finally.

I Don’t Want My Kids to Be Happy

I fell into a rabbit hole in blogland this morning and ended up here. More specifically, I ended up here, reading a post by a mom who doesn’t want her kids to be happy. And realizing how strongly I agree with her.

NaBloPoMo Post #30: Twists

Look what I did today:

Yep, I put twists in Milo’s hair.
I only did the front third of his head for a couple of reasons.
1) That’s how many I could do while he ate lunch
2) The back of his high chair is really tall and I couldn’t get to the back of his head
3) I want to see how well these stay in before I attempt to make him sit still for his whole head. (If they last through nap time pretty well then I’ll finish the rest tonight.)

I’m hoping these will stay put and I can get enough practice to give him a new “do” for Christmas. I also need to pick up a better comb for parting his hair. I think it would look cuter if the parts were a little more defined.

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On an unrelated note: GO ME! National Blog Posting Month, 30 Posts in 30 days. Check.

NaBloPoMo Post #7: A Love-Hate Relationship with Lilo and Stitch

I love the movie Lilo and Stitch. It’s one of my favorite Disney movies (along with Fantasia, Fantasia 2000, Beauty and the Beast and Newsies). It’s also one of Lexi’s favorite movies. There was a period several months ago where anytime she got to watch a movie she requested Lilo and Stitch. And then, we had to ban the movie.

For those of you who don’t have a need to watch cartoons, Lilo is a 5-year-old with some serious spunk. Funny but packed with attitude. Stitch is an alien genetic experiment that was created to destroy – he is irresistibly drawn to large cities, where he will back up sewers, reverse street signs, and steal everyone’s left shoe – and without the capability to love. But, surprise, surprise, Lilo and Stitch become a family.

Now the reason for the ban. Lilo sticks out her tongue. A lot. And Lexi started sticking out her tongue. A lot. So she was told until she stopped doing that, no more Lilo and Stitch. Well, she did a pretty good job of breaking herself of that habit. So we let her watch the movie again. And, I have a feeling there may be another ban coming soon.

The following is a list of Lilo (or Stitch) things that Lexi does:

1. Throws herself on the floor face down when she doesn’t get her way. (on the upside, it’s a very quiet temper tantrum).

2. We ask a question, she says “no”, we say, “What are you saying “no” to?” She says, “Nooooo!” This is a direct quote from the movie.

3. Draws pictures and says “This is you. This is your anger level. It’s very high.” (This is how Lilo explains Stitches initial rage.)

4. And the real kicker…she destroyed a book last night. Tore a book to shreds. Every single page torn out and torn into long strips and stuffed under her bed. And when asked why she did it. “Stitch did it.”

Update: 5. I forgot this one i posted. Stitch likes to call people “stupid head”.

So, the movie may need to go into hiding again. Which is sad (for me) because it’s one of the few movies of hers that I actually enjoy watching with her.

What Milo has been up to…

Milo is just over 7 months old. And it’s amazing how much he’s changed in just the short time he’s been home.

• He’s learned how to grab on to toys and shake and bang them around.
• He thinks that blowing raspberries with a mouth full of food or milk is pretty funny.
• He can roll from back to front and front to back. But only one direction so he’ll roll across a room and then we have to turn him around.
• He can give high-five if you ask him.
• He’s ticklish. Really, really ticklish.
• He knows who Mom and Dad are.
• And he likes us better than other grown-ups.
• He recognizes Lexi and thinks she’s a great source of entertainment.
• He’s almost figured out how to sit up.
• When he takes a bath, he splashes out most of the water.
• He’s also figured out his own way of holding a bottle.

More Randomness

I’m guessing until we leave these posts are going to be filled with random thoughts and ramblings. Sorry.

1. I won! Okay, I hardly ever win anything. But I entered a blog give away on Infinita Diversidade and I won. My package (from Brazil) arrived today. I had completely forgotten about it because it took over a month to get here (cuz, you know, it was coming from Brazil). I’m excited about this loot. Check it out:

There’s a big pile of fat quarters, 3 different colors of felt, floss, beads, a handmade birthday card, really cool lace/trim, thread, buttons and ribbon. Plus, the little tan bag with the teapots is actually a bag containing an apron that she made.

Cute!

2. We left tonight (in a mini snow storm, mind you) to run errands. We needed to go to REI, IKEA and Target. We got to the exit of REI and guess who threw up, again, for the second time since Friday? So we pulled over, cleaned up Lexi and headed back home. Where she threw up again. Blech. Although now she’s watching Veggie Tales and demanding water and food. I’m thinking she’ll be fine.

3. My lesson plans, preping everything the sub will need, photocopies, and supplies are all ready to go. The finished copies of the lesson plans and classroom routines ended up being somewhere between 75-100 pages. It’s amazing how much you need to tell a person to in order to leave them in charge of 21 kindergarteners. My room is almost cleaned out as well. Only things that still need cleaning belong to the kids so they will be cleaning on Monday and Tuesday.

4. It’s hard to believe that in 10 days we will go from a family of 3 to a family of 4.

Should Parenting Be Discussed?

I recently had a conversation regarding whether or not parenting is a topic that is open for discussion. I’m of the opinion that parenting is a topic that should be discussed (and among several of my friends it’s one of our most exhaustive subjects) but I know others feel that it is a topic not open for discussion.

