I'm beginning to realize how similar Levi and I are. I think I need to keep that in mind when we butt heads. It's like trying to win an argument with myself!
Anyway, Andy and I were discussing Thanksgiving plans, trying to talk through the idea of us hosting the meal at our house. Levi keeps piping up with his ideas for who we should invite. This is how our conversation goes:
"You know Levi, you are old enough this year, you are going to have to be in charge of something this year," I tell him.
"What's it going to be?" he asks me, with wide eyes.
I'm trying to come up with something on the fly. Perhaps he can be in charge of mashing potatoes or stirring the cranberry sauce. Andy suggests that he can set the table. That idea makes me cringe... it's not often I get to make my house look nice for a special occassion. I'd rather it not look like a preschooler set the table.
"I don't know yet, Levi. Do you have any ideas what you can do?" I turn the table back to him.
"I can make something!" he says. "I will build a new chair."
"Oh really?"
"Yes, with a high chair on it. And then I will build a new table. A big one. And I will build a new house. And a new tree!"
He's getting carried away. I know of no one else who gets carried away with grand to-do lists. Eh hmm... *thatwouldbeme*... eh hmm.
"Really? Do you think we should paint the house, too?" I ask.
"Yes! I will paint it yellow. And blue. And red and green. And I will build it all!" He looks triumphant now that he has a plan.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
preschooler logic
I almost titled this post "toddler logic," but then I stopped myself. Levi had his first day of preschool today. *gulp* He's a preschooler now!
So last night at dinner:
"Hey mommy, do you drink beer?"
"No, not really."
"Why not?" he asks with a sly look on his face.
"I don't really like it," I reply.
"Is it because you don't want to get that scratchy stuff on your face?" he asks.
"Yes, Levi, that's exactly why."
Apparently, drinking beer will give you a beard, just like daddy when he doesn't shave often enough.
So last night at dinner:
"Hey mommy, do you drink beer?"
"No, not really."
"Why not?" he asks with a sly look on his face.
"I don't really like it," I reply.
"Is it because you don't want to get that scratchy stuff on your face?" he asks.
"Yes, Levi, that's exactly why."
Apparently, drinking beer will give you a beard, just like daddy when he doesn't shave often enough.
Friday, August 9, 2013
levi's story to me
This morning, as I was getting Levi up from bed, he saw that I was wearing a very old T-shirt with beach chairs on it, one that I got when I was little. I told him about how I got it, and this is what happened next:
"Mommy, do you want to hear a story about when you were little and went to the beach?" he asks me.
"Sure!" I sit down on his bed.
"Once upon a time, when you were little, we put you in Wendy's... uh, my... car seat and we took you too the beach. And you played, and you dipped your toes in the water, and then it was time to eat. And we ate and ate. And then there was more. And then we put you back in the car and took you home. And then we got to the house.... That's it. Did you like your story?"
"Oh yes, Levi, I did!"
;)
(Usually I'm the one who tells him stories about when he was a baby. This was a fun twist.)
"Mommy, do you want to hear a story about when you were little and went to the beach?" he asks me.
"Sure!" I sit down on his bed.
"Once upon a time, when you were little, we put you in Wendy's... uh, my... car seat and we took you too the beach. And you played, and you dipped your toes in the water, and then it was time to eat. And we ate and ate. And then there was more. And then we put you back in the car and took you home. And then we got to the house.... That's it. Did you like your story?"
"Oh yes, Levi, I did!"
;)
(Usually I'm the one who tells him stories about when he was a baby. This was a fun twist.)
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
realizing something about this fall
It's the middle of summer, one that I've really looked forward to for several reasons.
1. I'm not pregnant this time, sweating around in my giant maternity clothes.
2. I'm not recovering from a c-section, again, sweating as I make the effort to get my body moving again.
3. I'm not unpacking after having just moved into a house.
All these things I've done in summers past are lovely, wonderful, life-altering things, but they are things I prefer to do as few times as possible.
But back to my main point... In the middle of this unremarkable, and therefor very enjoyable, summer, I find myself thinking about the next autumn season. It's never been my favorite because as a child I didn't like the back to school anxiety. As an adult I don't like to day goodbye to long, hot days full of sunshine. The approach of the busy winter season sometimes makes me antsy too. I do like fall, for its own good things. Pumpkin muffins, wearing boots, Halloween, blankets, a return to my activities with MOPS and church bible studies. I'm now realizing how very different and wonderful this upcoming fall season will be. It's a sit back and enjoy season, not one that is full of anticipation, questioning or adjusting. Fall 2009 we dove into the process of starting the expansion of our family. Exciting, yes. Relaxing? No.
Fall 2010 we had a new baby in our family. I was beginning to hit my stride, but it was just so much newness all at once. Memorable and wonderful, yes. Peaceful and confident? No.
Fall 2011 we suddenly found ourselves thinking about baby #2 and the bigger house that we would require. We went into hyper overdrive, getting our house ready for sale, looking for a home. Made me want to giggle with anticipation and expectation for what the next year would behold? Yes. Carefree? No.
