschooler has completely forgotten that she's potty trained.
Life likes to throw us lemons. And it's hard to think of those lemons as learning moments. But that is what they are. Learning moments.
I keep telling myself over and over. When I feel like I'm going to explode, start tearing my hair out and scream like a banshee...this is a learning moment. This. Is. A. Learning. Moment. *deep breath* This. Is. A. Learning. Moment.
The terrible two's are...well...terrible. Being a parent is hard. And working around my husband's difficult (at best) schedule is a challenge in itself. Working full-time adds a whole different sort of monkey to the barrel. Compound that with mildly OCD tendencies towards house work and an inability to cut myself a break on ANYTHING and...well...this barrel is chocked full of uncooperative monkeys believe me. And sometimes it just feels like there is no end to the let downs. The disappointments. The "wish I had"'s and "I can't believe they did"'s. Sometimes the bitter taste of the way things SHOULD be, yet aren't, is so strong it just chokes. And crying about it stopped helping decades ago.
Life is full of disappointments. Whenever God closes a door, he opens a window. I just need to keep my eyes open. I try to remember to be hopeful. And remember that everything happens for a reason.
Like that Anna Nalick song from back when..."Well, you can't jump the track we're like cars on the cable, and Life's like an hour glass, glued to the table. No one can find the rewind button, boys. Say it if you understand. And breathe. Just breathe. Oh, breathe. Just breathe."
It's true. Sometimes breathing is all you can do.
I am going to try to eliminate some of the seriously unnecessary drama from my life. So, drama-inducing people, consider yourselves warned! People who do more harm than good gotta go as well. That includes those who are two-faced or barely there.
I am going to try to remember that my challenges are opportunities for growth and a chance for me to become a better person. It is only through adversity that we realize our greater potential and are able to evolve. And whether that challenge is heartbreak, disappointment, failure or difficult times, life manages to go on and we must all muddle through some how.
I mean what's the alternative, really?
So, here's to chins up and eyes clear. And let's toast one for tomorrows, best wishes and fond adieus.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Oops
So I seriously intended to blog at LEAST once this weekend. But that absolutely didn't happen. I was busy. Sorry.
And I'm still busy, but I felt a tad guilty for not at least logging on to post "Merry Christmas" for you guys. The holidays were phenomenal and I hope to write all about it in another day or two. Depending on how long it takes to be not so crazy busy.
Right now however I have to plan a Walmart list. Yep. Walmart. The day after Christmas. heh. Wish me luck!
Hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend!
And I'm still busy, but I felt a tad guilty for not at least logging on to post "Merry Christmas" for you guys. The holidays were phenomenal and I hope to write all about it in another day or two. Depending on how long it takes to be not so crazy busy.
Right now however I have to plan a Walmart list. Yep. Walmart. The day after Christmas. heh. Wish me luck!
Hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend!
Friday, December 23, 2011
Sorry, random song lyrics.
But I have always LOVED Seether. Their new song Tonight is totally my kinda love song. Nothing against Taylor Swift's kind of love songs...but I'm more into the 'sugar and cyanide' variety.
"If I was to die tonight, would it tear you apart?
Would you yell it from the rooftops down?
Until it's over, and you're older?
I feel so alive tonight. You got me feeling sublime.
I want to yell it from the rooftops down.
Until it's over, and we're older."
Just love it.
Sorry. Random. And totally out of the Christmas spirit, I know. But I just wanted to share. YouTube that bad boy.
:-)
Night guys.
But I have always LOVED Seether. Their new song Tonight is totally my kinda love song. Nothing against Taylor Swift's kind of love songs...but I'm more into the 'sugar and cyanide' variety.
"If I was to die tonight, would it tear you apart?
Would you yell it from the rooftops down?
Until it's over, and you're older?
I feel so alive tonight. You got me feeling sublime.
I want to yell it from the rooftops down.
Until it's over, and we're older."
Just love it.
Sorry. Random. And totally out of the Christmas spirit, I know. But I just wanted to share. YouTube that bad boy.
:-)
Night guys.
Santa Claus is Coming Momma!
Everybody knows all the classic Christmas songs..."Wish You a Merry Christmas," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Silver Bells," "White Christmas," "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." We've all sung them dozens of times. Learned the lyrics when we were little and have practiced every year since.
But Christmas music takes on a whole new dimension when you have kids. Toddlers and preschoolers are very literal people. The concept of metaphors and analogies is a bit beyond their linguistic grasp. They are new to the world of pretend and imaginary. And are still getting used to all the many layers of language. If you tell them to stop having a cow, they're going to look around and tell you they don't see a cow. It can lead to some really humorous exchanges.
Well, we have been listening to Christmas music all month. But only the last couple of weeks have we been listening to radio Christmas music. I usually listen to Trans-Siberian Orchestra through the Christmas season. But Evie didn't really get much out of that. So we switched to the radio and all the 'pop' Christmas music that you can really dance and sing along with.
So there we are in the car, when the song "Santa Claus is Coming Tonight" comes on the radio. I start singing along, not really thinking about it. Then, from the backseat, Evie yells "MOMMA!"
"What baby?"
"Santa's coming!"
"What?"
"Santa's coming Momma!"
Then it clicks. Oh yeah.
"Yeah baby, he is. But not right now. He's not coming for about 12 more days."
"Oh. But...Santa's coming?"
"Yes Evie. Santa is coming. Just not today. Next weekend."
Since that day, the incident has been repeated. With different songs. Or from conversations she's overheard. I told the assistant from my eye doctor's office that I hoped she had a merry Christmas and Evie spent the next 20 minutes yelling "Merry Christmas Mommy! Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas Sissy! Merry Christmas Mushu! Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas Evie!" It's adorable. And pretty entertaining. I
n an attempt to correct the mistake that I made with sitting on Santa's lap (It completely escaped me that I would need to explain to Evie that little kids sit on Santa's lap to tell him what they want. Duh! Evie was happy walking up and talking to him but she totally freaked when I tried to put her on his lap. You mean kids aren't born KNOWING these things? lol) I have been going through all of our Christmas rituals step by step for her.
The ritual of setting out cookies and spreading reindeer food on the lawn. Reading Christmas stories. Talking about how Santa brings all the good boys and girls presents. Talking about how Santa will fill her stocking with goodies. We found an old skeleton key and have it hanging in the kitchen to put out on Christmas Eve. I told Evie that usually Santa comes down the chimney but since we don't have one, we will leave Santa a magic key so that he can come into our house. Of course, she REALLY wanted to put the key out right then. But I had to explain that Santa wasn't coming until Christmas Eve, so we would just wait til then. We talk about our Elf Bernard and what all he tells Santa about Evie's behavior. We talk about Jesus and his birthday and how much he loved all of us, especially little children. I hope I'm not forgetting anything.
Things have changed so much since her first Christmas. I couldn't have dreamed how much fun this would all be three years ago when I found out I was pregnant.
This morning on the way to drop the girls off at my mom's Evie heard some Christmas jingles on the radio and yelled, "Momma, Santa's coming!" And I responded with, "That's right Evie. Tomorrow night he's coming." And a look of surprise crossed her face. She doesn't necessarily get next weekend or next week. But she TOTALLY gets tomorrow. So yep. Santa Claus is coming!
Happy Christmas Eve Eve to you all!
But Christmas music takes on a whole new dimension when you have kids. Toddlers and preschoolers are very literal people. The concept of metaphors and analogies is a bit beyond their linguistic grasp. They are new to the world of pretend and imaginary. And are still getting used to all the many layers of language. If you tell them to stop having a cow, they're going to look around and tell you they don't see a cow. It can lead to some really humorous exchanges.
Well, we have been listening to Christmas music all month. But only the last couple of weeks have we been listening to radio Christmas music. I usually listen to Trans-Siberian Orchestra through the Christmas season. But Evie didn't really get much out of that. So we switched to the radio and all the 'pop' Christmas music that you can really dance and sing along with.
So there we are in the car, when the song "Santa Claus is Coming Tonight" comes on the radio. I start singing along, not really thinking about it. Then, from the backseat, Evie yells "MOMMA!"
"What baby?"
"Santa's coming!"
"What?"
"Santa's coming Momma!"
Then it clicks. Oh yeah.
"Yeah baby, he is. But not right now. He's not coming for about 12 more days."
"Oh. But...Santa's coming?"
"Yes Evie. Santa is coming. Just not today. Next weekend."
Since that day, the incident has been repeated. With different songs. Or from conversations she's overheard. I told the assistant from my eye doctor's office that I hoped she had a merry Christmas and Evie spent the next 20 minutes yelling "Merry Christmas Mommy! Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas Sissy! Merry Christmas Mushu! Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas Evie!" It's adorable. And pretty entertaining. I
n an attempt to correct the mistake that I made with sitting on Santa's lap (It completely escaped me that I would need to explain to Evie that little kids sit on Santa's lap to tell him what they want. Duh! Evie was happy walking up and talking to him but she totally freaked when I tried to put her on his lap. You mean kids aren't born KNOWING these things? lol) I have been going through all of our Christmas rituals step by step for her.
The ritual of setting out cookies and spreading reindeer food on the lawn. Reading Christmas stories. Talking about how Santa brings all the good boys and girls presents. Talking about how Santa will fill her stocking with goodies. We found an old skeleton key and have it hanging in the kitchen to put out on Christmas Eve. I told Evie that usually Santa comes down the chimney but since we don't have one, we will leave Santa a magic key so that he can come into our house. Of course, she REALLY wanted to put the key out right then. But I had to explain that Santa wasn't coming until Christmas Eve, so we would just wait til then. We talk about our Elf Bernard and what all he tells Santa about Evie's behavior. We talk about Jesus and his birthday and how much he loved all of us, especially little children. I hope I'm not forgetting anything.
Things have changed so much since her first Christmas. I couldn't have dreamed how much fun this would all be three years ago when I found out I was pregnant.
This morning on the way to drop the girls off at my mom's Evie heard some Christmas jingles on the radio and yelled, "Momma, Santa's coming!" And I responded with, "That's right Evie. Tomorrow night he's coming." And a look of surprise crossed her face. She doesn't necessarily get next weekend or next week. But she TOTALLY gets tomorrow. So yep. Santa Claus is coming!
Happy Christmas Eve Eve to you all!
Forever the "Two Under Two Zoo"
A friend asked me if I would still consider myself a "two under two" zoo once my two were no longer under two.
And it's a really good question. Technically I'm already past "two under two" at least in the most literal sense. Because Evie is no longer "under" two. She's two and a hand full of months. But you can still squeeze it in, since she's not yet three. But it won't be long til she's celebrating another birthday. I know this because it was only yesterday that I celebrated her first birthday. And only last week I held her in my arms for the very first time.
Holy cow. Three years ago at this time was when I got up REALLY early, because I couldn't sleep, and peed on a stick. Then in shock and disbelief drank a ton of water and peed on another stick. Then I went and laid in bed next to my husband feeling like the entire world had just shifted and gravity was no longer working right and everything I had ever known had changed. And it had. Because both of those pregnancy tests had a plus sign. And little Evie was growing away in my belly. It's still wild to think about. I spent a LOT of time standing in front of the mirror, staring at my perfect and flat tummy and just being in awe that a teensy person was growing in there. I miss that unflawed tummy! The one without stretch marks or extra skin. I wonder if I still have a picture floating around somewhere of that tummy? Maybe I can find one and have it framed. Cause I don't think I will ever see it again.
