"No cereal, Mama! I want waffles!"
"I want a fork!"
"I want the blue cup!"
"No milk! Orange juice, orange juice!"
"I want the red toothbrush!"
"I want to wear Crocs! No shoes!"
"Not this song! The Dragon Mountain song!"
"Dragon Mountain song AGAIN, Mama!"
"No shoes!! Bare feet!"
"Not this way, Mama! That way. THAT way!"
"No no, Mama. Sing this way, not like that. "
"No, like THIS, Mama."
"I want this shirt. Not that one."
"Not these pants. "
"Not this jacket. No, no jacket."
---------------------------------------------
My Responses:
"You asked for cereal. You are going to eat cereal. There are starving children in Africa who would love to eat your cereal. DON'T PUSH YOUR CEREAL AWAY! YOU'RE GOING TO SPILL IT!!"
"You can't eat cereal with a fork. Please use your spoon. No don't wave that spoon at me! PUT THAT SPOON DOWN! YOU'RE THROWING CEREAL EVERYWHERE!!"
"The blue cup is being used. Please drink from the red cup. DON'T YOU TIP THAT CUP OVER! I MEAN IT!"
"You drank all the orange juice last night. We don't have any more. Please drink your milk. Remember those starving children in Africa? They're thirsty too. I CAN'T GIVE YOU WHAT I DON'T HAVE! THERE'S NO MORE ORANGE JUICE! Please. Drink. Your. Milk."
"The red brush isn't yours. It isn't yours. The yellow toothbrush is yours. We don't share toothbrushes. DON'T YOU THROW THAT YELLOW BRUSH ON THE GROUND!"
"You can't wear Crocs. They don't fit you. You need to wear your shoes. DON'T TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF!"
"OK. But this is the last time we're listening to Dragon Mountain. The LAST time."
"No! We're not listening to Dragon Mountain anymore! You've already heard it 4 times. That's it! NO. MORE."
"PUT YOUR SHOES BACK ON! WE ARE AT THE STORE! DO NOT TAKE THEM OFF! PUT THEM BACK ON RIGHT NOW! COME BACK HERE AND PUT YOUR SHOES BACK ON!!"
"We're going home now. That's not the right way. We have to go this way. We'll drive that way tomorrow. No, we're not driving that way. We're driving this way. THIS WAY."
"I did sing it that way!"
"I DID sing it like that! Listen!"
"OK, fine. You can wear that shirt. Let's change it but hurry up. We're late for school."
"No, we're not changing pants too. We're late for school. NO! KEEP YOUR PANTS ON! I MEAN IT!"
"You have to wear a jacket. It's too cold outside. COME BACK HERE!!"
---------------------------------------------
That's my day in a nutshell.
I am the Mommy.
I am the Boss.
Was that memo misplaced?
She's not even 2 and already she's a holy terror.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
A Day at the Beach
Sunday we headed to the beach -- Corona del Mar to be exact. We were willing to pay the $10 parking fee for easy access to the beach to haul out all our stuff. "All our stuff" entailed the EZ Up for shade, the large bucket of sand toys, 3 chairs (one for me and 2 for the kids), 3 towels, a large picnic mat, and the lunch cooler. Doesn't sound like a lot but when you've got 2 kids running around you and then one decides she doesn't like walking on the soft sand so you end up having to haul everything PLUS a 2 year old... $10 is totally worth it.
Do I have every part covered in this get-up? Whatever is left out is slathered in sunblock.
(Take note of the sun protection, Shana!)
The boys digging... what? A hole? A pit? Mining for ore??
Check out Malia in the far back. She's way more interested in exploring.
She took off towards a random person and started talking to her. It was hilarious. I could see the mom chatting back but looking around looking for this little girl's parents. She finally figured out I was the parent, not some pedophile with a huge camera taking pictures of little kids at the beach.
Kael filling a bucket of water for his... man-made pond.
Success!
Unfortunately, by the time he ran back up the beach to dump it on his pond, there was a teeny tiny bit of water left after being sloshed around.
