15 Months!

Dear Lil Lobster Roll,

Wow girl, time sure is flying.  I can't even keep up with this crazy lil chick you're becoming.  You are the sweetest, funniest, most energetic little girl I know.  Whenever your Daddy, brother, or I need a smile, all we have to do is go to you, our little munchkin.  All your teachers at school can talk about is how animated you are, how you wave like you're in a pageant to everyone you see, and just how opinionated you can be sometimes (yikes). 

As friendly and outgoing as you get in your good moods, you're just as clingy to me when you are tired or fussy (which is rare, but you let it be known when you are!  Every morning when you wake up, you need to spend at least 15 minutes cuddling with me, twirly my hair, and sucking your thumb.  One particularly rough night, half of which you spend pulling my hair for your own comfort, I ordered you a doll with hair that you could twirl in my place.  As much as it helps you go to bed at night, you have found there's no substitute for the real thing.  Most of the time, I am happy that you need me so much and always want to be held, but there are times (when I'm cooking, cleaning, pushing your brother on the swing, going to the bathroom, bathing you, changing you, feeding the dogs, driving) when you've got to let go of my ponytail and hold your own - you'll be ok!

Lobster - I cannot believe how much you've developed in the past 3 months.  You started walking around 13 months, and don't seem to stop all day, unless it's to get the aforementioned cuddles.  The best part about you walking is at the end of the day, when we're getting ready for bed and you're tired - you run around the hallway avoiding whoever is trying to change you.  Usually in just a diaper, you will run, peek out from behind doorways, and when we command you to come back to us you squeal and run away again.  As you run, your tiredness throws you off balance and you know you're going down.  As you fall to your butt you let out a huuuHHh!  Kind of like the new kids after they sing about step 5. 

And my chatterbox, every day you've got a new word.  We hear Daddy, Momma, No no (for Gobbles), please and more (plus their signs), thank you, all done, up, dog, ball, shoe, no, yea, yes, water, and tickle, which you always say in a string as you are chasing a family member or puppy around with your arms outstretched and fingers "tickling" tikatikatikatika.  On Sunday you were downstairs with Daddy when you approached him, said poop and walked away.  He asked "Lobster, did you poop?".  You turned around with an emphatic head shake YEA!

You can say duck, and tell me it says quack.  You know the sheep says baa but you can't say sheep.  You are amazing at following my little instructions Lobster, go get the book and put it away and are so proud at yourself when you complete the task.  You know where your nose, eyes, ears, hair, mouth, and belly are, but you only have about another year where Daddy's going to allow you to lift up that shirt to show everyone your belly!

You eat like a grown man- chili, pork chops, steak, burgers.  Barbecue chicken is your favorite, and you actually demand extra sauce if it seems to be lacking.  All that right there, that's from your Daddy.  From me with eating you have the desire to eat food off of everyone else's plates and scream and yell when you are hungry until somebody feeds you.  Not quite sure where you got the fearless daredevil spirit, and while we are proud of your independence in climbing and wanting to do everything Gobbles does, please be careful lil lady!

But beyond all of this, girlfriend, the thing that I love most of all is the happiness and enthusiasm you exude.  You are smiling more often then not, a big, boisterous grin that radiates love and warmth.  You give your brother unsolicited hugs and kisses when he's not feeling so well, you crack up when i give you kisses under your chin, laughing so hard that you tilt your head back that you become short of breath.  You wave to your Daddy then smack him in the head affectionately when he comes in for a hug.  Then of course you hug him just as tight.  We all love you so much my Lil Lobster Roll. 

Love,
Mommy

Yay! Time for a photo journey - let me just get my shoe on...

Ahh - here we go!

i love to walk with my daddy...

... because we look so much alike...

even when watching tv!

hey there! you still with me? 

heLLOOO?

'scuse me gobbles!  when mommy said to keep me from
coming up the steps, I'm not sure this is what she meant!

back on the steps ready to go outside again! 

every girl should learn how to swing a bat!

Oh, you mean i'm up high and should make my way over to you daddy?
nah! it's only a 5 foot drop!

ball chains and collars...
i'm a little rebel wannabee just like my momma was

but inside i'm really a softie.  i love my hair doll!

what a sight to wake up too at dawn on a saturday!

only so i can fall asleep later of course!

i can be silly just like my brother!

But i love hanging with mommy the most!

Old Phone Video Purge: Part 3

It's been almost a month since my last video upload, and I still have another few posts' worth to be caught up to my new phone, which already is starting to fill up with treasures.  

 

The lil lobster roll has the biggest belly laugh, and even early on when she would giggle, the hiccups would come on immediately.  She's five and a half months in this video and I love that between laughs and hiccups she pipes in with an "aahH!" to try to get me to laugh, and crack herself up as well.

 

Gobbles went through a phase where, upon seeimg himself on the webcam, he would smack himself in the head.  I don't get it, but it's pretty funny.  One day in July of last year (around 2 1/2 years old), I dug up a video of 2 year old Gobbles for him to watch.  And I filmed that.  He's quirky, but he never ceases to make me laugh: 



 

Another "reading" (aka book memorizing).  Shorter book, but clearer pronounciation.  Gobbles is 2 years, 8 months here.  His only problem is he can't see without his glasses so the book is on his nose as he reads.  Oh and that he can't seem to turn the pages, so I cut the video off halfway through.  I LOVE his pronounciation of the word "Bundle" (UNdle)

 

 

It seems like Gobbles took years to say the word "Mama".  "Dada" was definitely first for him.  So my heart melted when the Lobster Roll said it at 9 months:



All in a Day's Work

It's that time of year again.  That time when daycare becomes a cesspool of snot, barf, poop, and GERMS.  From late winter through early spring, every year, my kids catch something that leads to them being out multiple days and we scratch our heads thinking, what are we paying for again?