Yep. I miss that tummy. I'm skinnier now, but it doesn't look the same. But I digress...
So, will I still be a "two under two zoo" in another 8 months when one of my babies becomes a three-year-old?
I think so. More than the age of my children I feel like "two under two" kinda encompasses my life for the next decade or so. It's a way of life. A parenting style that is totally different from having children spaced out a few years.
Having two children less than 18 months apart changes your life. It does. Multitasking becomes second nature. Frazzled and rushed becomes a norm. You learn to let a LOT of the unnecessary things go. Laundry stacks up. And baby stuff, from toys to clothes to burp cloths, is in every room. You get by on much less sleep than you would have ever imagined. You learn to eat other people's leftovers, since you don't always have time to fix your own plate and let's face it, two-year-olds don't really eat anyways. You begin to dream about the day when you will actually get to pee in solitude without listening to a little person have a nervous breakdown outside the door. You find yourself announcing to a room of adults that "Mommy needs to go potty. I'll be right back," and then getting lots of sneers and giggles before you realize what you've done. Part of it is just the life of a parent. But for those of us with two under two, it's our lives for several years. Not just until one child is walking, talking and no longer in diapers but until a second child passes all those milestones as well. And everything we go through will be back to back. Two years of terrible twos. Two years of potty training. Two years of terrible threes. Two years of babies going off to school for the first time. Two years of babies learning to read, to write, to drive. Two years of girls becoming teens. Two years of daughters going off to college. It will all be back to back for us.
So yeah. I think my house will always be a two under two zoo. Even when they're 6 and 7 instead of 1 and 2. Or 13 and 14. Actually, maybe even more a zoo by then. Eesh.
And it's a really good question. Technically I'm already past "two under two" at least in the most literal sense. Because Evie is no longer "under" two. She's two and a hand full of months. But you can still squeeze it in, since she's not yet three. But it won't be long til she's celebrating another birthday. I know this because it was only yesterday that I celebrated her first birthday. And only last week I held her in my arms for the very first time.
Holy cow. Three years ago at this time was when I got up REALLY early, because I couldn't sleep, and peed on a stick. Then in shock and disbelief drank a ton of water and peed on another stick. Then I went and laid in bed next to my husband feeling like the entire world had just shifted and gravity was no longer working right and everything I had ever known had changed. And it had. Because both of those pregnancy tests had a plus sign. And little Evie was growing away in my belly. It's still wild to think about. I spent a LOT of time standing in front of the mirror, staring at my perfect and flat tummy and just being in awe that a teensy person was growing in there. I miss that unflawed tummy! The one without stretch marks or extra skin. I wonder if I still have a picture floating around somewhere of that tummy? Maybe I can find one and have it framed. Cause I don't think I will ever see it again.
Yep. I miss that tummy. I'm skinnier now, but it doesn't look the same. But I digress...
So, will I still be a "two under two zoo" in another 8 months when one of my babies becomes a three-year-old?
I think so. More than the age of my children I feel like "two under two" kinda encompasses my life for the next decade or so. It's a way of life. A parenting style that is totally different from having children spaced out a few years.
Having two children less than 18 months apart changes your life. It does. Multitasking becomes second nature. Frazzled and rushed becomes a norm. You learn to let a LOT of the unnecessary things go. Laundry stacks up. And baby stuff, from toys to clothes to burp cloths, is in every room. You get by on much less sleep than you would have ever imagined. You learn to eat other people's leftovers, since you don't always have time to fix your own plate and let's face it, two-year-olds don't really eat anyways. You begin to dream about the day when you will actually get to pee in solitude without listening to a little person have a nervous breakdown outside the door. You find yourself announcing to a room of adults that "Mommy needs to go potty. I'll be right back," and then getting lots of sneers and giggles before you realize what you've done. Part of it is just the life of a parent. But for those of us with two under two, it's our lives for several years. Not just until one child is walking, talking and no longer in diapers but until a second child passes all those milestones as well. And everything we go through will be back to back. Two years of terrible twos. Two years of potty training. Two years of terrible threes. Two years of babies going off to school for the first time. Two years of babies learning to read, to write, to drive. Two years of girls becoming teens. Two years of daughters going off to college. It will all be back to back for us.
So yeah. I think my house will always be a two under two zoo. Even when they're 6 and 7 instead of 1 and 2. Or 13 and 14. Actually, maybe even more a zoo by then. Eesh.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Teething and the Terrible Twos
No one told me that teething during the two's was about three hundred times worse than during infancy.
Of course, no one else has to deal with Evie. She takes "no pain tolerance" to a whole different level.
This has been a tough week. After going to visit my in-laws this weekend, we discovered that both girls are teething. Elly has at least four teeth coming in and Evie is apparently cutting some new molars. Oh. Joy.
Evie, despite her daredevil attitude, has absolutely no ability to tolerate pain. The least little bump or scrape and she has a meltdown. And yeah, part of that is being two. And part of that is just who she is. So all week every couple of minutes she breaks down into tears and hysterics and screams "Teeth hurt! Evie's teeth hurt!" She will wail for a minute or two and then stop and resume her normal activities. Well, Sunday and Monday nights she woke up every hour or so through the night screaming and crying about her teeth. Of course, this woke me up.
Elly also woke up intermittently, crying for a lost paci or her fuzzy blanket. Which she only really does when something else is going on like teething or if she's sick.
To top all the fun teething business off, my mom tells me on Monday that she thinks she's getting sick. Panic ensues. What on earth will we do if my mom gets sick? I mean, she watches the kids every single day while we work. Oh my gosh.
On Tuesday morning, both girls wake up with coughs and runny noses, on top of the teething. And as disappointing as it is for them to get sick at any time, the week of Christmas just seems really unfair. They were miserable and after not sleeping for several days (Elly kept me up all night on Saturday too!) I was miserable. When we left the house Tuesday morning I just cried because I felt so overwhelmed and exhausted.
My mom was feeling better Tuesday night and volunteered to keep Evie so that maybe I could get a little more sleep. As fearful as I was that it would totally backfire for all of us, I agreed. Evie went to bed early and slept pretty good at my mom's. Elly actually slept really well too. Which means that I slept really well! Eight hours of uninterrupted sleep made me a much more pleasant person to be around. Though of course the teething is on going.
A couple of nights of good rest and both babies are much better. Evie seems to be completely over the cold and her teething seems to come and go. Elly still has a runny nose but seems to be feeling okay.
I was just so unprepared for how much awful teething could be at this point. I mean, instead of crying and getting a paci and some snuggles and just going to sleep like she did when she was little, Evie screams. She asks me to make it stop hurting. She asks for Tylenol and Orajel. Even if she just had them. She looks at me with those big blue eyes, tears pouring down her cheeks, and says "Mommy, teeth hurt!" and she expects me to fix it. And really, there's not a damn thing I can do. It's a horribly heartbreaking sort of feeling. Snuggles don't mend the pain and she can't just sleep through it. As her mother, I'm supposed to take care of her and she obviously considers pain management an aspect of that care. And she acts like I am being deliberately lazy and irresponsible by not taking that pain away.
Elly cries. I give her a paci. She cries some more and I give her some Orajel. If she keeps crying, she dozes off. It's a beautiful system. One that I didn't realize that I appreciated as much as I do until I discovered it gone. A coping mechanism that babies leave behind when they become children. And evidently coping with pain isn't something a two-year-old has developed.
I'm hoping we all continue to get sleep. It's amazing how quickly your emotional state erodes once you stop sleeping. I consider myself a fairly level-headed and intelligent human being but after two nights of not sleeping I felt broken. My brain was not functioning. I felt frayed and overly emotional. Irritable, cranky and grumpy. I don't want to be feeling that way this weekend. I'm far to excited about the holiday celebrations to want them polluted by lack of sleep.
Two more nights. One more day. And we'll be officially in the Christmas weekend. I am so very excited. We're ready for Santa at my house! Here's hoping we all stay well-rested and non-snotty so we can enjoy the weekend.
Of course, no one else has to deal with Evie. She takes "no pain tolerance" to a whole different level.
This has been a tough week. After going to visit my in-laws this weekend, we discovered that both girls are teething. Elly has at least four teeth coming in and Evie is apparently cutting some new molars. Oh. Joy.
Evie, despite her daredevil attitude, has absolutely no ability to tolerate pain. The least little bump or scrape and she has a meltdown. And yeah, part of that is being two. And part of that is just who she is. So all week every couple of minutes she breaks down into tears and hysterics and screams "Teeth hurt! Evie's teeth hurt!" She will wail for a minute or two and then stop and resume her normal activities. Well, Sunday and Monday nights she woke up every hour or so through the night screaming and crying about her teeth. Of course, this woke me up.
Elly also woke up intermittently, crying for a lost paci or her fuzzy blanket. Which she only really does when something else is going on like teething or if she's sick.
To top all the fun teething business off, my mom tells me on Monday that she thinks she's getting sick. Panic ensues. What on earth will we do if my mom gets sick? I mean, she watches the kids every single day while we work. Oh my gosh.
On Tuesday morning, both girls wake up with coughs and runny noses, on top of the teething. And as disappointing as it is for them to get sick at any time, the week of Christmas just seems really unfair. They were miserable and after not sleeping for several days (Elly kept me up all night on Saturday too!) I was miserable. When we left the house Tuesday morning I just cried because I felt so overwhelmed and exhausted.
My mom was feeling better Tuesday night and volunteered to keep Evie so that maybe I could get a little more sleep. As fearful as I was that it would totally backfire for all of us, I agreed. Evie went to bed early and slept pretty good at my mom's. Elly actually slept really well too. Which means that I slept really well! Eight hours of uninterrupted sleep made me a much more pleasant person to be around. Though of course the teething is on going.
A couple of nights of good rest and both babies are much better. Evie seems to be completely over the cold and her teething seems to come and go. Elly still has a runny nose but seems to be feeling okay.
I was just so unprepared for how much awful teething could be at this point. I mean, instead of crying and getting a paci and some snuggles and just going to sleep like she did when she was little, Evie screams. She asks me to make it stop hurting. She asks for Tylenol and Orajel. Even if she just had them. She looks at me with those big blue eyes, tears pouring down her cheeks, and says "Mommy, teeth hurt!" and she expects me to fix it. And really, there's not a damn thing I can do. It's a horribly heartbreaking sort of feeling. Snuggles don't mend the pain and she can't just sleep through it. As her mother, I'm supposed to take care of her and she obviously considers pain management an aspect of that care. And she acts like I am being deliberately lazy and irresponsible by not taking that pain away.
Elly cries. I give her a paci. She cries some more and I give her some Orajel. If she keeps crying, she dozes off. It's a beautiful system. One that I didn't realize that I appreciated as much as I do until I discovered it gone. A coping mechanism that babies leave behind when they become children. And evidently coping with pain isn't something a two-year-old has developed.
I'm hoping we all continue to get sleep. It's amazing how quickly your emotional state erodes once you stop sleeping. I consider myself a fairly level-headed and intelligent human being but after two nights of not sleeping I felt broken. My brain was not functioning. I felt frayed and overly emotional. Irritable, cranky and grumpy. I don't want to be feeling that way this weekend. I'm far to excited about the holiday celebrations to want them polluted by lack of sleep.
Two more nights. One more day. And we'll be officially in the Christmas weekend. I am so very excited. We're ready for Santa at my house! Here's hoping we all stay well-rested and non-snotty so we can enjoy the weekend.