So Dad takes both kids back to fill up the bucket.
Malia falls on her bottom and gets partially wet. Boy, was she pissed! She demanded a diaper change (which she got since she was so upset and wouldn't go back out). Later on, she fell again, but I wouldn't change her swim diaper so she eventually gave up and walked around wet.
Dad and his princess.
Jumping over waves.
Wave stomping.
This picture pretty much sums up our day at the beach.
So the kids had a great time. Dad had a great time. As for Mom... well, I enjoyed it because the kids enjoyed it so much. Truong doesn't understand why I'm so-so on the beach. Maybe it's because the kids play with him, but when they get sand in their eyes, they come to me. When they get sand in their ear, they come to me. When they want a diaper changed (for the third time) they come to me. When they drop their lunch meat in the sand and eat it (unbeknownst to me) and don't like the sand in their mouth, they come to me. When they get sand in their Crocs and freak out because it's hot, they come to me.
So yeah, I'm so-so at the beach. But once I get there, I enjoy it because the kids love it so much. And that's all the really matters.
Do I have every part covered in this get-up? Whatever is left out is slathered in sunblock.
(Take note of the sun protection, Shana!)
The boys digging... what? A hole? A pit? Mining for ore??
Check out Malia in the far back. She's way more interested in exploring.
She took off towards a random person and started talking to her. It was hilarious. I could see the mom chatting back but looking around looking for this little girl's parents. She finally figured out I was the parent, not some pedophile with a huge camera taking pictures of little kids at the beach.
Kael filling a bucket of water for his... man-made pond.
Success!
Unfortunately, by the time he ran back up the beach to dump it on his pond, there was a teeny tiny bit of water left after being sloshed around.
So Dad takes both kids back to fill up the bucket.
Malia falls on her bottom and gets partially wet. Boy, was she pissed! She demanded a diaper change (which she got since she was so upset and wouldn't go back out). Later on, she fell again, but I wouldn't change her swim diaper so she eventually gave up and walked around wet.
Dad and his princess.
Jumping over waves.
Wave stomping.
This picture pretty much sums up our day at the beach.
So the kids had a great time. Dad had a great time. As for Mom... well, I enjoyed it because the kids enjoyed it so much. Truong doesn't understand why I'm so-so on the beach. Maybe it's because the kids play with him, but when they get sand in their eyes, they come to me. When they get sand in their ear, they come to me. When they want a diaper changed (for the third time) they come to me. When they drop their lunch meat in the sand and eat it (unbeknownst to me) and don't like the sand in their mouth, they come to me. When they get sand in their Crocs and freak out because it's hot, they come to me.
So yeah, I'm so-so at the beach. But once I get there, I enjoy it because the kids love it so much. And that's all the really matters.
Backyard Water Fun: Episode 1
Since we practically roasted this weekend, we finally broke out the water playmat in the backyard for its inaugural run. And it was... mildly successful. Sure the kids loved it. But Kael complained the water from the hose was too cold.
Umm. Hello! It was 100 degrees outside! You want it to be cold! And since Malia loves to ape everything Kael does and says, she also said it was too cold. Sheesh.
Enjoy the pictures.
See his face? "Mom, it's too cold!"
What -- you want a wetsuit or something?!
We started off wearing clothes...
But somehow we lost the top... and she's much happier.
Malia making a mad dash through the sprinklers.
Kael decides it's not so cold after all.
The kids taking a few minutes to warm up in the sun.
Kael making a big splash.
Trying to catch water.
"Malia! Time to come inside!"
Do you think she's happy hearing that?
"Come on, Malia. Playtime is over! Please come inside."
You can just see her thinking "No" and pondering how to keep playing.
Umm. Hello! It was 100 degrees outside! You want it to be cold! And since Malia loves to ape everything Kael does and says, she also said it was too cold. Sheesh.
Enjoy the pictures.
See his face? "Mom, it's too cold!"
What -- you want a wetsuit or something?!
We started off wearing clothes...
But somehow we lost the top... and she's much happier.
