Happy Birthday, Charlie!!

Dear Charlie, I know other moms who write letters to their children, and I’m not sure why I haven’t done it before. Let’s just say you’ve kept me pretty busy. So, here’s the basics on Charliedom: You are a funny, creative, loving, talkative little gal. You can also tend to be bossy and a bit of a bully, which I hope are traits you will learn how to contain at some point. I do love how spirited you are — you never take no for an answer and are wicked smart. I have followed in the footsteps of moms before me and purchased “The Strong-Willed Child” by Dr. James Dobson — Ms. Kim tells me it is a revelation. Can’t wait to uncover those nuggets of wisdom so I am better able to help channel your energy for good and not evil.You take after your Daddy in many ways, the biggest being your super anal retentiveness. I’ve heard this will make you successful later in life — and you will most certainly dot all your I’s and cross all your T’s — so thank the Lawd you have your Daddy to commiserate with. You most certainly do not have me in that respect because I’m the one who consistently loses her keys and leaves the kitchen in such a state people might think we’ve been robbed. Not a nap or a bedtime goes by without a ticking off of the things in your room that aren’t in their place. And sometimes, you can be kinda unreasonable. You love to scoop up all of your “friends” (and computer and race car) and take them with you up and down the stairs, up and down, up and down. I have finally put my foot down and told you that you have to be responsible for your own friends and sometimes life is about choices — and no, Mommy won’t take Kenga downstairs for you just so you can ask me again in 15 minutes to bring her back upstairs.Thankfully, you have indulged your Mommy in all of her love of children’s clothing. And if I do say so myself, you are a cutie. Sometimes I will look back at you in the car and you are just so pixieish and spritely that I want to squeeze your face off. And I do love it when you make your sister giggle in the back seat. That’s really fun to hear.You do know how to throw a tantrum, sister. Boy, do you. Your latest obsession with immediate post-meltdown face wiping (“MY FACE!!! OH, MY FACE!!! WIPE MY FACE!!!) has put you in the running for this year’s best dramatic performance. And I guess in that way you take after your dear old Mom. You also got my complexion — bless your heart — so I’m afraid sunscreen will be your new best friend. But hey, Mimi looks about 20 years younger than she is so you’ve got some good skin genes. When you are 32 people will still card you, and you will be happy about it.The past few weeks you’ve been asking me at bedtime if we can “talk.” I can’t tell you how special that is to me. On Tuesday, after your first day of school, I decided to wait until you were ready to talk before I asked all about your day. Thankfully, you told me everything and it brings your Mom great joy to hear that teeny little voice excitedly sharing your thoughts and observations.In closing, this letter couldn’t be written without a mention of your BFF Kenga. Who knows if you’ll still have this pink penguin by the time you read this — just know that you were attached at the hip and no stuffed animal was more loved.Happy Birthday, my sweet little ball buster. Daddy and I are incredibly blessed that we were chosen to parent such a special person.Love,Mom

Shouldn’t they just call it Mommy Elbow?

Oh, to have had a camera this morning – why I don’t carry it with me at all times I don’t know.

The girls accompanied me to the doctor this morning (apparently I have tennis elbow, brought on by the heavy lifting of Ella’s “pumpkin” seat) and of course charmed all of the receptionists in their new Jeep double umbrella stroller. This was the first time Baby E went freestyle and sat up in the stroller like a “big girl”. Pretty funny to see her chubby little legs sticking straight out in front of her.

They were fairly well-behaved…until the doctor actually needed to communicate with me. Then of course Charlie starts wiggling around in one of the exam room chairs waving her Leapfrog “Text N’ Learn” PDA device (don’t ask) in my face, volume on full blast, yelling “I NEED this MOMMY! TURN IT ON!!”

I managed to multi-task of course. As Doc Checo is filling me in on all the ins and outs of my lateral epicondylitis, I am hunting for stickers in my bag all the while keeping an eye on Baby E, who is making a loud clicking sound with her mouth and waving her hands in the air like a helicopter.

I got a scrip for some extra-strength Aleve and was given some stretches to do to make the pain go away. When I looked back over at the girls Charlie had covered Baby E in kitten stickers, which I have to say she didn’t seem to mind.

Hence wishing I’d had the camera.

So I’ve become super addicted (if there is such a thing) to two things:

The hilariously funny blog by writer Lindsay Ferrier, titled Suburban Turmoil. OMG you will laugh your butt off.

Also, a lovely little gem called The Cupcakery here in Frisco, Texas. I give you the Lemonberry. By far. One of. The Best. Cupcakes. Ever. I haven’t had the Mimi’s Pumpkin one yet but you know it’s on my radar. If there’s one thing this girl loves, it’s seasonal goodies – whether they be in the baked goods, home decor, or children’s clothing department.

One question, though: is the Lemonberry worth a trip in the car with two hot and cranky post-nap kiddos?

Yes, yes it is.

3

Anyone with a toddler knows – some days, it’s all about who holds the power. I am just now sitting down for a break after a forty-five minute struggle with a certain almost 3 year old – and I’m pretty certain she thinks she’s the one in charge. Newsflash, baby girl.