Short story Intro
So i'm always talking about wanting to write a short story or something. I tend to read more of the sci-fi/fantasy type so it was more of what I felt the urge to write about. I will not take it the least bit personal if you aren't interested. As soon as I post this, I'm going to do an actual blog for the day. But I just felt like I needed to write something from outside of me. So I did! You can read it, or not. This is actually taking a much longer short story that I wrote MANY MANY years ago and taking it a different direction...if you do read it, feel free to comment. Some people might even recognize a character. :-)
***************************
Heart pounding, she broke free of the woods into a small clearing. Her shirt was damp and clung to her back and her pants felt sticky from the blood oozing from dozens of scrapes. Her flight through the forest had been folly, she feared. Thorns had torn at her and dense thickets of rhododendron had hindered her. Her face was wet from dew and perspiration. The pale round moon illuminated her surroundings with a starkness that made everything feel like a dream.
She pressed her hands into the stitch in her side and tried to get her bearings, fighting against the feeling of panic that threatened to overwhelm her. Taking a deep breath she listened behind her for the sounds of pursuit. She knew she was being hunted. And she knew that before the night was over she would be forced to face her pursuers. She could not outrun them indefinitely.
Gnawing her lip in nervous thought, she debated her options. Head north towards the open plains at the base of the mountain range that made up the heart of the island or head west through the dense woods towards the ocean. With concentration she could just barely hear the steady whoosh of the waves crashing over and over against the sand. The forest was unnaturally silent. Not even the crickets would dare to make a noise tonight. Not while those creatures stalked the darkness.
A branch popped in the forest to her right. In the silence it sounded like a gun shot. Instinctively her hands went to the worn leather holsters on her hips. The cold steel calmed her heart and steadied her mind. She would head north, attempt to escape the dark, foreboding forest, and make her stand in the plains. She checked both pistols, then reached over her shoulder to check the short sword secured there. The hilt felt warm to her hand and comforted her further.
Pushing errant strands of mahogany hair away from her face, she plunged back into the forest, racing through thickets and brambles as if they weren't there. Her life depended on her speed. And she wasn't sure if she would make it to sunrise. But she felt she had to try.
Only moments had passed when she heard the cry ring out behind her. A shrill scream tore across the forest and sent a flock of crows cawing and flapping up into the night. It soon was joined by two brethren, and the girl knew her time was nearly up. They had caught her scent and once the three were together they truly be after her.
Even with the miles she had put between them, she heard her hunters breaking through the forest in pursuit. As trained as she was, a cry tore from her as she attempted to go faster. Not only her life, but others, depended on her this night.
When she thought she couldn't run any further she found herself surrounded by open plains instead of the close trees. A smile flickered across her face. She was going to make it! In the open, she felt confident that she could best the blind beasts. Even three to one, the liked her odds now that she was from the confines of the trees. Hope filled her chest and gave her a new surge of energy, she began to slow and turn, calculating the best offense.
Reaching down to unholster her weapons, she suddenly realized that she hadn't heard the noise of their pursuit since before she had escaped the forest. A flicker of fear crossed her face and her eyes lit with terror and realization. As she turned she raised her face and locked eyes with one of her hunters. Leathery claws closed around her neck and cut off her air before she could scream. She felt another set of claws in her abdomen and then the darkness closed in she felt no more on this earth.
***************************
Sorenya wiped the tears from his cheeks and stood. He tightened his grip on the small silver necklace that he had removed from the bloody mass. His eyes burned with the grief and loss. He felt like a deep hole had opened inside of him. That perhaps he had been the one so brutally treated.
His little sister. Dead. How on earth could he ever face his mother? How could he tell their family?
The early morning was full of the sounds of summer. Birds chirping, cicadas singing. The day itself seemed to hum. The wind tickled through his ash blonde hair and ruffled open his shirt, exposing the numerous scars that years of fighting accumulated. He stared absently across the open plains towards the distant mountain range.
Hearing footsteps behind him, he turned. His hand went to the sword at his side and he drew his blade. He wasn't expecting anyone and while his people weren't usually hunted during the day he had learned long ago to expect the unexpected. He dropped back into a defensive position and waited.
She stumbled from the forest, short and slender, her blue jeans torn and dirty, and mud coating her hands. There were sticks and leaves tangled in her long dark hair. She had a long scratch across one cheek and the sleeve of her leather jacket was ripped from the elbow down. Freckles covered her nose and her bright green eyes surveyed the body behind him with horror before looking up at Sorenya.
He knew strange when he saw it. The confusion and terror mixed on her face and he didn't know if she was going to run, scream or faint. After a moment's hesitation, she straightened up and glared at him. Swallowing loudly she placed her hands on her hips.
"I don't know who you are or what is going on. But dammit, I am tired of this place already. Where the hell am I?" she demanded. Her voice broke at the end and he could tell she was fighting the urge to cry.
One dark eyebrow cocked up at her and in spite of everything that had happened the last few months, Sorenya wanted to laugh. Whoever she was, Sorenya had a feeling she was going to change everything. Maybe even for the better.
***************************
Heart pounding, she broke free of the woods into a small clearing. Her shirt was damp and clung to her back and her pants felt sticky from the blood oozing from dozens of scrapes. Her flight through the forest had been folly, she feared. Thorns had torn at her and dense thickets of rhododendron had hindered her. Her face was wet from dew and perspiration. The pale round moon illuminated her surroundings with a starkness that made everything feel like a dream.
She pressed her hands into the stitch in her side and tried to get her bearings, fighting against the feeling of panic that threatened to overwhelm her. Taking a deep breath she listened behind her for the sounds of pursuit. She knew she was being hunted. And she knew that before the night was over she would be forced to face her pursuers. She could not outrun them indefinitely.
Gnawing her lip in nervous thought, she debated her options. Head north towards the open plains at the base of the mountain range that made up the heart of the island or head west through the dense woods towards the ocean. With concentration she could just barely hear the steady whoosh of the waves crashing over and over against the sand. The forest was unnaturally silent. Not even the crickets would dare to make a noise tonight. Not while those creatures stalked the darkness.
A branch popped in the forest to her right. In the silence it sounded like a gun shot. Instinctively her hands went to the worn leather holsters on her hips. The cold steel calmed her heart and steadied her mind. She would head north, attempt to escape the dark, foreboding forest, and make her stand in the plains. She checked both pistols, then reached over her shoulder to check the short sword secured there. The hilt felt warm to her hand and comforted her further.
Pushing errant strands of mahogany hair away from her face, she plunged back into the forest, racing through thickets and brambles as if they weren't there. Her life depended on her speed. And she wasn't sure if she would make it to sunrise. But she felt she had to try.
Only moments had passed when she heard the cry ring out behind her. A shrill scream tore across the forest and sent a flock of crows cawing and flapping up into the night. It soon was joined by two brethren, and the girl knew her time was nearly up. They had caught her scent and once the three were together they truly be after her.
Even with the miles she had put between them, she heard her hunters breaking through the forest in pursuit. As trained as she was, a cry tore from her as she attempted to go faster. Not only her life, but others, depended on her this night.
When she thought she couldn't run any further she found herself surrounded by open plains instead of the close trees. A smile flickered across her face. She was going to make it! In the open, she felt confident that she could best the blind beasts. Even three to one, the liked her odds now that she was from the confines of the trees. Hope filled her chest and gave her a new surge of energy, she began to slow and turn, calculating the best offense.
Reaching down to unholster her weapons, she suddenly realized that she hadn't heard the noise of their pursuit since before she had escaped the forest. A flicker of fear crossed her face and her eyes lit with terror and realization. As she turned she raised her face and locked eyes with one of her hunters. Leathery claws closed around her neck and cut off her air before she could scream. She felt another set of claws in her abdomen and then the darkness closed in she felt no more on this earth.
***************************
Sorenya wiped the tears from his cheeks and stood. He tightened his grip on the small silver necklace that he had removed from the bloody mass. His eyes burned with the grief and loss. He felt like a deep hole had opened inside of him. That perhaps he had been the one so brutally treated.
His little sister. Dead. How on earth could he ever face his mother? How could he tell their family?
The early morning was full of the sounds of summer. Birds chirping, cicadas singing. The day itself seemed to hum. The wind tickled through his ash blonde hair and ruffled open his shirt, exposing the numerous scars that years of fighting accumulated. He stared absently across the open plains towards the distant mountain range.
Hearing footsteps behind him, he turned. His hand went to the sword at his side and he drew his blade. He wasn't expecting anyone and while his people weren't usually hunted during the day he had learned long ago to expect the unexpected. He dropped back into a defensive position and waited.
She stumbled from the forest, short and slender, her blue jeans torn and dirty, and mud coating her hands. There were sticks and leaves tangled in her long dark hair. She had a long scratch across one cheek and the sleeve of her leather jacket was ripped from the elbow down. Freckles covered her nose and her bright green eyes surveyed the body behind him with horror before looking up at Sorenya.
He knew strange when he saw it. The confusion and terror mixed on her face and he didn't know if she was going to run, scream or faint. After a moment's hesitation, she straightened up and glared at him. Swallowing loudly she placed her hands on her hips.
"I don't know who you are or what is going on. But dammit, I am tired of this place already. Where the hell am I?" she demanded. Her voice broke at the end and he could tell she was fighting the urge to cry.
One dark eyebrow cocked up at her and in spite of everything that had happened the last few months, Sorenya wanted to laugh. Whoever she was, Sorenya had a feeling she was going to change everything. Maybe even for the better.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The Skinny on my Skinny
So, here I sit. Two babies. One 2, one 10 months. And I've spent the last couple of months repeatedly surprised when I step on the scale. I really can't believe that I have lost all of my baby weight and then some. I'm smaller now than I was before I got pregnant to begin with. Though my body certainly doesn't look the same. And I guess it never will.
I now weigh (as of yesterday morning!) 114 lbs. I wear a size 5 jean, though I can fit into size 3s. I don't want to feel like I'm squeezing into something tiny. Or like I can't breathe. I'm a mom of two, I don't need my pants to be painted on. Though I do have a pair of jeggings that I absolutely love! I guess technically they look painted on...*shrug* I wear a size small in shirts and what not. And I feel small. Something I didn't believe I would ever feel again 6 months ago. I thank people profusely for commenting that I'm small, skinny or little. I think sometimes they think I'm crazy. But it's true.
I don't want to sound like I'm bragging. But I worked hard to get here. It's not like it just happened. I'm not one of those obnoxious skinny people that continued to eat like they did when they were pregnant and magically lost a ton of weight. I've had to really push myself and change my lifestyle to get where I am. And I'm proud that I've done it.
Every time I see someone who hasn't seen me in a few months they want to know how much weight I've lost. What I've done. What I'm doing. How am I so little?
No one seems to be very impressed with the answer: Well, I'm watching what I eat and I walk. Every day.
Oh my gosh! How revolutionary! What a revelation! Diet+exercise=weight loss. I know, crazy notion. Not really. No one is impressed. They want something awesome. And I don't have it.
So what DID I do?
For about 8 months I ate only 1200 calories a day. I had bad days, of course. Days when I REALLY wanted pizza. Or a cheese burger. But instead of letting on bad day become a bad week, I just worked really hard to have a really good day after a bad day. Believe it or not, I don't miss the bad food. That seems to be the hard thing for people to believe. I practically never eat out and I very rarely eat fast food. I don't want it. I'd rather eat at home and I love to cook. Even as Southern as I was raised, my home cooked food is no where near as bad for you as a Big Mac. In part because I don't use red meat. Another thing is you don't feel as compelled to finish your food when you eat at home. So you might stop eating when you're full. If you just paid $6 for your meal, you're not going to want to waste any of it.