Malia making a mad dash through the sprinklers.
Kael decides it's not so cold after all.
The kids taking a few minutes to warm up in the sun.
Kael making a big splash.
Trying to catch water.
"Malia! Time to come inside!"
Do you think she's happy hearing that?
"Come on, Malia. Playtime is over! Please come inside."
You can just see her thinking "No" and pondering how to keep playing.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
The Double Whopper
Can I just say "Damn, it's hot!" Or maybe it should be "It's damn hot." Either way we roasted this weekend. It reached over 100 degrees and by the time the end of day slowly creeped up on us, everyone's patience was at an end.
Add on being pregnant but still trying to wear regular clothes because maternity doesn't fit yet, a very obstinate and opinionated 2 year old, and a nosy never-ending talking 4.5 year old, I was ready to pack it up and fly to Tahiti -- sans kids and husband. Well, I would have had to leave the husband behind anyway since he was golfing!
Anyway, on with the story. We decided to head over to Chevy's for dinner -- where we ran into the Bickmeier's. They were already eating otherwise we would have asked them to join us. Kael thought it was way cool to run into Josh and Malia was thrilled to see "Eh-rin" and "Kay-lin." Unfortunately she didn't understand why they left and wanted to go with them. And dinner went downhill from there. From Kael kicking off his shoes and losing it under the tables which resulted in him head diving underneath and almost landing on his face to Malia standing up and looking over the booth to look for the Bickmeiers and bugging other patrons in the process -- Truong and I were scarfing our food down so we could just leave. Service at Chevy's was less than stellar as usual so I sent Dad out with the kids while I paid. Upon finally getting to the car, the first thing Kael asks me is: "Mom, what's my business?"
I stopped and thought about it, trying to figure out where the question came from on my own, hoping to minimize further questioning on my part to reduce the chances of more questions on questions from him. Then it dawned on me: he was probably talking Truong's ear off, asking him all sorts of out-of-the-blue, random-assed questions (this was the primary reason why I sent Kael out with Truong - to give me a break from this) when Truong probably had enough and told Kael to "mind his own business."
OK. I admit that's not the best thing to say to a kid who's expressing his natural curiosity of the world. But crimony! You haven't had to spend all day with Kael and so haven't been subjected to all his questions!! I swear it's never ending. My brain gets tired and I admit I've said something very similar to what Truong said to him. Actually, my exact words have been: "You've used up all your questions for now, so shhh, no more questions!"
So back to Kael. He asked again: "What's my business? I don't know what my business is, Mom." I had to chuckle. It was really cute. I explained that his business was what he was doing at that moment. For example, right now, your business is getting in the car seat and buckling yourself in. When we get home, your business is to get ready for bed.
After that he didn't say anything. So I think I did good.
We get home and Truong starts cleaning the car out, Kael waters the plants, and I take Malia upstairs to get ready for bed. I come downstairs and go to the bathroom. I don't close the door. I haven't closed the bathroom door to pee since the end of college roommates -- old habits are hard to break. I'm peeing, and Kael wanders up. He looks at me then asks: "Mom, why do girls sit down to pee and boys stand up?"
I'm trapped on the toilet. Peeing. While sitting down. I can't escape him or do any of my other distraction methods. It's hard to think of something educational yet age appropriate while my hands are caught in the cookie jar, so to speak.
Suddenly the situation gets to me and I start laughing. He's totally confused but sort of laughing with me because I'm laughing really hard and it's contagious. He says: "Why are you laughing. Mom?" I tell him because I love him and he makes me laugh.
I've finish my pee and I'm stalling, trying to find the right moment to stand up. But it never comes because he asks again: "Girls sit down to pee, right? Why do they do that when boys stand up?" So I tell him: "Because girls have different pee parts from boys. You have penises (he calls it his 'peanut') and girls... don't." He just nods and then lifts his chin hoping to peer into the bowl to check out... my "don't parts." I wasn't going to teach him the word "vagina" -- can you imagine how mortified I'd be if he told his preschool class that his mom had a vagina and Mrs. Morin had to explain that to them??
