Transitions

If you know me well you know that I like routines and schedules and when it comes to my kids I'm sort of a "nap-nazi". I will admit that if we are somewhere and close to naptime I am liable to break a mild sweat if I cannot get my kids down at their appointed times.
Luckily, I've also birthed two children who roll with my routines and also seem to like them. This has worked very well for my type-A self. I'm quite sure I may have returned them if they had tried to buck my system in that department! =)
With that being said, I am at the stage with Syd where I think she can handle the one-nap-a-day thing and, selfishly, I'd like a little more flexiblity in my morning schedule (to be out and about which I am also a big fan of).
So for the last three days we've tested the waters and so far so good. She seems to be adapting albeit being a bit yawn-y and tired earlier at night. I'm sweating a bit more frequently as I now have the race-against-the-clock if we are driving anywhere around noonish. This seems to be her crashing point if I can't distract her with lunch. The last two out of three days she had 6 minute mini-naps in the car which was a little stressful for me. However, my BFF keeps reminding me that this is a transition, and change is good and she will adjust...blah blah. I joke, but I do appreciate the encouragement.

In other news, we're becoming quite the avid bird-watchers over here. Brad bought me a new hummingbird feeder this year and already we've not only had hummingbirds, but a few weeks ago we had an Oriole friend who visited us for a few days. He had no fear and would come to our kitchen window often to drink while we were doing dishes. RG thinks it's pretty cool as do we!
Sydney is also mildly obsessed with bird-watching right now which is entertaining on many levels. She'll point at them everywhere (in books, in the car, out the window, in the sky) screech "BIRDIE!" over and over, and if we're at the playground she will crawl all over the place chasing the robins that hop along the ground. Last weekend we pushed her highchair up against the window during dinnertime at my parents and she sat there for over an HOUR pointing at the Purple Martins in the neighbor's yard and jabbering happily to herself. Hey, it kept her quiet and content and we actually had a dinner without screaming. These are the things you do as a parent right?

Deep Thought for the Day

Why is it that no matter what you make for dinner at night your kids will turn up their noses and yet if you step through the doors of any fast-food restaurant they will inhale each and every item (regardless of what it may be and even if they have never before had it) that you put in front of them?

Seriously.

MEM-orable Weekend

BBQ & Ice Cream in G. Haven w/ friends: Lots of fun!

Loved it!

Sydney's first Boat-coat experience: "Too Tight!"

Hated it!

The Veteran's Parade: "Too loud!"

(RG) Hated it! (but said later that she liked it, of course)

**A quick shout-out to all of our current troops, veterans, people in the service and their loved ones~

I teased my mom when I noticed she was getting teary during the parade (all the veterans marched in groups with signs for each War with dates) but I have to admit that I even felt a lump in my throat when they got to Iraq. Only 4 men were marching.

God Bless America!!

Super Trooper

My man 'sucked it up' for me and went to the concert Wednesday night. SO MUCH FUN!!

I definitely let my hair down...=)

Question: Who get's sick in the spring?

Answer: My husband.

And tonight we have plans to go see Kenny Chesney in concert, in a box suite with friends at Van Andel!

Let me state that again in case you missed it;

A weeknight. With fun plans. Downtown. Kids at Nana and Papa's overnight. Dinner and drinks beforehand. Brad sick as a dog.

As a stay-at-home mom we live for these adult-geared evenings with regular conversation (not including kids or The Wiggles) where we can let our hair down and RELAX!

I've been excited for this for two weeks and now there is a possibility that I will either be going solo or not at all.
=(

I know you all feel so bad for me...I just had to vent.

Not so strange after all?

So I've done a little research and found that it's somewhat normal for molars to appear around 13+ months of age. However, I can't find anything that explains why Sydney skipped getting her other front teeth before the molars but at least we know that she's on track for the rest of her teeth.

Upper left molar is now joining it's friend on the right which has made for another round of very early a.m. wake-ups, heightened crankiness (especially when I'm around) and lots of extra drool. Ugh. Mama's tired.

Green Thumb wanna-be

So, I desperately want to be a gardener. Desperately.

