Sung at full voice:Grab your backpack
Let's go
Jump in
Vaminos!
You can lead the wedding!
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Oh oh what I want to know how does the song go
Sung at full voice:
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Finding our way
Lauren has been doing a concerted job of acting out lately. It seems to center around making gargantuan messes with some sticky substance on her window. Three times with Chapstick, twice with toothpaste. She's also started a nervous habit of picking at her lip until it bleeds...which ought to clarify the accessability, anyway, of Chapstick in our house. It's pretty easy to remember to put Chapstick on one's own lips. They're chapped. They hurt. But it's harder to remember to do it for someone else. Having a few tubes lying around jogs my memory. But now they've become weapons with which to inflict Lauren's unique brand of sibling jealousy in her adjustment from only child to oldest child.
It hasn't helped that we've had company particularly interested in seeing Lindsay lately. Most of my husband's family was in town last week - his mom, grandfather, and uncle all were here for their annual visit. Lauren's acting out extends to being particularly sassy to other adults giving instruction. While her initial reaction to me might be to say "No, I am not going to do x", she usually will back off to "I don't want to do x" but she will do it anyway. I don't argue with that. There's plenty of stuff I don't want to do, and I too have to do it anyway. She's certainly allowed her opinion, even if it is annoying.
I am trying to get beyond my sleep deprivation to spend some chunks of "Lauren Time" to ease her adjustment. It seems to be working. I mean, not only was this morning window art-free, but she actually slept until 9:15. Today, when we had a visitor - I had a friend stop by to see the baby, and she started being sort of mouthy and petulent, when I suggested they play a game together, she became focused on her task and was remarkably well-behaved the rest of his stay.
Well, no one said this Mom stuff was going to be easy, right? Off to McDonalds as promised so we can finish our Cars collection...
Oh, and you Jersey moms and dads out there - does Loew's do Mommy Cinema here in the 'burbs? I'd really like to take Lauren to see Cars...
It hasn't helped that we've had company particularly interested in seeing Lindsay lately. Most of my husband's family was in town last week - his mom, grandfather, and uncle all were here for their annual visit. Lauren's acting out extends to being particularly sassy to other adults giving instruction. While her initial reaction to me might be to say "No, I am not going to do x", she usually will back off to "I don't want to do x" but she will do it anyway. I don't argue with that. There's plenty of stuff I don't want to do, and I too have to do it anyway. She's certainly allowed her opinion, even if it is annoying.
I am trying to get beyond my sleep deprivation to spend some chunks of "Lauren Time" to ease her adjustment. It seems to be working. I mean, not only was this morning window art-free, but she actually slept until 9:15. Today, when we had a visitor - I had a friend stop by to see the baby, and she started being sort of mouthy and petulent, when I suggested they play a game together, she became focused on her task and was remarkably well-behaved the rest of his stay.
Well, no one said this Mom stuff was going to be easy, right? Off to McDonalds as promised so we can finish our Cars collection...
Oh, and you Jersey moms and dads out there - does Loew's do Mommy Cinema here in the 'burbs? I'd really like to take Lauren to see Cars...
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Dazed by paparazzi
I can think of no other caption for this strange picture taken by Alec's stepbrother. Maybe it's the sunglasses inside? Or the black tunic I'm wearing? Even I am surprised by the hair and make up.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Learning to brake
Lauren's old bike had no brake so that she could learn the mechanics of pedaling. Her new Dora bike has a foot brake, so she is learning how to use it. When I am walking behind her, I often must stop short as she practices.
Knock knock
Tutu: "Who's there?"
Lauren: "Boo."
Tutu and Daddy: "Boo who?"
Lauren: "Orange you glad I didn't say banana?"
Lauren: "Boo."
Tutu and Daddy: "Boo who?"
Lauren: "Orange you glad I didn't say banana?"
Friday, June 23, 2006
Didn't anyone invite him?
My husband's grandfather turned 90 in March. This weekend his longtime friends are having a party to celebrate. They've been planning the festivities for a little over 2 years at this point...so it ought to be a nice party. Unfortunately, Lindsay and I have to miss it since she's not allowed in crowded places for another month.
Anyway, Lauren will be attending with her dad. She has been asking me throughout the day about the guest list. She asked if Daddy was going, her grandmother, her great uncle, etc.
"Is Grampie Fisher going to be there?"
"No, sweetie. I'm sorry. He won't be."
She made a face that could only convey the abject stupidity of the hostess. "Well, it won't be a very good party then."