Anyway, I hunch down and tell him to wait for me outside, please. He says OK but I can tell he's still trying to look. At that moment, I decide it's the perfect time to start teaching him about privacy and closed doors. And I made a mental note to watch the kids while showering. It may be time to have individual showers from now on.
Add on being pregnant but still trying to wear regular clothes because maternity doesn't fit yet, a very obstinate and opinionated 2 year old, and a nosy never-ending talking 4.5 year old, I was ready to pack it up and fly to Tahiti -- sans kids and husband. Well, I would have had to leave the husband behind anyway since he was golfing!
Anyway, on with the story. We decided to head over to Chevy's for dinner -- where we ran into the Bickmeier's. They were already eating otherwise we would have asked them to join us. Kael thought it was way cool to run into Josh and Malia was thrilled to see "Eh-rin" and "Kay-lin." Unfortunately she didn't understand why they left and wanted to go with them. And dinner went downhill from there. From Kael kicking off his shoes and losing it under the tables which resulted in him head diving underneath and almost landing on his face to Malia standing up and looking over the booth to look for the Bickmeiers and bugging other patrons in the process -- Truong and I were scarfing our food down so we could just leave. Service at Chevy's was less than stellar as usual so I sent Dad out with the kids while I paid. Upon finally getting to the car, the first thing Kael asks me is: "Mom, what's my business?"
I stopped and thought about it, trying to figure out where the question came from on my own, hoping to minimize further questioning on my part to reduce the chances of more questions on questions from him. Then it dawned on me: he was probably talking Truong's ear off, asking him all sorts of out-of-the-blue, random-assed questions (this was the primary reason why I sent Kael out with Truong - to give me a break from this) when Truong probably had enough and told Kael to "mind his own business."
OK. I admit that's not the best thing to say to a kid who's expressing his natural curiosity of the world. But crimony! You haven't had to spend all day with Kael and so haven't been subjected to all his questions!! I swear it's never ending. My brain gets tired and I admit I've said something very similar to what Truong said to him. Actually, my exact words have been: "You've used up all your questions for now, so shhh, no more questions!"
So back to Kael. He asked again: "What's my business? I don't know what my business is, Mom." I had to chuckle. It was really cute. I explained that his business was what he was doing at that moment. For example, right now, your business is getting in the car seat and buckling yourself in. When we get home, your business is to get ready for bed.
After that he didn't say anything. So I think I did good.
We get home and Truong starts cleaning the car out, Kael waters the plants, and I take Malia upstairs to get ready for bed. I come downstairs and go to the bathroom. I don't close the door. I haven't closed the bathroom door to pee since the end of college roommates -- old habits are hard to break. I'm peeing, and Kael wanders up. He looks at me then asks: "Mom, why do girls sit down to pee and boys stand up?"
I'm trapped on the toilet. Peeing. While sitting down. I can't escape him or do any of my other distraction methods. It's hard to think of something educational yet age appropriate while my hands are caught in the cookie jar, so to speak.
Suddenly the situation gets to me and I start laughing. He's totally confused but sort of laughing with me because I'm laughing really hard and it's contagious. He says: "Why are you laughing. Mom?" I tell him because I love him and he makes me laugh.
I've finish my pee and I'm stalling, trying to find the right moment to stand up. But it never comes because he asks again: "Girls sit down to pee, right? Why do they do that when boys stand up?" So I tell him: "Because girls have different pee parts from boys. You have penises (he calls it his 'peanut') and girls... don't." He just nods and then lifts his chin hoping to peer into the bowl to check out... my "don't parts." I wasn't going to teach him the word "vagina" -- can you imagine how mortified I'd be if he told his preschool class that his mom had a vagina and Mrs. Morin had to explain that to them??
Anyway, I hunch down and tell him to wait for me outside, please. He says OK but I can tell he's still trying to look. At that moment, I decide it's the perfect time to start teaching him about privacy and closed doors. And I made a mental note to watch the kids while showering. It may be time to have individual showers from now on.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Roomies
Not yet anyway, but the clock is ticking, the countdown has started.