Serving sizes are one of the easiest to correct problems in most people's diets. Did you know an actual serving of Honey Nut Cheerios is only one cup? Most people pull out a big ole bowl, filler up and chow down. Consuming at least two if not three or four servings of cereal. Taking that bowl of cereal from a 300 calorie meal to a 900-1200 calorie meal. The typical adult needs only 2000 calories a day. So if you had a beasty bowl of cereal for breakfast, you've already consumed half your calories for the day. And you need to eat two more meals and probably a snack.
Every day I eat a bowl of whole grain cereal. Cheerios, honey nut cheerios, Special K, Raisin Bran, whatever. And I eat a serving of it (i.e. 1 cup) with a serving of 1% milk.
Lunch is kinda my whatever meal now. But when I was dieting I tried to be a bit more controlled. I still gave myself a bit more leeway to eat some more calories. I found that if I had one meal a day that I got to really enjoy, it made it easier to watch what I ate for breakfast and supper. Also, by having my big meal at lunch, instead of supper, my metabolism was much more likely to burn it off. If you eat a great big supper and you don't eat until 8 or 9 p.m. your body is pretty much going to store ALL of that. Unless you do some serious cardio afterwards and stay awake for a couple of hours, that meal is going straight to your hips, thighs and butt.
Middle of the afternoon I walk. It varies on how much and what speed. Sometimes I take a pair of 3 lb weights to walk with. Sometimes I will jog a little. Just depends. I take a break from work and walk around the building a few times. Usually I walk for about 20 minutes. If we're busy, obviously I don't leave. Sometimes I have to take my walk in 5 minute intervals in the room.
Supper is still always something small. I don't like dealing with supper. I care a bit more about supper than about breakfast, which I pretty much only eat because I know I have to. But it's still not much. Supper is a salad or a can of tuna. Maybe a cheese quesadilla. Yogurt for dessert. Or maybe a chocolate chip cookie or two.
I let myself have sweet things. If you cut yourself off from sugar, sooner or later you will cave in. Then you will find yourself devouring a whole chocolate cake. And your body will totally freak out with all that sugar and will store every ounce of it. There is no reason to completely eliminate any of the "bad foods" from your diet. If you get a hankering for a fried pickle, eat one. If you want a Snickers bar, have it. But don't eat a basket of fried pickles. And don't devour a bag of mini snickers. Have a serving and move on.
If you're ever sitting around and just get the munchies. Try drinking a cup of cold water. If you don't NEED to eat, don't just sit around and eat because you can. It's a dumb reason. And it's an easy way to consume WAY too many calories.
One of the other big things, drink water. Stop drinking soda and sweet tea and red bull. They've got a lot of junk in them that your body doesn't need. I drink a single can of soda a day. It's diet, of course. And I get two or three cups of coffee in the morning. But I don't drink soda and that other crap. I drink at least 64 oz of water every single day.
I also drink a hot cup of green tea most afternoons. For whatever reason, I really love green tea. And a hot cup of tea after lunch just makes me feel good. I dunno. It's weird, I know. I have heard that green tea has lots of good stuff in it. And it's good for your digestion. Also I have heard that a hot beverage after a meal help break down fat. Though I have no idea if that's true.
I'm no longer trying to lose weight. In fact I wouldn't mind gaining a pound or two. Though I'm terrified of actually trying to gain a pound and instead gaining like 10. lol. I pretty much eat what I want and I'm happy with it. I still don't want to eat bad stuff. I feel better without all the grease and icky stuff. I still eat healthy because it's what I want to eat.
Don't get down on yourself. If you have a day where you totally blow your calories, then move on and let it go. Don't scrap the whole diet because you've only lost a few pounds. Keep at it. It is HARD work. But it is well worth it in the end.
Good luck and I'm sorry I don't have some secret miracle to lose 80 lbs overnight. It did, after all, take me 9 months.
I now weigh (as of yesterday morning!) 114 lbs. I wear a size 5 jean, though I can fit into size 3s. I don't want to feel like I'm squeezing into something tiny. Or like I can't breathe. I'm a mom of two, I don't need my pants to be painted on. Though I do have a pair of jeggings that I absolutely love! I guess technically they look painted on...*shrug* I wear a size small in shirts and what not. And I feel small. Something I didn't believe I would ever feel again 6 months ago. I thank people profusely for commenting that I'm small, skinny or little. I think sometimes they think I'm crazy. But it's true.
I don't want to sound like I'm bragging. But I worked hard to get here. It's not like it just happened. I'm not one of those obnoxious skinny people that continued to eat like they did when they were pregnant and magically lost a ton of weight. I've had to really push myself and change my lifestyle to get where I am. And I'm proud that I've done it.
Every time I see someone who hasn't seen me in a few months they want to know how much weight I've lost. What I've done. What I'm doing. How am I so little?
No one seems to be very impressed with the answer: Well, I'm watching what I eat and I walk. Every day.
Oh my gosh! How revolutionary! What a revelation! Diet+exercise=weight loss. I know, crazy notion. Not really. No one is impressed. They want something awesome. And I don't have it.
So what DID I do?
For about 8 months I ate only 1200 calories a day. I had bad days, of course. Days when I REALLY wanted pizza. Or a cheese burger. But instead of letting on bad day become a bad week, I just worked really hard to have a really good day after a bad day. Believe it or not, I don't miss the bad food. That seems to be the hard thing for people to believe. I practically never eat out and I very rarely eat fast food. I don't want it. I'd rather eat at home and I love to cook. Even as Southern as I was raised, my home cooked food is no where near as bad for you as a Big Mac. In part because I don't use red meat. Another thing is you don't feel as compelled to finish your food when you eat at home. So you might stop eating when you're full. If you just paid $6 for your meal, you're not going to want to waste any of it.
Serving sizes are one of the easiest to correct problems in most people's diets. Did you know an actual serving of Honey Nut Cheerios is only one cup? Most people pull out a big ole bowl, filler up and chow down. Consuming at least two if not three or four servings of cereal. Taking that bowl of cereal from a 300 calorie meal to a 900-1200 calorie meal. The typical adult needs only 2000 calories a day. So if you had a beasty bowl of cereal for breakfast, you've already consumed half your calories for the day. And you need to eat two more meals and probably a snack.
Every day I eat a bowl of whole grain cereal. Cheerios, honey nut cheerios, Special K, Raisin Bran, whatever. And I eat a serving of it (i.e. 1 cup) with a serving of 1% milk.
Lunch is kinda my whatever meal now. But when I was dieting I tried to be a bit more controlled. I still gave myself a bit more leeway to eat some more calories. I found that if I had one meal a day that I got to really enjoy, it made it easier to watch what I ate for breakfast and supper. Also, by having my big meal at lunch, instead of supper, my metabolism was much more likely to burn it off. If you eat a great big supper and you don't eat until 8 or 9 p.m. your body is pretty much going to store ALL of that. Unless you do some serious cardio afterwards and stay awake for a couple of hours, that meal is going straight to your hips, thighs and butt.
Middle of the afternoon I walk. It varies on how much and what speed. Sometimes I take a pair of 3 lb weights to walk with. Sometimes I will jog a little. Just depends. I take a break from work and walk around the building a few times. Usually I walk for about 20 minutes. If we're busy, obviously I don't leave. Sometimes I have to take my walk in 5 minute intervals in the room.
Supper is still always something small. I don't like dealing with supper. I care a bit more about supper than about breakfast, which I pretty much only eat because I know I have to. But it's still not much. Supper is a salad or a can of tuna. Maybe a cheese quesadilla. Yogurt for dessert. Or maybe a chocolate chip cookie or two.
I let myself have sweet things. If you cut yourself off from sugar, sooner or later you will cave in. Then you will find yourself devouring a whole chocolate cake. And your body will totally freak out with all that sugar and will store every ounce of it. There is no reason to completely eliminate any of the "bad foods" from your diet. If you get a hankering for a fried pickle, eat one. If you want a Snickers bar, have it. But don't eat a basket of fried pickles. And don't devour a bag of mini snickers. Have a serving and move on.
If you're ever sitting around and just get the munchies. Try drinking a cup of cold water. If you don't NEED to eat, don't just sit around and eat because you can. It's a dumb reason. And it's an easy way to consume WAY too many calories.
One of the other big things, drink water. Stop drinking soda and sweet tea and red bull. They've got a lot of junk in them that your body doesn't need. I drink a single can of soda a day. It's diet, of course. And I get two or three cups of coffee in the morning. But I don't drink soda and that other crap. I drink at least 64 oz of water every single day.
I also drink a hot cup of green tea most afternoons. For whatever reason, I really love green tea. And a hot cup of tea after lunch just makes me feel good. I dunno. It's weird, I know. I have heard that green tea has lots of good stuff in it. And it's good for your digestion. Also I have heard that a hot beverage after a meal help break down fat. Though I have no idea if that's true.
I'm no longer trying to lose weight. In fact I wouldn't mind gaining a pound or two. Though I'm terrified of actually trying to gain a pound and instead gaining like 10. lol. I pretty much eat what I want and I'm happy with it. I still don't want to eat bad stuff. I feel better without all the grease and icky stuff. I still eat healthy because it's what I want to eat.
Don't get down on yourself. If you have a day where you totally blow your calories, then move on and let it go. Don't scrap the whole diet because you've only lost a few pounds. Keep at it. It is HARD work. But it is well worth it in the end.
Good luck and I'm sorry I don't have some secret miracle to lose 80 lbs overnight. It did, after all, take me 9 months.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
In Another Life...
So, do you think there is one single person out there for each of us?
No really. Think about it.
Katie Perry's recent hit, "In Another Life" made me really think about it the other night on the way home. And I just wondered if anyone really believed in fate and destiny any more? In this day and age it just seems difficult to believe.
Like any little girl I grew up wanting to believe in fairy tales and Prince Charming. Then of course I grew up a bit and entered the dating world and quickly came to realize that the only way I would meet Prince Charming was at Disney World.
But if you do believe there is one person out there for each of us, how does it work? What a lot of stress and pressure looking for that one, single, solitary person. I just don't believe it. I don't know, for me it's just too much to try to buy into.
Not that I don't think that there are people each of us can be happy with.
And I totally believe that marriage can be forever. I think it is incredibly difficult, but possible. Just because of how much people change over the years. I think back to guys I dated 10 years ago, who I of course thought I was going to be with FOREVER (note the eye roll), and I think how preposterous it was. How much different I am now. How completely naive and unrealistic such expectations were for a 16 year old.
One of the things that makes it the hardest for me to buy into the whole destiny, one person for each of us, is my mom. She is quite happily married now. To a really great guy who I hope she's going to be happy with for a long time. And I think that this is probably who she's supposed to be with. But I don't think she could have been with him 30 years ago. And if she had of some how managed to meet him 30 years ago (when their age difference would have made a difference since he's a few years her junior and they lived in completely different states) then my brother and I wouldn't be here. Or we certainly would look different. My step dad has blonde hair and blue eyes and I got my dark hair and eyes from my biological dad. I may have complained about my non-generic look a decade ago, but these days I love it.