We laugh all the time about Charlie’s quirkiness – she and Vann are so much alike – they are both precise people with a little side of anal-retention, and sometimes this can be really amusing and funny, except for when you are trying to get her down for a nap and every five minutes she’s calling you back in her room for some reason or another. The problem is that she literally lets out a blood-curdling scream if her blanket goes askew or I forget to turn the fan on. We didn’t bring her special CD to my parent’s house last weekend and I thought both Charlie and Vann were going to have a hissy fit.

I probably would just let her have it out with herself except that I don’t want her waking up Baby Ella and so I’m running in there pointing my finger in her face and screaming (in a whisper), “IF YOU WAKE UP YOUR SISTER, KENGA IS GOING ON A VERY LONG VACATION!” to which she clings to Kenga for dear life and says, “No, MY Kenga!”

At that point, she is crying and desperately trying to wipe the snot and tears off her face, screaming (literally, I’m not making this up), “MY FACE! MY FACE! OH, MY FACE!” as if the snot is acid and the tears are a burning fire. And so I wipe her face and threaten her with a closed door if she can’t calm down (to which she dramatically yells back, “No, OPEN!”) and head back to the playroom for the peace and quiet I so desperately need.

And so the “Tortuous Three’s” have begun, eh? Check this article out.

The Big 3

So here’s the thing: my darling eldest daughter turns 3 on September 1st. Hard to believe, right?? Not that she knows any different, but I hate that she isn’t having a huge blowout this year. You all know how much I love birthdays – I usually go ALL OUT where she’s concerned.

I give you:

September 2008

September 2009

I’m trying not to get too depressed about it, knowing all that really matters to her is cake and she’ll be thrilled with however we celebrate. Sooo…the evening of her birthday the Finley’s are joining us for a little bowling/pizza/”Cars” birthday cake action, and later on in the month Ms. Marla and I are taking the girls to see this little extravaganza…

Oh yes, we do know how to celebrate in style, don’t we?

And, most importantly, what birthday would be complete without a little sparkle??

A Triumph or Two

I love when life surprises you. I love when those ah-ha moments happen — when you expect something and you get something entirely different.

I should say first of all that I am immensely proud of my sweet Charlie. 4 days into potty training, or PT, the girl is rocking it out. We don’t want to get our hopes up, but I think the “light” might have clicked on…and not that there won’t be accidents, but to see her try so hard at something and then succeed at it…well there’s just nothing like it.

And tonight, yours truly succeeded at facing a fear that’s been eating at her for weeks…being the “new girl in school” and walking away from an evening with new friends feeling excited and well…not so lonely.

Now, I should say, God has blessed me with an immense, lovely and precious group of friends…here in Texas and in Chicago, and you know who you are. But being able to walk into a situation and being unsure that you’ll fit in and then finding out that you do and you actually have fun and feel like yourself and taste that sweetness of new memories and new conversation…well…it’s just totally worth all the waiting, isn’t it?

To make a long story short, a couple weeks ago Vann and I logged onto our home owners’ association’s website and began to poke around to see what was going on in the hood. I contacted a girl named Allison about a Friday morning playgroup, only to find out that the playgroup has long been disbanded (due to said playgroup’s kiddos venturing off to school) – BUT would I be interested in going to the monthly “Mom’s Night Out”? With trepidation (and only because I’m a total wimp) I began emailing with Allison about the MNO. She insisted on taking me and came to pick me up last night promptly at 7.

First of all, the girl is beautiful, funny, sweet as pie and has three children — ages 2, 5, and 9 (I think) — and couldn’t be more delightful. I was sick about it for days, seriously, and when we showed up at the restaurant I was immediately brought into the fold and embraced — and let me just say, it felt really good. All that anxiety about being liked and being accepted, melted away as we laughed, and drank, and talked about kindergarten and c-sections and post-partum and makeup and everything under the sun.

And so, after some more post-dinner drinks, Allison took me around the back way of our subdivision and showed me where the best place for carpool drop-off was, and gave me the name of her colorist, and also the name of some reputable OB’s in the area, and so on and so on. It felt fantastic to be loved on and we made plans to play and have lunch and get to know each other.

So life is funny that way. Just when you aren’t sure you’ll be found, you are. And God knew, all along, that it would happen. And aren’t surprises just the best??

Tee-Tee Superspy

Ok, so I’m not gonna lie. After a full day of potty training, I am weary. Should have probably taken that nap with Vann when Charlie was “napping” – I’d be feeling a lot better right now. The baseline: went through 8 pairs of panties, tee-tee’d in the potty twice, tee-tee’d on the tile floor twice, tee-tee’d on the leather couch once…you get the idea.

She’s passed out cold now, weary herself from a full day of living and breathing potties, whereas before today, she existed in the blissful world of absorbency.

I think that Vann is handling all of this better than me – and I’m sitting here thinking, “What the heck is wrong with me?” I think it’s probably a mixture of things:

–Having to be “on” her all day. I’m used to Charlie being pretty independent. Now I feel like a tee-tee superspy – the kid looks at me funny and I’m racing across the room to pull her panties down and check for dryness.