Fall 2012, we had the new baby and the new house. Life was good, we were on a new track. Each day was another lesson in finding out how to make our new normal work. I overcommitted to a few too many activities in response to my desire to have a new normal. I backed off a little. Go forth, assess, adjust. Go forth, assess, adjust. Watch toddler grow into a preschooler. Watch infant grow into a baby. Hold breath a little bit every time I tried something new, wondering if I'd have the kind of easy going baby that would just go along with being dragged around to other big kid activities. Let that breath out every time it worked or didn't work. Hard work and big rewards, yes. Total rest and trust in our new life? Not completely yet.
And now here we are, approaching fall 2013 and it feels really good. Yes, there are new things to give me that little skip of anticipation. Starting two days of preschool a week for Levi. Being on the leadership team with MOPS. Teaching Wendy how to talk. But I'm so excited for these things. I love how different each fall has been over the past four years and how they seem more and more special as I reflect on them.
And this ends my mid-summer's day contemplation on a season still one month and many swimming suit days away.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone. Not reviewed or edited for typos. Sorry about that.
1. I'm not pregnant this time, sweating around in my giant maternity clothes.
2. I'm not recovering from a c-section, again, sweating as I make the effort to get my body moving again.
3. I'm not unpacking after having just moved into a house.
All these things I've done in summers past are lovely, wonderful, life-altering things, but they are things I prefer to do as few times as possible.
But back to my main point... In the middle of this unremarkable, and therefor very enjoyable, summer, I find myself thinking about the next autumn season. It's never been my favorite because as a child I didn't like the back to school anxiety. As an adult I don't like to day goodbye to long, hot days full of sunshine. The approach of the busy winter season sometimes makes me antsy too. I do like fall, for its own good things. Pumpkin muffins, wearing boots, Halloween, blankets, a return to my activities with MOPS and church bible studies. I'm now realizing how very different and wonderful this upcoming fall season will be. It's a sit back and enjoy season, not one that is full of anticipation, questioning or adjusting. Fall 2009 we dove into the process of starting the expansion of our family. Exciting, yes. Relaxing? No.
Fall 2010 we had a new baby in our family. I was beginning to hit my stride, but it was just so much newness all at once. Memorable and wonderful, yes. Peaceful and confident? No.
Fall 2011 we suddenly found ourselves thinking about baby #2 and the bigger house that we would require. We went into hyper overdrive, getting our house ready for sale, looking for a home. Made me want to giggle with anticipation and expectation for what the next year would behold? Yes. Carefree? No.
Fall 2012, we had the new baby and the new house. Life was good, we were on a new track. Each day was another lesson in finding out how to make our new normal work. I overcommitted to a few too many activities in response to my desire to have a new normal. I backed off a little. Go forth, assess, adjust. Go forth, assess, adjust. Watch toddler grow into a preschooler. Watch infant grow into a baby. Hold breath a little bit every time I tried something new, wondering if I'd have the kind of easy going baby that would just go along with being dragged around to other big kid activities. Let that breath out every time it worked or didn't work. Hard work and big rewards, yes. Total rest and trust in our new life? Not completely yet.
And now here we are, approaching fall 2013 and it feels really good. Yes, there are new things to give me that little skip of anticipation. Starting two days of preschool a week for Levi. Being on the leadership team with MOPS. Teaching Wendy how to talk. But I'm so excited for these things. I love how different each fall has been over the past four years and how they seem more and more special as I reflect on them.
And this ends my mid-summer's day contemplation on a season still one month and many swimming suit days away.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone. Not reviewed or edited for typos. Sorry about that.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
pretty
Levi was watching me look through my recent issue of Parents magazine. He points to the beautiful blond woman in the beauty products section.
"Look, there's a mommy!" he tells me.
"You think that's a mommy?" I ask
"Yes."
"She's a very pretty mommy," I point out.
"Yes."
"Do you think mommies are pretty?" I ask him.
"Yes. You're pretty, Mommy."
"Look, there's a mommy!" he tells me.
"You think that's a mommy?" I ask
"Yes."
"She's a very pretty mommy," I point out.
"Yes."
"Do you think mommies are pretty?" I ask him.
"Yes. You're pretty, Mommy."
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
little monkey see, little monkey do
Every evening, after dinner, we have dance party. That's us being silly in the family room with Pandora playing over the TV. Our current station is built on the song I'm a Gummy Bear. So, yeeeeah....
Anyway, whenever the screen goes into screen saver mode after a few minutes and starts spinning, Levi always wants us to stop the spinning so he can better see the cover art pictures.
Well, last night our little monkey see monkey do noticed the spinning screen before any of us did. She found the correct remote, pushed on the buttons until the spinning stopped, then returned the remote to its proper place. Uhh really?! She just turned one! My little baby is turning into a big girl fast.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Anyway, whenever the screen goes into screen saver mode after a few minutes and starts spinning, Levi always wants us to stop the spinning so he can better see the cover art pictures.