"Well, Grampie Fisher doesn't know anyone there."
"So? He's funny."
"Your daddy is funny."
"Only daddy thinks so."
Anyway, Lauren will be attending with her dad. She has been asking me throughout the day about the guest list. She asked if Daddy was going, her grandmother, her great uncle, etc.
"Is Grampie Fisher going to be there?"
"No, sweetie. I'm sorry. He won't be."
She made a face that could only convey the abject stupidity of the hostess. "Well, it won't be a very good party then."
"Well, Grampie Fisher doesn't know anyone there."
"So? He's funny."
"Your daddy is funny."
"Only daddy thinks so."
Tree says what?
While waiting in the drive thru line at McDonalds, Lauren sings:
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O
And on his farm he had a tree
E-I-E-I-O
With a talk talk here
and a talk talk there
Here a talk
There a talk
Everywhere a talk talk...
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Since Santa Claus is jealous
"Wow, Mom. That is a HUGE belly on you." Lauren commented through a mouth full of toothpaste as I got out of the shower.
"Harumph," I grunted wrapping a towel around me.
"Is that big belly from my little baby sister Lindsay?"
"It's shrinking," I replied tersely.
"Um. Ok." she said as she rinsed and spit.
"Harumph," I grunted wrapping a towel around me.
"Is that big belly from my little baby sister Lindsay?"
"It's shrinking," I replied tersely.
"Um. Ok." she said as she rinsed and spit.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Thing you never thought you'd say #387
"We draw on paper with crayons. NOT on the windows with Chapstick."
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Happy Father's Day
If you haven't seen it, definitely check out the very touching Nike commercial compiled as Tiger Wood's tribute to his dad who passed away last month.
My talents (and sometimes "talents") as a kid were not so singularly focused as Tiger. My dad was the one behind the video camera capturing plays (including a great one called Return to Oz when I was about 9, where we walked around in a circle for about 45 minutes), dance recitals (and boy, was I an uncoordinated little tap dancer), soccer games, and concerts (I played classical guitar, violin, viola, and piano so there were A LOT of these). In Tiger's childhood videos, his dad is beaming from the sidelines, which is something that you can't see in mine...but you can definitely hear it in Dad's voice. Well, you kind of have to do the aural equivalent of squint for the soccer footage, Dad was an enthusiastic parent on the sidelines. As a preteen girl I'll admit I secretly hoped Dad would be stricken with laryngitis on game day, but since he had significant vocal training as a radio announcer, I was SOL on that one.
It's all right, Dad. My therapist's bill is in the mail...
Dad owned his own business for most of my childhood. As an adult, I have a pretty good idea how much work running 9 retail store business must've been, and yet he was home for dinner every evening. Despite having a bad back (his first surgery was at age 35, and I'm not sure even he's kept track of how many surgeries he's had since), he played nerf basketball on his knees nearly every night with Ben and I before bed. During our family vacations, he was always up for all of the rides at the amusement parks and endless rounds of mini golf.
Most of my childhood friends had split families and dads who couldn't be or chose not to be involved in their lives, so I knew even at the time that I was lucky. My friends even thought Dad was cool. No one else's Dad made Name That Tune tapes for their middle school parties.
I love you, Dad. Happy Father's Day!
My talents (and sometimes "talents") as a kid were not so singularly focused as Tiger. My dad was the one behind the video camera capturing plays (including a great one called Return to Oz when I was about 9, where we walked around in a circle for about 45 minutes), dance recitals (and boy, was I an uncoordinated little tap dancer), soccer games, and concerts (I played classical guitar, violin, viola, and piano so there were A LOT of these). In Tiger's childhood videos, his dad is beaming from the sidelines, which is something that you can't see in mine...but you can definitely hear it in Dad's voice. Well, you kind of have to do the aural equivalent of squint for the soccer footage, Dad was an enthusiastic parent on the sidelines. As a preteen girl I'll admit I secretly hoped Dad would be stricken with laryngitis on game day, but since he had significant vocal training as a radio announcer, I was SOL on that one.It's all right, Dad. My therapist's bill is in the mail...
Dad owned his own business for most of my childhood. As an adult, I have a pretty good idea how much work running 9 retail store business must've been, and yet he was home for dinner every evening. Despite having a bad back (his first surgery was at age 35, and I'm not sure even he's kept track of how many surgeries he's had since), he played nerf basketball on his knees nearly every night with Ben and I before bed. During our family vacations, he was always up for all of the rides at the amusement parks and endless rounds of mini golf.