I find it hard to believe that my mom shouldn't have been with my dad. Ya know, since that would sorta void me out. But I also don't believe she should have stayed with him and worked out their issues. Although he had a promising outlook when they got married, some how or other he lost all his motivation and has STILL not made anything of himself. He STILL doesn't have anything to show for his half a century of living. Other than two kids who he never sees or talks to. And two granddaughters, one of which he's never even met. But I don't really feel like he can take much credit for any of us.
I believe that for each of us, there are several someones out there that we can be happy with. Each of us walks a path from day one to day 32,850. We make choices, left or right. The blue shirt or the red shirt. Four year university or local college. Super size my value meal? Take the stairs? Go for the bigger tv? That's what living is all about. So how can you think that with the billions of choices you make every day that the path is some how preplanned and ordained and you're going to meet Mr. Right at some point and end up married happily ever after?
Too many people get divorced for the RIGHT reasons and too many people get married for the WRONG reasons for me to swallow such a logic. It doesn't mean I don't believe it God (I do) or that I'm not a Christian (I am) or that I don't think my husband and I will be together for 30 years (I will be 51! Wow!). I am quite happy.
So, all of this train of thought from a Katie Perry song. Go figure. Driving home from Boone in the dark listening to the radio can apparently bring to mind all sorts of weird things.
No really. Think about it.
Katie Perry's recent hit, "In Another Life" made me really think about it the other night on the way home. And I just wondered if anyone really believed in fate and destiny any more? In this day and age it just seems difficult to believe.
Like any little girl I grew up wanting to believe in fairy tales and Prince Charming. Then of course I grew up a bit and entered the dating world and quickly came to realize that the only way I would meet Prince Charming was at Disney World.
But if you do believe there is one person out there for each of us, how does it work? What a lot of stress and pressure looking for that one, single, solitary person. I just don't believe it. I don't know, for me it's just too much to try to buy into.
Not that I don't think that there are people each of us can be happy with.
And I totally believe that marriage can be forever. I think it is incredibly difficult, but possible. Just because of how much people change over the years. I think back to guys I dated 10 years ago, who I of course thought I was going to be with FOREVER (note the eye roll), and I think how preposterous it was. How much different I am now. How completely naive and unrealistic such expectations were for a 16 year old.
One of the things that makes it the hardest for me to buy into the whole destiny, one person for each of us, is my mom. She is quite happily married now. To a really great guy who I hope she's going to be happy with for a long time. And I think that this is probably who she's supposed to be with. But I don't think she could have been with him 30 years ago. And if she had of some how managed to meet him 30 years ago (when their age difference would have made a difference since he's a few years her junior and they lived in completely different states) then my brother and I wouldn't be here. Or we certainly would look different. My step dad has blonde hair and blue eyes and I got my dark hair and eyes from my biological dad. I may have complained about my non-generic look a decade ago, but these days I love it.
I find it hard to believe that my mom shouldn't have been with my dad. Ya know, since that would sorta void me out. But I also don't believe she should have stayed with him and worked out their issues. Although he had a promising outlook when they got married, some how or other he lost all his motivation and has STILL not made anything of himself. He STILL doesn't have anything to show for his half a century of living. Other than two kids who he never sees or talks to. And two granddaughters, one of which he's never even met. But I don't really feel like he can take much credit for any of us.
I believe that for each of us, there are several someones out there that we can be happy with. Each of us walks a path from day one to day 32,850. We make choices, left or right. The blue shirt or the red shirt. Four year university or local college. Super size my value meal? Take the stairs? Go for the bigger tv? That's what living is all about. So how can you think that with the billions of choices you make every day that the path is some how preplanned and ordained and you're going to meet Mr. Right at some point and end up married happily ever after?
Too many people get divorced for the RIGHT reasons and too many people get married for the WRONG reasons for me to swallow such a logic. It doesn't mean I don't believe it God (I do) or that I'm not a Christian (I am) or that I don't think my husband and I will be together for 30 years (I will be 51! Wow!). I am quite happy.
So, all of this train of thought from a Katie Perry song. Go figure. Driving home from Boone in the dark listening to the radio can apparently bring to mind all sorts of weird things.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Our Christmas Disaster...Averted
I realized that I haven't blogged in a week. And when I don't blog for a few days my inner monologue gets to be a bit obnoxious. Writing out my thoughts, tapping away on the keyboard, somehow helps to flush out my brain. I sleep better. And I don't sit around gnawing over thoughts and events quite so much.
Needless to say, mentally, I really need to blog more often. So I'm sorry if I subject you, the innocent reader, to some crappy blogs. But some days I feel the need to blog even though I don't have much to blog about. Today however isn't one of those days.
I realized while I was stalking around Facebook that I have never posted anything aside from two status updates about our Christmas disaster. If you happen to be one of those weird people who manage to get by day to day without Facebook, then you might not know anything about my disaster.
Last Monday, (after my post about how in the holiday spirit I was, of course) we come home to find our Christmas tree collapsed in the floor. I had my hands full of bags and babies and Evie rushes into the living room and starts yelling "Santa's coming! Santa! Santa!" And at first, it is hilarious. No really. I laughed. Out loud. Evie probably doesn't remember last Christmas. And she certainly didn't get the whole Santa-Jesus-Christmas tree-presents thing then either way. This year she totally does. But she's a newbie to this whole thing so she will be the first to tell you that she doesn't necessarily get all the details.
She didn't know she was supposed to sit on Santa's lap (oops! my bad) so meeting Santa kinda threw her. She doesn't really understand the circumstances under which Santa arrives (we don't have a chimney and she doesn't know what a sugarplum is or why it would dance). She's never seen a reindeer nor does she remember any snowmen (be they magical talking ones or just plain stand alone ones) but she has danced around the Christmas tree. And she can tell you why we give gifts on Christmas (Jesus' birthday!) and name several of Santa's deer. This whole thing is still really new to her.
So for all Evie knew, coming home to find the Christmas tree laid out meant it was time to open presents. So Evie was excited. And her jumping up and down and running around the tree was pretty funny. Then I realized that the tree hadn't just fallen over, the tree had actually BROKEN. And I cried.
Here I was home alone with two babies, with a Christmas tree that weighs as much as me laid out across the living room, ornaments and decorations strewn everywhere, and I couldn't even pick the tree back up. What was I going to do??
Well, first I cried. Then I called my mom. Yeah. I guess you never get too old, right? My mom didn't really know what to do either. But she stayed on the phone with me while I wrestled the tree back into an upright position, straining something in my back and muttering bad words while loudly reminding my two-year-old to stay in the kitchen with her sister.
With the tree propped up in the corner, I could survey the damage. And cried again. Evie patted my shoulder, upset that I was upset. I tried to explain that I was sad because the tree was broken. She told me it would be okay. That Daddy would buy us a new one. I took a deep breath and tried to decide what to do to get us through the night at least.
Initially I thought that the tree was pretty much beyond saving. The stand itself was shattered (hence the falling). Decorations were everywhere and I figured there were several broken. Branches appeared to have broken off. More were bent and seriously disfigured. Lights were hanging helter skelter.
Did I mention that I cried? Yeah. This whole thing just broke my heart! Less than two weeks before Christmas and our tree was done. Dead. Broken and unusable. I was just so sad! Such a centerpiece in holiday festivities and our home would be without one. This year feels like the beginning of all of our Christmases. You know what I mean? This is the first year there are all four of us. Odds are good this is all of the Dowd children so this year everyone can start learning what our holiday traditions are going to be. This is when we are really starting holiday traditions as far as they're concerned. Making Jesus a birthday cake. Finding our elf every day. Writing letters to Santa. Christmas Eve at their grandparents. Spreading reindeer food. Making cookies for Santa. Waking up to all the presents on Christmas. This is the beginning of all those traditions for them. This year, it'll all be new. But in a few more years, these activities will be what they look forward to. The only way they will remember. How sad that one year we wouldn't have a tree! Elly's first Christmas and there would be no tree in the background of our pictures.
So yeah, I was upset.
As we picked up all the pieces of the tree and started gathering up all the ornaments I was relieved to learn that none of the ornaments were broken. And in fact none of the branches were broken either. All we needed was an artificial tree stand. Unfortunately, we couldn't find any of those. We checked around online and the local stores said they'd never even seen one.
Even if we wanted to buy a new one, all the local stores were pretty much down to bare pickings. I didn't really know what the best decision would be. Get a real tree? Borrow a friend's spare? Go without?
The next morning was a sad morning. We all felt really disappointed about the tree. Seemed like all four of us were grouchy and ill.
My husband made a last ditch effort to find a tree stand by checking ALL the local stores. And in a discount store that I didn't even know carried Christmas tree stuff, he found a tree stand. A durable, heavy duty tree stand for an artificial tree. An hour later he had the tree back up and all the ornaments were back on it. By the next day holiday joy had returned to our home.
So that is how our Christmas was ruined and saved...all in a 24 hour period.
So 5 days left until the OFFICIAL Christmas day. Are you ready?
Needless to say, mentally, I really need to blog more often. So I'm sorry if I subject you, the innocent reader, to some crappy blogs. But some days I feel the need to blog even though I don't have much to blog about. Today however isn't one of those days.
I realized while I was stalking around Facebook that I have never posted anything aside from two status updates about our Christmas disaster. If you happen to be one of those weird people who manage to get by day to day without Facebook, then you might not know anything about my disaster.
Last Monday, (after my post about how in the holiday spirit I was, of course) we come home to find our Christmas tree collapsed in the floor. I had my hands full of bags and babies and Evie rushes into the living room and starts yelling "Santa's coming! Santa! Santa!" And at first, it is hilarious. No really. I laughed. Out loud. Evie probably doesn't remember last Christmas. And she certainly didn't get the whole Santa-Jesus-Christmas tree-presents thing then either way. This year she totally does. But she's a newbie to this whole thing so she will be the first to tell you that she doesn't necessarily get all the details.
She didn't know she was supposed to sit on Santa's lap (oops! my bad) so meeting Santa kinda threw her. She doesn't really understand the circumstances under which Santa arrives (we don't have a chimney and she doesn't know what a sugarplum is or why it would dance). She's never seen a reindeer nor does she remember any snowmen (be they magical talking ones or just plain stand alone ones) but she has danced around the Christmas tree. And she can tell you why we give gifts on Christmas (Jesus' birthday!) and name several of Santa's deer. This whole thing is still really new to her.
So for all Evie knew, coming home to find the Christmas tree laid out meant it was time to open presents. So Evie was excited. And her jumping up and down and running around the tree was pretty funny. Then I realized that the tree hadn't just fallen over, the tree had actually BROKEN. And I cried.
Here I was home alone with two babies, with a Christmas tree that weighs as much as me laid out across the living room, ornaments and decorations strewn everywhere, and I couldn't even pick the tree back up. What was I going to do??
Well, first I cried. Then I called my mom. Yeah. I guess you never get too old, right? My mom didn't really know what to do either. But she stayed on the phone with me while I wrestled the tree back into an upright position, straining something in my back and muttering bad words while loudly reminding my two-year-old to stay in the kitchen with her sister.
With the tree propped up in the corner, I could survey the damage. And cried again. Evie patted my shoulder, upset that I was upset. I tried to explain that I was sad because the tree was broken. She told me it would be okay. That Daddy would buy us a new one. I took a deep breath and tried to decide what to do to get us through the night at least.