Well, last night our little monkey see monkey do noticed the spinning screen before any of us did. She found the correct remote, pushed on the buttons until the spinning stopped, then returned the remote to its proper place. Uhh really?! She just turned one! My little baby is turning into a big girl fast.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Sunday, June 30, 2013
launching the nap sequence
So last year, when Wendy was an itty bitty baby, I recorded what was our naptime routine. Reading that now... oh my, so much has changed! It's time to update and write down what our current naptime routine is.
So we finish eating lunch. Wendy is a good eater, enjoying her cheese cubes most of all. Wants to eat hummus using her hands. Very messy. Get two wet paper towels from the kitchen and wipe off kids. Levi's actually pretty clean, don't know why I'm still wiping his hands for him. Sometimes he does it himself. I need to start reminding myself that he can do it himself. Wendy hates being wiped off. Screams.
Get kids out of high chair, try to clean kitchen. Listen to the footsteps echoing in the empty living room as Wendy walks around, chasing after a ball or as Levi runs around, trying to make her laugh. Enjoy this moment for what it is. They are generally in good moods after lunch. We have about 20-30 minutes of playtime after lunch and then we "launch the nap sequence" at 1:30. "Levi? Wendy? Two minutes until naptime," I call out after both kids have looked at me. "Ok, two minutes!" Levi shouts back at me. "One minute left," I say. "One minute!" Levi shouts back.
I tell them it's time to go up. I scoop up Wendy and prod Levi up the stairs. Sometimes Wendy tries to dive bomb out of my arms so she can climb, too. She's too giddy over being let down to climb, that she starts flopping around the stairs in a giggle fit. Scoop her back up. I take her to her room to change her diaper and put on sleep sack. Levi goes into the bathroom, turns on the light himself and goes to the bathroom. He's now just barely tall enough to reach the faucet himself to wash his hands without help, too. I tell him to go put on some pajama bottoms and sit quietly in his room to read while I put Wendy down. He goes into his room, no problem. Close Wendy's door, turn on sound machine and read her a book. (Up until a week ago, I'd nurse her instead, but we are almost done weaning. I cannot wait to throw away these nursing bras.) Wendy is cuddled up with her mousie blanket and her binky. I put her down, she rolls over immediately.
Go to Levi's room, squish ourselves together into the rocking chair and read a story. Current favorites are Arthur books, Curious George, or sometimes some other random one. We read one story at nap, two at bedtime. He knows the rule, but will sometimes try to get more books out of people who don't know the routine. More than one book at naptime, though, and he gets wound up. Put him in his crib. (He's still in a crib because he never climbs out. Transitioning to big boy bed, soon. Need to buy new mattress.) Put him in bed. Cover him with spaceship blanket first (stripey side down), then the fleecey cars blanket. He never keeps the blankets on. Surround him with stuffed animals. Say "sleep tight." Close door.
Man, that seems easier than it did nearly a year ago!
So we finish eating lunch. Wendy is a good eater, enjoying her cheese cubes most of all. Wants to eat hummus using her hands. Very messy. Get two wet paper towels from the kitchen and wipe off kids. Levi's actually pretty clean, don't know why I'm still wiping his hands for him. Sometimes he does it himself. I need to start reminding myself that he can do it himself. Wendy hates being wiped off. Screams.
Get kids out of high chair, try to clean kitchen. Listen to the footsteps echoing in the empty living room as Wendy walks around, chasing after a ball or as Levi runs around, trying to make her laugh. Enjoy this moment for what it is. They are generally in good moods after lunch. We have about 20-30 minutes of playtime after lunch and then we "launch the nap sequence" at 1:30. "Levi? Wendy? Two minutes until naptime," I call out after both kids have looked at me. "Ok, two minutes!" Levi shouts back at me. "One minute left," I say. "One minute!" Levi shouts back.
I tell them it's time to go up. I scoop up Wendy and prod Levi up the stairs. Sometimes Wendy tries to dive bomb out of my arms so she can climb, too. She's too giddy over being let down to climb, that she starts flopping around the stairs in a giggle fit. Scoop her back up. I take her to her room to change her diaper and put on sleep sack. Levi goes into the bathroom, turns on the light himself and goes to the bathroom. He's now just barely tall enough to reach the faucet himself to wash his hands without help, too. I tell him to go put on some pajama bottoms and sit quietly in his room to read while I put Wendy down. He goes into his room, no problem. Close Wendy's door, turn on sound machine and read her a book. (Up until a week ago, I'd nurse her instead, but we are almost done weaning. I cannot wait to throw away these nursing bras.) Wendy is cuddled up with her mousie blanket and her binky. I put her down, she rolls over immediately.
Go to Levi's room, squish ourselves together into the rocking chair and read a story. Current favorites are Arthur books, Curious George, or sometimes some other random one. We read one story at nap, two at bedtime. He knows the rule, but will sometimes try to get more books out of people who don't know the routine. More than one book at naptime, though, and he gets wound up. Put him in his crib. (He's still in a crib because he never climbs out. Transitioning to big boy bed, soon. Need to buy new mattress.) Put him in bed. Cover him with spaceship blanket first (stripey side down), then the fleecey cars blanket. He never keeps the blankets on. Surround him with stuffed animals. Say "sleep tight." Close door.
Man, that seems easier than it did nearly a year ago!
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