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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)