–Pressure. I admit it. Charlie is one of the last of her friends to be potty trained, and I feel it. I’m REALLY trying to reconcile this, honestly, I am. After reading “Toilet Training in Less Than A Day” (yes, this book does exist), I’m left feeling defeated and wondering if she’ll EVER get it – forgetting the fact that this is the very first day the kid has ever gone without a diaper.

–And finally…selfishness. Oh yeah. Keep in mind that we sent Ella to Mimi’s house for a reason: potty training. All I can think about is what I can get done around here with just one child, and guess what? Not so much. Gotta tough it out and be at home and let Charlie learn how to do this. Gotta give the girl grace. Gotta give myself grace.

But isn’t this really a lesson in control, for all involved? Charlie, Me…letting go of it and letting it just be? Knowing that she won’t be in diapers in middle school and she will eventually know when she needs to tee-tee and poo-poo and I won’t even have to ask her.

Vann just went to pick up sushi for us, as a reward for our valiant effort today. I don’t know how much closer to a diaper-free world we are…better get some good sleep tonight and start fresh in the morning…This is Tee-Tee Superspy, signing off.

You’ve GOT to be Kidding Me

So this week in Texas the temps are in the triple digits – that’s right, people, TRIPLE DIGITS. Ask me why we chose to move here during the hottest part of the year (the equivalent to the dead of winter in Chitown, miserable and enough to break the spirit of any man, woman or child) and I can only say, “Hey, at least our electric bills will be the highest they’ll be ALL YEAR.”

Here’s what I have to say about this diabolical heat: BLEH.

I haven’t walked outside in weeks, ’cause it’s 90 degrees by 9 am.

It’s too hot to play in the backyard, so I’m forced to listen to my almost 3 year old whine like there’s no tomorrow.

I’m sweaty. All the time. And not by choice.

I wear the same thing. EVERY DAY. Here’s my uniform: Baseball cap, freshly scrubbed face (because WHY put makeup on when it’s just going to run down your neck later?), earrings (just to spice things up), some type of summery dress, and flip-flops. Yep. Pretty hot. If you see me on the street, don’t worry – it is me, not LeAnn Rimes, not Melissa Joan Hart (yes, I know, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, she’s haunted me all my life), and it’s definitely not Ellen Pompeo (although I do like hearing that one every 10 years or so). I am amazed my hubby still thinks I’m the greatest thing since sliced bread – he is sweet – but he’s probably the only one. And that’s ok. I’m alllll about comfort and keeping the sweat at bay.

So I figure…mmm…maybe another month or so of this and it breaks, right?? Here’s hoping.

On another note, eBay is keeping me busy this week. I should give the men that helped us move a medal – I know, there were a lot of bins of clothes and I’m sorry. I’m trying to unload some of it and I’m having such a hard time. Whether or not we decide to AT SOME POINT start talking about a third child is not the issue – whether or not one person needs that many clothes is. That and I’m trying to keep my fall purchases self-contained. I’m pretty much forcing myself to purge, and I HATE IT! I realize that I am way attached and need help.

So here’s hoping the sweet things I’m selling will be profitable and I can pay off what’s coming to me in about a month or so.

Off to break open that bottle of white and indulge in a little trash tv and other such fineries.

Fried Chicken and Other Stuff

Last weekend Uncle Evan and Aunt M’Em brought my darling niece and nephew to Frisco to see our house and spend the day with us. Charlie did amazing. They played so well together – I think the only time I had to intervene was when she was being a little handsy at lunch. I never had cousins my age so I’m really pumped to see these three (and Ella too) grow up together.

We introduced everyone to Babe’s Chicken (thanks Casey) and as always, it didn’t disappoint. I’m a little concerned about the amount of Babe’s we’ve been consuming in our house – seriously, if I continue to eat like this I will be 300 pounds. It’s basically the most delicious family style joint you’ll eat at: you choose a meat – pot roast, smoked chicken and fried catfish being three of your choices – and they bring you more side dishes than you can possibly eat. Corn. Biscuits. Green beans. Mashed potatoes and gravy. All for…wait for it…10 bucks a person. Oh, and did I mention they have pie???

So potty training starts this Saturday. As in, cold turkey, people. I’m freaking out about it. Have I mentioned Charlie’s regressed a bit in that department? She used to tell me as it was happening, like a real-time newsflash, but now, nothing. She seems content to walk around in it, and I find myself getting very annoyed. I just have no idea how it’s going to go. Will she still be in diapers when she’s in the 1st grade??

I try to bring up the fact that now all of her friends use the potty (nothing like a little peer pressure to get a kid to spring into action) but alas, that tactic hasn’t worked. I guess we just have to rip off the band-aid and hope it doesn’t bleed. I told Vann we’d better get some waterproof pads to put over our new couch and I think he thought I was joking. He looked a little bit like a deer in headlights. Let’s just say that he’ll probably learn more about the female anatomy than he would ever, ever want to.

Our day ended with a visit to my grandparent’s where the kids basically ransacked the place and we spent our time keeping them away from the knickknacks and glass coffee table.