Initially I thought that the tree was pretty much beyond saving. The stand itself was shattered (hence the falling). Decorations were everywhere and I figured there were several broken. Branches appeared to have broken off. More were bent and seriously disfigured. Lights were hanging helter skelter.
Did I mention that I cried? Yeah. This whole thing just broke my heart! Less than two weeks before Christmas and our tree was done. Dead. Broken and unusable. I was just so sad! Such a centerpiece in holiday festivities and our home would be without one. This year feels like the beginning of all of our Christmases. You know what I mean? This is the first year there are all four of us. Odds are good this is all of the Dowd children so this year everyone can start learning what our holiday traditions are going to be. This is when we are really starting holiday traditions as far as they're concerned. Making Jesus a birthday cake. Finding our elf every day. Writing letters to Santa. Christmas Eve at their grandparents. Spreading reindeer food. Making cookies for Santa. Waking up to all the presents on Christmas. This is the beginning of all those traditions for them. This year, it'll all be new. But in a few more years, these activities will be what they look forward to. The only way they will remember. How sad that one year we wouldn't have a tree! Elly's first Christmas and there would be no tree in the background of our pictures.
So yeah, I was upset.
As we picked up all the pieces of the tree and started gathering up all the ornaments I was relieved to learn that none of the ornaments were broken. And in fact none of the branches were broken either. All we needed was an artificial tree stand. Unfortunately, we couldn't find any of those. We checked around online and the local stores said they'd never even seen one.
Even if we wanted to buy a new one, all the local stores were pretty much down to bare pickings. I didn't really know what the best decision would be. Get a real tree? Borrow a friend's spare? Go without?
The next morning was a sad morning. We all felt really disappointed about the tree. Seemed like all four of us were grouchy and ill.
My husband made a last ditch effort to find a tree stand by checking ALL the local stores. And in a discount store that I didn't even know carried Christmas tree stuff, he found a tree stand. A durable, heavy duty tree stand for an artificial tree. An hour later he had the tree back up and all the ornaments were back on it. By the next day holiday joy had returned to our home.
So that is how our Christmas was ruined and saved...all in a 24 hour period.
So 5 days left until the OFFICIAL Christmas day. Are you ready?
Monday, December 12, 2011
Totally Gettin Into the Holidays
If you know me you would probably argue that I have been into the holiday spirit for sometime now. Months even.
And you'd be correct. I have been totally obsessed with Christmas for quite awhile. I am always a little nuts for Christmas, but this year has been much more severe due to the kids. This year Evie really "gets" Christmas and that makes it so much more exciting.
But this weekend really marked the start to the holiday season for me. I mean, I've had my Christmas tree up for weeks, had the Christmas music in the car, have been watching Christmas movies, etc. But as excited as I have been about Christmas I didn't really feel like I was in the Christmas spirit. I hadn't caught myself humming Christmas music. Or been really into the Christmas movies.
This weekend that all changed.
It started Friday morning. A quick shopping trip with Evie to get some peppermint oil, Christmas ornaments and pick up the Christmas pictures. Strolling around Main Street all bundled up with Evie was just perfect. Her asking lots of questions and giggling and talking away. Then picking our Christmas ornaments, while not the cheapest endeavor (that girl has EXPENSIVE taste!), was a blast. Evie was so excited to put the new ornaments on the tree when we got home so we did that and showed off the pictures. They turned out great!
After work finished I up the Christmas cards, which isn't nearly the chore I'm always afraid it will be.
Saturday morning we had a fun family morning just hanging out around the house. We cleaned up and made a mess. Then had pizza for lunch. Then Evie and I made red and white play clay (a.k.a play dough), added peppermint oil and glitter. After naps, we packaged the peppermint play dough as gifts for each of Evie's friends. Then I let Evie use all of our cookie cutters to play with the left over play dough. Which there was a TON of. It was so much fun!
Sunday we went to see Santa and watched Christmas movies. Also we completed our annual tradition of making sugar cookies. Despite my fears, Evie did a great job with all of it. No tantrums. No screaming. No crying.
It was an awesome weekend! And I am so much into the holiday spirit now!
I'm so counting down the days until Christmas.
And Evie was so funny this morning. Listening to Christmas music on the way into work, "Santa Claus is coming to town" and Evie yells "Momma! Santa Claus is coming!"
And you'd be correct. I have been totally obsessed with Christmas for quite awhile. I am always a little nuts for Christmas, but this year has been much more severe due to the kids. This year Evie really "gets" Christmas and that makes it so much more exciting.
But this weekend really marked the start to the holiday season for me. I mean, I've had my Christmas tree up for weeks, had the Christmas music in the car, have been watching Christmas movies, etc. But as excited as I have been about Christmas I didn't really feel like I was in the Christmas spirit. I hadn't caught myself humming Christmas music. Or been really into the Christmas movies.
This weekend that all changed.
It started Friday morning. A quick shopping trip with Evie to get some peppermint oil, Christmas ornaments and pick up the Christmas pictures. Strolling around Main Street all bundled up with Evie was just perfect. Her asking lots of questions and giggling and talking away. Then picking our Christmas ornaments, while not the cheapest endeavor (that girl has EXPENSIVE taste!), was a blast. Evie was so excited to put the new ornaments on the tree when we got home so we did that and showed off the pictures. They turned out great!
After work finished I up the Christmas cards, which isn't nearly the chore I'm always afraid it will be.
Saturday morning we had a fun family morning just hanging out around the house. We cleaned up and made a mess. Then had pizza for lunch. Then Evie and I made red and white play clay (a.k.a play dough), added peppermint oil and glitter. After naps, we packaged the peppermint play dough as gifts for each of Evie's friends. Then I let Evie use all of our cookie cutters to play with the left over play dough. Which there was a TON of. It was so much fun!
Sunday we went to see Santa and watched Christmas movies. Also we completed our annual tradition of making sugar cookies. Despite my fears, Evie did a great job with all of it. No tantrums. No screaming. No crying.
It was an awesome weekend! And I am so much into the holiday spirit now!
I'm so counting down the days until Christmas.
And Evie was so funny this morning. Listening to Christmas music on the way into work, "Santa Claus is coming to town" and Evie yells "Momma! Santa Claus is coming!"
Friday, December 9, 2011
Pinterest for the Holidays
Okay, so Pinterest is like the COOLEST thing ever.
It's also awful. I repeat, awful. It is so terribly addictive!
However, it has a lot of potential to seriously enrich the lives of my children. And maybe me. I've found the best cookie recipe ever. And my children have made their very first handmade Christmas decorations. I'm currently trying to talk my mom (a.k.a their daycare) into making some more ornaments that I just found when they are there next week. Wish me luck.
Tomorrow, Evie and I have a Pinterest project planned. I plan on taking pictures and doing a post because this will be our first lil project in awhile. We're both stoked.
So, I dunno about you guys but my December has been really busy.
Have you guys been busy? The hectic busy or just plenty to do?
Mine has actually been the good kind. The no-bored-but-not-stressed kind. You know that kind? I've been doing some baking. The previously mentioned Cookie recipe was delicious and is going to be absolutely perfect for my work Christmas party (whenever that may be...probably mid January lol). I hate taking an untried recipe to a party. You never know what you might end up with.
When I was little, every year around Christmas my mom would make sugar dough cookies from scratch and roll out the dough for us to cut out cookies. I always loved the tradition and it's one I want to continue with my girls. However last year I made the from-scratch cookies, and it was a HUGE pain with a little person running around. I can't imagine doing it with TWO little people. So we're going to hold off on the from-scratch cookies and go with the recipe-in-a-bag Betty Crocker ones. Way simpler when you have impatient little helpers pulling on your pants leg. Evie will still get to cut out cookies. I have plans for laying down some wax paper on the table and letting her have at it. That event will be NEXT weekend. Probably. If tomorrow's project goes really well, it might be this weekend.
Sorry to be so secret about tomorrow's project. But it a surprise for some people who actually (reportedly, lol) read this blog! So I will have to wait a little bit before revealing tomorrow's project. Hopefully by next weekend I will get to post about it though.
I'm really done with Christmas shopping now. Stocking stuffers are packed in the closet. The last Santa gift arrived yesterday. And yes, I was FINALLY able to get Rapunzel. I cannot wait to see Evie's face when she tears open that box on Christmas morning! It will be so worth the countless hours spent scouring the internet and stalking the Disney website.
I think all of the Christmas arrangements have been finalized. As far as when we're going where and with whom. With two grandbabies we do have a little bit of negotiating power. We have finangled our way into getting Christmas Eve at my mom's house. And moved it to lunchtime to allow for happier babies and make it possible for their Daddy to be there. Though his presence may be short-lived since he will have to work. The girls will be more comfortable in the familiar location so they won't require that warming up time that is necessary if you take them to a strange house and surround them with strange people. Plus there won't be rushing home to get girls into bed. If necessary, they can nap there!
For those who don't know, usually my Christmas Eve routine is supper at my grandparents house followed by opening their presents to us. It is a blast and we get to see some family members that we don't see very often. But with the girls it was going to be difficult to get up there for supper, with their late naps. And we would have had to rush home for Elly's bottle and bed.
This will be much much easier on me. And my kids. Then Christmas Day will be at our house. My parents will probably come over and do a leftovers sort of lunch.
I'm excited. Can you tell?
So, are you ready for Christmas? What do you have left?
Wish us luck tomorrow. Any arts and crafts with a two-year-old can be touch and go.
It's also awful. I repeat, awful. It is so terribly addictive!
However, it has a lot of potential to seriously enrich the lives of my children. And maybe me. I've found the best cookie recipe ever. And my children have made their very first handmade Christmas decorations. I'm currently trying to talk my mom (a.k.a their daycare) into making some more ornaments that I just found when they are there next week. Wish me luck.
Tomorrow, Evie and I have a Pinterest project planned. I plan on taking pictures and doing a post because this will be our first lil project in awhile. We're both stoked.
So, I dunno about you guys but my December has been really busy.
Have you guys been busy? The hectic busy or just plenty to do?
Mine has actually been the good kind. The no-bored-but-not-stressed kind. You know that kind? I've been doing some baking. The previously mentioned Cookie recipe was delicious and is going to be absolutely perfect for my work Christmas party (whenever that may be...probably mid January lol). I hate taking an untried recipe to a party. You never know what you might end up with.
When I was little, every year around Christmas my mom would make sugar dough cookies from scratch and roll out the dough for us to cut out cookies. I always loved the tradition and it's one I want to continue with my girls. However last year I made the from-scratch cookies, and it was a HUGE pain with a little person running around. I can't imagine doing it with TWO little people. So we're going to hold off on the from-scratch cookies and go with the recipe-in-a-bag Betty Crocker ones. Way simpler when you have impatient little helpers pulling on your pants leg. Evie will still get to cut out cookies. I have plans for laying down some wax paper on the table and letting her have at it. That event will be NEXT weekend. Probably. If tomorrow's project goes really well, it might be this weekend.
Sorry to be so secret about tomorrow's project. But it a surprise for some people who actually (reportedly, lol) read this blog! So I will have to wait a little bit before revealing tomorrow's project. Hopefully by next weekend I will get to post about it though.
I'm really done with Christmas shopping now. Stocking stuffers are packed in the closet. The last Santa gift arrived yesterday. And yes, I was FINALLY able to get Rapunzel. I cannot wait to see Evie's face when she tears open that box on Christmas morning! It will be so worth the countless hours spent scouring the internet and stalking the Disney website.