Our original plan was to have Kael and Malia room together sometime in December 2008, January 2009 (basically when Blub needs his own room and crib). Actually there are a lot more things that need to happen before that -- just thinking about them makes me break out into a cold sweat. Broken down into steps I have to (over the course of the summer):
1) potty train Malia;
2) get her used to a big girl bed;
3) get her used to sleeping in a room with Kael;
4) get Kael used to sharing his room and space with his sister who about 80% of the time is considered a pest; and
5) introduce both kids to their new sibling.
An added possible task for me could maybe involve entering Malia into preschool depending on how well we do with (1) and (5). If she loves Blub and is OK with sharing Mom, then I'll keep her at home. If she hates him and tries on numerous occasions to off him, then the prospect of preschool looks very promising. Not so much to get her out of my hair, but to give her something of her own.
As I said before, all this was to happen this summer with the grand finale being their changed status from housemates to roommates at the end of the year.
Well, as of last week, it's been pushed up. We now have 30 days. Grandma sold her house, is in escrow and will move in with us sometime mid- to end-of May. Don't get me wrong, I have no problems at all with that. I just wasn't planning on doing everything so soon.
But I wouldn't be a Mom if I couldn't adjust. That's pretty much the first Rule of Mommyhood: Learn to Adjust or Sink in Despair. So we bought a bunch of new furniture in preparation of moving the kids in together: 2 new twin beds (so they match), new nightstand, new toy/bookcases. We sold everything in Kael's room. I mean everything.Well, I guess I should say "We plan on selling everything in Kael's room." Shana's having a garage sale tomorrow and I hope we sell the stuff otherwise Truong's either going to give it away for free or pay people to take it.
The only things left in Kael's room: his lamp, his clock, his bedding, the kid and his clothes. No kidding. We assembled one of the twins tonight for him to sleep on and will move Malia's crib in sometime before Grandma moves in. I might as well wait until the last minute to move them in together so I can at least guarantee a couple more weeks of good sleep, right?
Our original plan was to have Kael and Malia room together sometime in December 2008, January 2009 (basically when Blub needs his own room and crib). Actually there are a lot more things that need to happen before that -- just thinking about them makes me break out into a cold sweat. Broken down into steps I have to (over the course of the summer):
1) potty train Malia;
2) get her used to a big girl bed;
3) get her used to sleeping in a room with Kael;
4) get Kael used to sharing his room and space with his sister who about 80% of the time is considered a pest; and
5) introduce both kids to their new sibling.
An added possible task for me could maybe involve entering Malia into preschool depending on how well we do with (1) and (5). If she loves Blub and is OK with sharing Mom, then I'll keep her at home. If she hates him and tries on numerous occasions to off him, then the prospect of preschool looks very promising. Not so much to get her out of my hair, but to give her something of her own.
As I said before, all this was to happen this summer with the grand finale being their changed status from housemates to roommates at the end of the year.
Well, as of last week, it's been pushed up. We now have 30 days. Grandma sold her house, is in escrow and will move in with us sometime mid- to end-of May. Don't get me wrong, I have no problems at all with that. I just wasn't planning on doing everything so soon.
But I wouldn't be a Mom if I couldn't adjust. That's pretty much the first Rule of Mommyhood: Learn to Adjust or Sink in Despair. So we bought a bunch of new furniture in preparation of moving the kids in together: 2 new twin beds (so they match), new nightstand, new toy/bookcases. We sold everything in Kael's room. I mean everything.Well, I guess I should say "We plan on selling everything in Kael's room." Shana's having a garage sale tomorrow and I hope we sell the stuff otherwise Truong's either going to give it away for free or pay people to take it.
The only things left in Kael's room: his lamp, his clock, his bedding, the kid and his clothes. No kidding. We assembled one of the twins tonight for him to sleep on and will move Malia's crib in sometime before Grandma moves in. I might as well wait until the last minute to move them in together so I can at least guarantee a couple more weeks of good sleep, right?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