I should clarify when I say ‘parenting’ I’m referring to all aspects of parenting – from the abstract styles of parenting (what do you think of this style parenting vs. that style) to the specific (we do _____ with Lexi because….I noticed you do ______with little Stanly. Does that work well for you? Why did you decide to do that?)

I tend to lean towards the philosophy of “It Takes A Village” when it comes to parenting my child. I want to know what others do and why they do it. I also appreciate it when people ask me why we do things with our kids the way we do. Often times those are tough questions to answer but having to answer them makes me re-evaluate what I’m doing as a parent and decide if it’s something I should keep doing or if changes need to be made.

I don’t think a person can tell someone how to raise their family. But I think discussing parenting and even offering advice on the topic can be beneficial. And if advice is going to be given it has to be received as well. It’s a package deal. It also needs to be done carefully. Don’t give me advice on how to handle a temper tantrum when I’m wrestling a screaming and kicking 3-year-old into her coat and carrying her out the door. But when we are hanging out and things are peaceful feel free to bring up that time you saw me wresting her into her coat and tell me about when you had to do the same thing and how you handled it.

Personally, I learn best from watching others and hearing their experiences than I do from reading all kinds of parenting books and articles. What about the rest of you? How often do you discuss parenting with others? How personal do you get when you discuss it?

Wait, I just thought of something…

Ford is adding a MyKey system to their 2010 cars. It’s a separate key that is assigned to your car specifically for your teenage driver(s).

The key limits the car’s top speed to 80 mph (although I don’t know why any teenager needs to be driving that fast.)

The key limits audio volume to 44% of the stereo’s ability.

The key gives a more persistent seatbelt warning (it beeps obnoxiously until a seatbelt is put on).

The key also chimes at 45, 55, & 65 mph.

Personally, I think this is a great idea for teenage drivers. It would also be nice if it was able to somehow block cell phone use while driving. I just wish it wasn’t an optional package for new car buyers. I think this should be standard on all cars. I also think OnStar should be a standard safety feature but I doubt that will happen.

Even when she’s sick, she’s cute.

Lexi woke up at 10 this morning. And that’s never a good sign. That usually means a sick day is upon us. Sure enough, I went into her room and she had thrown up. Here’s how our conversation went:

Me: Did you throw up?

L: Yeah. I froed up on my jammas and my bed. Can you get me my bucket. I’m supposed to fro up in my bucket.

Me: Let’s get you cleaned up.

L: Then I need to go downstairs and watch T.V. in my chair with my towel and I’ll fall asleep in my chair. I want to watch the Jonah movie and then the Muppet Show.

Me: uh…okay. Good to see you have a plan.

Potty Training in a Day

So, the reason for our trip to Target. Tomorrow Lexi is getting potty trained and we needed supplies. I read a book called Potty Train Your Child in One Day. And I’ve also had quite a few people recommend this method. At this point, I’m willing to try anything

We went to Target to get supplies for tomorrow’s “potty party”. Yup, we’re having a potty party. It’s Elmo themed. The basic concept behind the book is that your child wakes up to a party at their house. They get a present which is a new “big kid” doll. And the doll wears big kid underwear. Preferably underwear that matches the big kid underwear they will be receiving later in the day. You spend the morning having your child “potty train” the doll. So, yes, the doll has to sit on the toilet, sometimes has accidents, gets rewards for staying dry – the whole bit. Then after lunch/nap your child gets big kid underwear and it’s her turn to sort of practiced what she preached all morning long. On top of that, you feed them juice and water and fruit and smoothies and anything else that will make them need to pee more than normal so they can have more success at it. At the end of the day, they get a big reward and you repeat the process the next day with less fanfare. (No party, but still little rewards here and there).

Oh and Lexi’s party is Elmo themed because a) I can draw a semi-decent Elmo b) she’s in love with her Elmo underwear that she picked out and c) I had some random Elmo fabric that I can make “big kid” underwear for her doll. That and her little toilet seat ring to make the hole smaller has Elmo all over it.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

Things Lexi says that I think are cute or funny

“So…” She says this at the start of a sentence, often with her hands on her hips.
“Packanoni” Her word for pepperoni.
“He’s got new rain brother, in His hand” translation: He’s got you and me brother, in His hand.
“Ee-oh-pee-opah” translation Ethiopia
While at Underwater World “Look! It’s a zone, zone, zone” This took a while to figure out. Her favorite movie is Finding Nemo and Mr. Ray (the sting ray) sings “oh, let’s name the zone, the zone… and she’s decided that sting rays are called zone, zone, zones
Another Nemo, she retells part of a joke in the movie that starts “so there was a mullusk and a sea cucumber” and then at some point they finish with “with fronds like these, who needs anenimeas?” Lexi will randomly say “a mawwusk and a sea cumber fronds like these who needs ananemies?”
“Really?” We’ll tell her the name for something or what we’re doing and she’ll give us a very incredulious/disapproving, “really?!”
ex:
Us: Lexi, that’s a school bus.
Lexi: A school bus? Really?
She has started calling Kevin and I by our first names and shorting Kevin to Kev.
“PPL” translation peanutbutter
If you ask her what a sea turtle says she will answer with “Dude, totally, sweet” (another Nemo reference).
“Salts and Peppers” is salt and pepper.
She’s a big fan of the letter “w” and points it out all the time.
She calls band-aides “bandanas”
“Spacket” translation basket
For a while she was introducing herself to strangers as a 3 year old named Emily.
“I’m carefulling.” translation I’m being careful.