I think all of the Christmas arrangements have been finalized. As far as when we're going where and with whom. With two grandbabies we do have a little bit of negotiating power. We have finangled our way into getting Christmas Eve at my mom's house. And moved it to lunchtime to allow for happier babies and make it possible for their Daddy to be there. Though his presence may be short-lived since he will have to work. The girls will be more comfortable in the familiar location so they won't require that warming up time that is necessary if you take them to a strange house and surround them with strange people. Plus there won't be rushing home to get girls into bed. If necessary, they can nap there!
For those who don't know, usually my Christmas Eve routine is supper at my grandparents house followed by opening their presents to us. It is a blast and we get to see some family members that we don't see very often. But with the girls it was going to be difficult to get up there for supper, with their late naps. And we would have had to rush home for Elly's bottle and bed.
This will be much much easier on me. And my kids. Then Christmas Day will be at our house. My parents will probably come over and do a leftovers sort of lunch.
I'm excited. Can you tell?
So, are you ready for Christmas? What do you have left?
Wish us luck tomorrow. Any arts and crafts with a two-year-old can be touch and go.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Is Child Obesity Child Abuse?
In July, Dr. David Ludwig published an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association stating that he felt that childhood obesity was child abuse and in severe cases the state should step in and seize custody.
Do you agree with Dr. Ludwig?
Over the course of my lifetime childhood obesity has gone from non-existent to an out-of-control health risk. It costs tax payers billions of dollars every year to pay for medical treatments. BILLIONS. Because of childhood obesity, dozens of other health problems have also increased astronomically as my generation is reaching an age where our poor health a decade ago is beginning to really impact our daily lives. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, Type 2 Diabetes, hypertension, depression, joint problems, respiratory problems, thyroid problems...on and on, the list goes.
Did you know that obese people, people who eat themselves to the point that their joints can no longer support them and their heart and lungs cannot tolerate any exertion, can qualify for disability? They eat Whoppers and Big Macs three or four times a day and sit on their couch, then they get on disability and welfare and food stamps. Then those of us who work 40 hours a week pay for their food and their housing and their health care. It is, pardon my french, bull shit.
People are up in arms about drug testing for welfare. What about not letting people who made THEMSELVES disabled get on welfare? That would save us millions of dollars each year. Then maybe social services could afford to help people who actually DESERVE help instead of those who refused to help themselves.
And what about these people who not only do this kind of damage to themselves, but to their children as well? I was in Wal-Mart one day and saw an incredibly obese woman on one of those electric shopping carts. Now, I didn't stop her and ask how she ended up there. She may have a thyroid condition. She may have been in a horrific accident which left her disabled and led her to her being overweight. I try not to judge people. I REALLY do. But riding on the back of her electric shopping cart was a very, very overweight little boy. And in her shopping basket, were honey buns, ding dongs, white bread, candy, microwave meals, etc. Not a single green and leafy item was in there. Not even something that was at one point in time green and leafy. I was so upset that I had to literally bite my tongue and clench my fists and flee that aisle.
Childhood obesity is a complicated issue. I don't believe there should be a blanket rule that overweight children come from unfit parents and therefore those parents should lose custody of their children. And I don't know that the state is going to do any better at keeping children healthy and fit than their parents. I'm sure foster care isn't really big on healthy living and active lifestyles. They're more about getting children permanent placement in a system that is already overcrowded.
But I do feel that something should be done to parents who are complacent or even encourage the kind of lifestyle that leads to childhood obesity. A lot of factors influence a child's weight, from genetics to nutrition to ethnicity. But there are so many ways to fight childhood obesity. Why aren't more parents doing it?
I know what it's like to not have time to cook a big healthy meal every night. Heck, I'm not even with my children for supper five days of the week. But I talk to their caregiver (and yes, that's my mom) regularly about what they're eating at her house. And I say something if I'm concerned that she's offering them unhealthy options. Granted neither my younger brother nor myself are obese and we weren't obese children. So my mom has a good track record already. But even when time is limited, those Green Giant Fresh Steamers from the frozen foods aisle take about 5 minutes to microwave and even my INCREDIBLY picky two-year-old will much on a couple of veggies with her chicken nuggets. And I work really hard to consistently offer at least one healthy meal per day. And overall, I think my kids eat fairly healthy. They get minimal butter and lite syrup with their waffles. Whole grain bread for sandwiches. Goldfish for snacks. Fruits and veggies every day. It's tough to work 40 hours a week and still cook (not to mention clean, laundry, play, exercise, etc. but such is the life of a mom!) but if I can do it, I don't see why any one else can't.
And I hate the excuse that eating healthy is too expensive. My husband and I are just a hairsbreadth above qualifying for Medicaid and WIC, I have large college loans I'm paying off, plus a house and two car payments, not to mention month to month bills, and my kids aren't living off the dollar menu at McDonalds. I cook healthy, wholesome meals for them several days a week. They eat plenty of fruits and veggies, though admittedly they are more often frozen than fresh. We eat white meat instead of beef (turkey-burger and chicken, no ground beef and the REALLY rare hamburger). And despite my near-poverty I haven't eaten out in a month. I could count the times I've eaten at a restaurant (fast food or sit down) this year on my hands. Not many people can do that I figure.
One of the worst things about childhood obesity is that these poor little kids will be affected for the rest of their lives. They will be singled out and picked on. They will be called "fat" and "ugly." They will have health problems. And they will have psychological trauma because of their weight. Maybe society is blame. Maybe the government. Whatever. You can spend the rest of your life griping and pointing fingers, but in the majority of cases childhood obesity is preventable. And it is PARENTS who should be held responsible.
PARENTS who don't lead healthy lives and don't set healthy examples. PARENTS who bring junk food into their homes and make constant grazing acceptable. PARENTS who don't encourage their children to get out of the home. PARENTS who purchase video games and cell phones and computers instead of a basketball net or a soccer ball or a bicycle. It is PARENTS who allow their children to become obese.
And I'm not talking about a pudgy phase where a child has grown out but not up. Or baby fat on an elementary school kid. Or even baby fat on a high school kid. I'm talking about OBESITY. Severely overweight children who will spend the rest of their lives dealing with a slew of medical problems because their PARENTS were too damn sorry to get off the couch and interact with their children.
When I was little, we spent time outside. We ate our veggies. Going out to eat was a special (and rare) treat, not multiple times a week sort of occurrence. We rode our bikes and played basketball in the driveway. (Not to mention weeded flowerbeds, cleaned house, fed and watered horses and chickens and dogs and pigs, mucked stalls, etc.) Even after GameBoys and Nintendos, I remember being forced out of the house to play. So why can't parents do that today?
So do I think it's child abuse? Heck yeah I do! If you have a child who is morbidly obese and a very serious medical condition didn't make him that way, you are an abusive parent. There is absolutely, beyond a shadow of doubt, no excuse for that. As a parent, it would kill me to know that I had caused my child such pain. Mentally, physically and socially.
I am not a perfect parent. Some days I'm a LONG ways from it. In my house we do eat the occasional cheeseburger, there are frozen french fries in my freezer, and my toddler is more likely to eat a chicken nugget than a salad. We have buttery popcorn on movie night and a frozen pepperoni pizza for lunch some Saturdays. We aren't vegans or vegetarians or health nuts. I don't shop organic or keep fresh fruits in the fridge. But I make a conscious effort to keep us healthy and active. And I don't think that is too much to ask of any parent. It's for the kids, after all.
What do you think? Do you actively try to keep your kids healthy? Or do you just live healthy and hope they follow suit?
Do you agree with Dr. Ludwig?
Over the course of my lifetime childhood obesity has gone from non-existent to an out-of-control health risk. It costs tax payers billions of dollars every year to pay for medical treatments. BILLIONS. Because of childhood obesity, dozens of other health problems have also increased astronomically as my generation is reaching an age where our poor health a decade ago is beginning to really impact our daily lives. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, Type 2 Diabetes, hypertension, depression, joint problems, respiratory problems, thyroid problems...on and on, the list goes.
Did you know that obese people, people who eat themselves to the point that their joints can no longer support them and their heart and lungs cannot tolerate any exertion, can qualify for disability? They eat Whoppers and Big Macs three or four times a day and sit on their couch, then they get on disability and welfare and food stamps. Then those of us who work 40 hours a week pay for their food and their housing and their health care. It is, pardon my french, bull shit.
People are up in arms about drug testing for welfare. What about not letting people who made THEMSELVES disabled get on welfare? That would save us millions of dollars each year. Then maybe social services could afford to help people who actually DESERVE help instead of those who refused to help themselves.
And what about these people who not only do this kind of damage to themselves, but to their children as well? I was in Wal-Mart one day and saw an incredibly obese woman on one of those electric shopping carts. Now, I didn't stop her and ask how she ended up there. She may have a thyroid condition. She may have been in a horrific accident which left her disabled and led her to her being overweight. I try not to judge people. I REALLY do. But riding on the back of her electric shopping cart was a very, very overweight little boy. And in her shopping basket, were honey buns, ding dongs, white bread, candy, microwave meals, etc. Not a single green and leafy item was in there. Not even something that was at one point in time green and leafy. I was so upset that I had to literally bite my tongue and clench my fists and flee that aisle.
Childhood obesity is a complicated issue. I don't believe there should be a blanket rule that overweight children come from unfit parents and therefore those parents should lose custody of their children. And I don't know that the state is going to do any better at keeping children healthy and fit than their parents. I'm sure foster care isn't really big on healthy living and active lifestyles. They're more about getting children permanent placement in a system that is already overcrowded.
But I do feel that something should be done to parents who are complacent or even encourage the kind of lifestyle that leads to childhood obesity. A lot of factors influence a child's weight, from genetics to nutrition to ethnicity. But there are so many ways to fight childhood obesity. Why aren't more parents doing it?
I know what it's like to not have time to cook a big healthy meal every night. Heck, I'm not even with my children for supper five days of the week. But I talk to their caregiver (and yes, that's my mom) regularly about what they're eating at her house. And I say something if I'm concerned that she's offering them unhealthy options. Granted neither my younger brother nor myself are obese and we weren't obese children. So my mom has a good track record already. But even when time is limited, those Green Giant Fresh Steamers from the frozen foods aisle take about 5 minutes to microwave and even my INCREDIBLY picky two-year-old will much on a couple of veggies with her chicken nuggets. And I work really hard to consistently offer at least one healthy meal per day. And overall, I think my kids eat fairly healthy. They get minimal butter and lite syrup with their waffles. Whole grain bread for sandwiches. Goldfish for snacks. Fruits and veggies every day. It's tough to work 40 hours a week and still cook (not to mention clean, laundry, play, exercise, etc. but such is the life of a mom!) but if I can do it, I don't see why any one else can't.
And I hate the excuse that eating healthy is too expensive. My husband and I are just a hairsbreadth above qualifying for Medicaid and WIC, I have large college loans I'm paying off, plus a house and two car payments, not to mention month to month bills, and my kids aren't living off the dollar menu at McDonalds. I cook healthy, wholesome meals for them several days a week. They eat plenty of fruits and veggies, though admittedly they are more often frozen than fresh. We eat white meat instead of beef (turkey-burger and chicken, no ground beef and the REALLY rare hamburger). And despite my near-poverty I haven't eaten out in a month. I could count the times I've eaten at a restaurant (fast food or sit down) this year on my hands. Not many people can do that I figure.