In my perfect world, I would have lush beds filled with bushes and trees bursting with colors. Fat flowers dripping over our landscaping edges that I have to constantly trim and make into bouquets all around my house just to keep up. I have always had visions of a cute little garden in the corner of my yard where I can idle away the nap-time hours picking fresh fruits and veggies. I would love to have an excuse to find creative ways to cook using all the abundance of my harvests...
Instead, I have empty beds that overwhelm me with the need to fill them, plants that we purchased that have been overrun with grass and weeds (to the point of us now having to dig them out) or that have never quite lived up to their "promises", and only a few baskets and containers that I have had success with thus far. Just enough success to keep me going and keep my visions and dreams alive - just out of reach of reality...

But,each new spring brings renewed self-confidence and determination! And this year, I have created my little "garden" in one of the empty patches behind our house. It's not exactly the vision I have always had but it's a start, and I hope that if it's more successful then not, I can finally convince my loving husband to let me dig up a corner of our finely manicured lawn to create my dream garden. I'm in love the with idea and even more in love with the cute little tin signs I found at Target that help me remember (as if I would forget, I mean really, there are 5 plants there) each vegetable that is in it's place.

Cross your fingers for me ~ And keep a look-out for a new booth at the B.C. Farmer's market this year! ha ha.

Never by the books...

This kid, is not my "textbook" child. As if that was not already confirmed early on in her life she surprises us weekly with new things that she does her own way.

Like the fact that she suddenly popped a MOLAR in her mouth when beyond that she only has her two front bottom chompers!! What the heck?! The craziest part is, I had no idea until yesterday when I was tickling her in my lap and she threw her head back and I saw that big white thing poking out of her little gums on the right side of her mouth!

When she popped that sucker I have no idea but leave it to Syd to start getting her "big" teeth before the normal little ones.

Has anyone else ever heard of this happening?

Flubber-Gak

This is way-fun stuff. I remembered it from my years of working at Head Start and then RG's "school" copied the recipe for me. A fun thing to make on a rainy day!

You need:
5 TBS Borax (this is an all-natural laundry softener/agent. You can find it at Target)
2 cups (yes that's cups) Elmer's Glue (Basically two containers of it)
1 1/2 cups room-temp water plus an additional 1 cup of HOT water (keep seperate)

Directions:
Mix Glue & 1 1/2 cups water in big bowl. Stir. In extra cup of HOT water, dissolve BORAX. Stir. Pour Borax mixture slowly, a little at a time, into glue mixture. Mix with hands or sturdy spoon until it's a big slimey ball. It will coagulate quickly. Let it set for about a half hour to an hour. Once it's "set" it will no longer be slimey and you can pick it up easily and without mess. You can squeeze it, bounce it, and watch it "melt" into a puddle if it sits in one place long enough.

*note: The original instructions call for food coloring but I am not a fan of the extra mess-potential so I just keep it white. RG didn't seem to care)

It keeps well in an airtight container or ziploc for a couple weeks. Once it hardens, throw it away.

Have Fun!!

"Mama"

FINALLY!!
She will say it only when I prompt her but that counts right?! (Oh and she follows it with "Nana" and "Papa" at the same time which I'm fine with ~ I'll take what I can get!)

Why?

We are in the "Why" and "What" question stage over here and although it is somewhat cute it is also mildly exhausting. Especially when she follows me around the house and especially before 8:00 a.m. when my coffee has not quite kicked in and my brain is still lying on my pillow...

Here are the questions I was drilled with in a short 30 minute period this morning:

"Why are you wearing your slippers Mommy?" (because my feet are cold)
"What are you doing in there?" (In the shower, shaving my legs)
"Why is Sydney crying?" (I don't know honey)
"Is she pooping?" (I'm not sure)
"What is Sydney eating?" (Her breakfast)
"Why are you taking her sheets off her crib?" (Because they're dirty)
"Why are they dirty Mommy?" (Because they are)
"Where is Daddy?" -She asks this every Monday a.m. (He's working)
"Why is he working at?" (Huh?)
"What is that birdie doing Mommy?" (Making a nest in our tree)
"Is he making babies and eggs?" (Yes)
"Why are you watching the news?" (Because I want to hear the weather, now please hush)
"What is that man saying, Mommy?" -In response to me asking her to "hush"
"Why are you saying 'hush' Mommy?" -Said in a whisper which somehow justifies her still talking when I ask her to 'hush'.
"What are we doing today Mommy?" (You are going to school)
"With Brenda and Emma?" (yes)
"What are you saying Mommy?" (I'm talking to myself)
"Why did you push that chair Mommy" (I don't know RG)
"Why do you say 'I don't know'" (I give up)