Most of my childhood friends had split families and dads who couldn't be or chose not to be involved in their lives, so I knew even at the time that I was lucky. My friends even thought Dad was cool. No one else's Dad made Name That Tune tapes for their middle school parties.
I love you, Dad. Happy Father's Day!
Saturday, June 17, 2006
It's not as bad as it sounds, really
"We live in the depths of despair," announced Lauren.
"We do?" I asked.
"Don't worry, honey," my husband said, "It's not as bad as it sounds, really."
"Oh?"
"No," Lauren explained. "It's just dangerous."
"Oh."
"And that's why we have tails instead of wings. So that we can get out of the depths of despair." Lauren said.
"Oh, ok."
"Well, we have tails - Daddy, Mom, Lindsay, and I do. But Seamus has wings."
"Poor Seamus. He can't get out of the depths of despair."
"Well, we can save him."
"Nanny and Poppy have wings." she added. "And Grampie Fisher."
"So they're all stuck in the depths of despair?"
"No, Mom. They don't live here."
"That's lucky for them."
"Yes. They don't have tails."
"We do?" I asked.
"Don't worry, honey," my husband said, "It's not as bad as it sounds, really."
"Oh?"
"No," Lauren explained. "It's just dangerous."
"Oh."
"And that's why we have tails instead of wings. So that we can get out of the depths of despair." Lauren said.
"Oh, ok."
"Well, we have tails - Daddy, Mom, Lindsay, and I do. But Seamus has wings."
"Poor Seamus. He can't get out of the depths of despair."
"Well, we can save him."
"Nanny and Poppy have wings." she added. "And Grampie Fisher."
"So they're all stuck in the depths of despair?"
"No, Mom. They don't live here."
"That's lucky for them."
"Yes. They don't have tails."
Friday, June 16, 2006
What's with the fascination with money?
My friend John posted recently that his son commented they could have a new car if only Daddy worked more.
The girls and I had lunch out at Pizzeria Uno yesterday. The check came, and after much card shuffling, I put lunch on my corporate Visa. I talked to a client while I was waiting for my salad...
"Where does money come from?" Lauren asked.
"Daddy and I work to make money." I replied.
"Oh," she said. "Well, I could work to make money."
"Doing what?"
"I could work on my laptop."
"That's a nice idea, honey. But right now your job is to play."
"But I want to work!"
"There's plenty of time to work. Besides, doing work isn't the hard part...it's finding someone to pay you to do it," I said.
"Well," Lauren said thoughtfully, "you could pay me."
And then this morning, Lauren marched into the kitchen while I was making myself some coffee and pouring her some Smart Start cereal (she calls them Mommy flakes), she announced, "When I am big like you, Mommy, do you know what's going to happen?"
"Nope..."
"Money is going to come out of my butt!" She looked excited about this.
"Uh...peanut, I'm sorry it doesn't work that way."
"Jess said that money comes out of her butt."
"Hmm..." Do I try to explain sarcasm to my 3 year old? "I think Jess was trying to be funny."
"Ok, Mommy. So money doesn't come out of your butt?"
"No, peanut. " Though sometimes I wish it did...
The girls and I had lunch out at Pizzeria Uno yesterday. The check came, and after much card shuffling, I put lunch on my corporate Visa. I talked to a client while I was waiting for my salad...
"Where does money come from?" Lauren asked.
"Daddy and I work to make money." I replied.
"Oh," she said. "Well, I could work to make money."
"Doing what?"
"I could work on my laptop."
"That's a nice idea, honey. But right now your job is to play."
"But I want to work!"
"There's plenty of time to work. Besides, doing work isn't the hard part...it's finding someone to pay you to do it," I said.
"Well," Lauren said thoughtfully, "you could pay me."
And then this morning, Lauren marched into the kitchen while I was making myself some coffee and pouring her some Smart Start cereal (she calls them Mommy flakes), she announced, "When I am big like you, Mommy, do you know what's going to happen?"
"Nope..."
"Money is going to come out of my butt!" She looked excited about this.
"Uh...peanut, I'm sorry it doesn't work that way."
"Jess said that money comes out of her butt."
"Hmm..." Do I try to explain sarcasm to my 3 year old? "I think Jess was trying to be funny."
"Ok, Mommy. So money doesn't come out of your butt?"
"No, peanut. " Though sometimes I wish it did...
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)