One of the worst things about childhood obesity is that these poor little kids will be affected for the rest of their lives. They will be singled out and picked on. They will be called "fat" and "ugly." They will have health problems. And they will have psychological trauma because of their weight. Maybe society is blame. Maybe the government. Whatever. You can spend the rest of your life griping and pointing fingers, but in the majority of cases childhood obesity is preventable. And it is PARENTS who should be held responsible.
PARENTS who don't lead healthy lives and don't set healthy examples. PARENTS who bring junk food into their homes and make constant grazing acceptable. PARENTS who don't encourage their children to get out of the home. PARENTS who purchase video games and cell phones and computers instead of a basketball net or a soccer ball or a bicycle. It is PARENTS who allow their children to become obese.
And I'm not talking about a pudgy phase where a child has grown out but not up. Or baby fat on an elementary school kid. Or even baby fat on a high school kid. I'm talking about OBESITY. Severely overweight children who will spend the rest of their lives dealing with a slew of medical problems because their PARENTS were too damn sorry to get off the couch and interact with their children.
When I was little, we spent time outside. We ate our veggies. Going out to eat was a special (and rare) treat, not multiple times a week sort of occurrence. We rode our bikes and played basketball in the driveway. (Not to mention weeded flowerbeds, cleaned house, fed and watered horses and chickens and dogs and pigs, mucked stalls, etc.) Even after GameBoys and Nintendos, I remember being forced out of the house to play. So why can't parents do that today?
So do I think it's child abuse? Heck yeah I do! If you have a child who is morbidly obese and a very serious medical condition didn't make him that way, you are an abusive parent. There is absolutely, beyond a shadow of doubt, no excuse for that. As a parent, it would kill me to know that I had caused my child such pain. Mentally, physically and socially.
I am not a perfect parent. Some days I'm a LONG ways from it. In my house we do eat the occasional cheeseburger, there are frozen french fries in my freezer, and my toddler is more likely to eat a chicken nugget than a salad. We have buttery popcorn on movie night and a frozen pepperoni pizza for lunch some Saturdays. We aren't vegans or vegetarians or health nuts. I don't shop organic or keep fresh fruits in the fridge. But I make a conscious effort to keep us healthy and active. And I don't think that is too much to ask of any parent. It's for the kids, after all.
What do you think? Do you actively try to keep your kids healthy? Or do you just live healthy and hope they follow suit?
Sunday, December 4, 2011
When Do I Get to be ME?
So, here I am 10 months after my last pregnancy. Im just now at the halfway point in pregnant versus not. It was in fact about this time 3 years ago that I got pregnant with Evie. Of the last 36 months I have spent 18 months pregnant.
And I still cannot help but wonder when do I get back to being me? Or is this the way things are going to be? I mean I'm okay either way. But dang.
It's like my body will never be my own again. Before I got pregnant I was not a fan of cheese or milk or any dairy really. When I was pregnant with Evie I craved cheese all the time! And I could stand at the fridge and just guzzle milk by the quart. I dealt with it and figured that I would be back to normal after she was born.
But nope. No such luck.
Even now, with Evie nearly 28 months old, I absolutely love cheese. I could eat cheese quesadillas every day. And while before I had a baby I ate various things for breakfast, I have to have cereal every morning now. Sometimes also for supper. Even lunch. It's cray!
My residual from Elly is fortunately not a food craving. Really fortunate because all I craved pickled sausage with her. But absolutely everything makes me cry! I was never a big crier before. Sappy movies, bad days, big fights. None of those really brought on the water works. Even when pregnant with Evie I wasn't a huge crier, but I did cry more than usual. Just had an awful temper.
But when I was pregnant with Elly everything made me cry. And now 10 months afterwards everything still makes me cry. Really! Evie and I were watching Santa Paws last night and I cried when the dog catcher took lil Tiny to live with the sick boy. Seriously. Commercials on tv make me cry. Like the Pampers commercial with the sleeping babies. I cry. Commercials about soldiers coming home for Christmas leave me sobbing. Evie looks at me and cocks her eyebrow like "Really?" Yeah kid. Really.
So, is this me 2.0? Cause I gotta tell ya. It still feels strange. Maybe in a few more months it'll smooth out. Or maybe I will have gotten used to it.
And I still cannot help but wonder when do I get back to being me? Or is this the way things are going to be? I mean I'm okay either way. But dang.
It's like my body will never be my own again. Before I got pregnant I was not a fan of cheese or milk or any dairy really. When I was pregnant with Evie I craved cheese all the time! And I could stand at the fridge and just guzzle milk by the quart. I dealt with it and figured that I would be back to normal after she was born.
But nope. No such luck.
Even now, with Evie nearly 28 months old, I absolutely love cheese. I could eat cheese quesadillas every day. And while before I had a baby I ate various things for breakfast, I have to have cereal every morning now. Sometimes also for supper. Even lunch. It's cray!
My residual from Elly is fortunately not a food craving. Really fortunate because all I craved pickled sausage with her. But absolutely everything makes me cry! I was never a big crier before. Sappy movies, bad days, big fights. None of those really brought on the water works. Even when pregnant with Evie I wasn't a huge crier, but I did cry more than usual. Just had an awful temper.
But when I was pregnant with Elly everything made me cry. And now 10 months afterwards everything still makes me cry. Really! Evie and I were watching Santa Paws last night and I cried when the dog catcher took lil Tiny to live with the sick boy. Seriously. Commercials on tv make me cry. Like the Pampers commercial with the sleeping babies. I cry. Commercials about soldiers coming home for Christmas leave me sobbing. Evie looks at me and cocks her eyebrow like "Really?" Yeah kid. Really.
So, is this me 2.0? Cause I gotta tell ya. It still feels strange. Maybe in a few more months it'll smooth out. Or maybe I will have gotten used to it.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
The Thin Line
I think there is an incredibly fine line between indulging your children and spoiling them. When I was younger I scoffed at parents who got their kids sooo much stuff. Because they were so obviously just giving their kid anything and everything they asked for. The kids knew no limits. Never heard "no."
I still scoff at those parents but now that I have kids of my own I can totally understand how it's so easy to do. Getting your kids things they want is pretty difficult to resist. It's hard to explain to someone who doesn't have kids how much love you feel for those lil people. But other parents totally know what I'm saying. Even when they're destroying your house and peeing in the floor and chewing on the window sills. You love your kids SOOO much. You may want to throttle them, but it's because you love them that you're able to resist.
Then when they get old enough to ask for stuff, you have this overwhelming urge to make them happy by getting them what they want. To express your love by indulging their whims. You love them and you want them to be happy. And watching their face light up when they get something they want just absolutely makes your day.
I think I do a really good job January through November as far not spoiling Evie and Elly. Typically we get them a small plush and some candy for Valentine's. They get a small gift on Easter and their Easter baskets. Birthdays are one big toy, some clothes and some books. That's it for our gift giving 11 months of the year. Evie isn't one of those kids who expects to get something every time we go into Walmart. Every once in a blue moon we see a movie that we really love and pick that up. Or a cute book. Or Carter's is having a good sale and I get them a couple of outfits.
By and large, we don't really get them a lot of toys during the year. I can't vouch for their grandparents, who have a tendency to get them little things here and there through the year of course. But isn't that what grand parents are SUPPOSED to do?
As far as Josh and I go, the kids don't get toys except on holidays. Granted, I don't think they're lacking for play things as a result. And I know as they get older and start really asking for things it will be more of a challenge.
With the exception of clothes, which were on an "as needed" basis usually, I don't remember getting things from my parents except on Christmas on birthdays. It's not that we did without or anything. And we could save up our allowances and report card money and buy things for ourselves during the year. But we didn't expect to get something for no reason during the year.
I really hope to continue that sort of thinking with my kids. I don't want them to be spoiled. I don't want them to expect something for nothing on a regular basis. But I can understand how so many parents get sucked into the cycle early on and just can't get out. And I can totally see the reasoning behind wanting to get your kids things they ask for. Especially when it starts off as a Dora movie here or a Princess doll there. Next thing you know you're in too deep and up to your eyeballs in debt trying to keep your little princess happy.
When it comes to Christmas, I'm absolutely horrible about going all out on presents. I mean, nothing ridiculous. I don't spend beyond my means or anything. But even though I said I was done Christmas shopping a month ago, I've bought a couple more things that I've come across and thought the girls would just love. Nothing over the top or outrageously priced. And not because I think they'll be devastated if they don't get it. Realistically I know Elly will be WAY more thrilled with the paper than the toys this year. But I get them toys because I really enjoy giving them things. And it's really the one time of year that I do really go all out. I mean, I'm giving them toys, but I'm also giving them both clothes that they need and books to grow their lil brains.
So that's not spoiling them...is it? Or is it?
I still scoff at those parents but now that I have kids of my own I can totally understand how it's so easy to do. Getting your kids things they want is pretty difficult to resist. It's hard to explain to someone who doesn't have kids how much love you feel for those lil people. But other parents totally know what I'm saying. Even when they're destroying your house and peeing in the floor and chewing on the window sills. You love your kids SOOO much. You may want to throttle them, but it's because you love them that you're able to resist.
Then when they get old enough to ask for stuff, you have this overwhelming urge to make them happy by getting them what they want. To express your love by indulging their whims. You love them and you want them to be happy. And watching their face light up when they get something they want just absolutely makes your day.
I think I do a really good job January through November as far not spoiling Evie and Elly. Typically we get them a small plush and some candy for Valentine's. They get a small gift on Easter and their Easter baskets. Birthdays are one big toy, some clothes and some books. That's it for our gift giving 11 months of the year. Evie isn't one of those kids who expects to get something every time we go into Walmart. Every once in a blue moon we see a movie that we really love and pick that up. Or a cute book. Or Carter's is having a good sale and I get them a couple of outfits.
By and large, we don't really get them a lot of toys during the year. I can't vouch for their grandparents, who have a tendency to get them little things here and there through the year of course. But isn't that what grand parents are SUPPOSED to do?
As far as Josh and I go, the kids don't get toys except on holidays. Granted, I don't think they're lacking for play things as a result. And I know as they get older and start really asking for things it will be more of a challenge.
With the exception of clothes, which were on an "as needed" basis usually, I don't remember getting things from my parents except on Christmas on birthdays. It's not that we did without or anything. And we could save up our allowances and report card money and buy things for ourselves during the year. But we didn't expect to get something for no reason during the year.
I really hope to continue that sort of thinking with my kids. I don't want them to be spoiled. I don't want them to expect something for nothing on a regular basis. But I can understand how so many parents get sucked into the cycle early on and just can't get out. And I can totally see the reasoning behind wanting to get your kids things they ask for. Especially when it starts off as a Dora movie here or a Princess doll there. Next thing you know you're in too deep and up to your eyeballs in debt trying to keep your little princess happy.
When it comes to Christmas, I'm absolutely horrible about going all out on presents. I mean, nothing ridiculous. I don't spend beyond my means or anything. But even though I said I was done Christmas shopping a month ago, I've bought a couple more things that I've come across and thought the girls would just love. Nothing over the top or outrageously priced. And not because I think they'll be devastated if they don't get it. Realistically I know Elly will be WAY more thrilled with the paper than the toys this year. But I get them toys because I really enjoy giving them things. And it's really the one time of year that I do really go all out. I mean, I'm giving them toys, but I'm also giving them both clothes that they need and books to grow their lil brains.
So that's not spoiling them...is it? Or is it?
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