But, this year is different from any other.  Why?  Because of my (not so new- been here over 11 months already!) job with awesome people and an awesome boss.  Gobbles was out 4 days the week before Easter with what turned out to be strep throat and I didn't have to miss one hour of work.  With a combination of hanging out in my office and working from home, we managed to get through the week fine and I didn't miss a beat. 

Today, the Lobster Roll woke up covered in poo, turns out she has a bit of a stomach bug and a bit of a raging fever.  So we swung by her classroom to grab her nap mat when we dropped off Gobbles and off we went to work.  She started her morning with a conference call where she brought up some interesting "oohs and ahhs" and jotted down notes.  She has since been basically napping with a few minutes in between to say her hellos.  Her fever's been waxing and waning and of course of the three bags of necessary kid crap I brought with me to work, I forgot Tylenol.  Before I could even get upset, my boss says "well just let me know what you need and I'll run to the pharmacy and grab it." 

I have never worked at a place like this - where people are supportive, kind, and smart as hell.  It's funny how not stressed out I can be with work, when I'm still using my brain, degree, and even some skills I didn't know I had.  Sure, my decision make this move took my career off the fast track and placed it in a sort of holding pattern, but it works so well for me right now I sometimes feel like I have to pinch myself.  This morning, with my daughter's sleepy head resting on my shoulder, my boss discussed how my article published in our March company newsletter had one of the largest open rates we've seen in awhile.   Maybe I'm not as far off my career path as I thought?

Regardless, I'm just glad to be able to work from home, even more glad that I prefer coming into the office that my kids seem to fall asleep at just as easily as home.



Mommy - these crackers have no flavor!  But I'll give you a week smile anyway.

Here are my notes from this morning's meeting - I believe they're very helpful

Alrighty, naptime

Yea I think I'm more comfy with my head mashed into the wall...

Look at all this junk you brought which I won't even play with

Really, Mom? You edited to add me yelling at you about fishies?  I suppose I'm feeling a bit better...

And SEE - i DID play with some toys... for like a second :)

De Ja Vu from 2 weeks ago - At least Gobbles got a movie!

Something about that corner makes people verrry sleepy.

Someone felt better enough to have some chips on his sick day...

 

For my children. And yours.

Over the past two days I have been brought to tears on numerous occasions by sentiment and hope because history is in the making right now.  I'm taking a step outside the everyday goings-on in our household for just a moment and finding myself glued to the tv and internet to soak in all I can on the Supreme Court hearings regarding DOMA and California's Proposition 8.

It's hard to articulate just why I'm so interested. 

Personally, in my bubble right now, judgments either way would not affect my everyday life.  I am acquainted with a couple in my outer circle who, having been married just over a year and recently had a baby, would benefit immensely should these laws be deemed unconstitutional.  However, an outsider looking in on my world would ask Why do you care??

I'll tell you why.  Perhaps part of it is just being on the right side of history.  Perhaps it's as simple as the fact that I'm a human being, and was born with innate empathy.

Or, perhaps, it is for my children, my future, our whole country's future. 

Since they are just 3 and 1, I have no idea what my son's sexual preference is, nor my daughter's gender identity.  They could be straight, gay, bisexual, transgendered, whatever.  All I know is that I love them.  No matter what.  I couldn't imagine an scenario in which I would not love them with my whole heart and soul.  It pains me to read about people cast off from their loved ones because of who they are.  Because of who they LOVE.

And because I love my children, should they end up being what society deems "different", I believe they should be afforded the same benefits from marrying the person they love as I am afforded being married to their father. 

I don't want to delve too deeply into the whole religious aspect, but since I was raised Catholic and still try to identify myself as somewhat "faithful", I feel the need to comment.  I was sheltered.  For 12 years in Catholic school, surrounded by teachers hammering what they considered right and wrong into our heads about sex, marriage, and other things, the word gay developed a negative connotation to me.  I was an ignorant teenager pointing out when I didn't like something "Oh that's so gay" or snickering with my friends about the lesbian teacher or softball coach "Ew she must want us".  Looking back, I'm so ashamed to have acted that way, and embarrassed that I didn't know any better. 

As I have grown into my own now, I realize how ridiculous it is that a religion that calls for you to love others as you love yourself would encourage such hate, discrimination, and basically obstruct one's ability to express their love.  As Christians, "we" should not impede others' road to happiness just because "we" disagree, especially when there is no adverse effect on said Christians' lives if the happiness is achieved.  I don't see those of the Jewish faith demanding that all non-Kosher restaurants be shut down because it is against what the Torah teaches.  They simply choose not to eat there.  And Christians who believe gay marriage is against what the bible says can simply choose not to be married to a same-sex partner.  They shouldn't dictate what the rest of the population does. 

No matter what level of faith my children are raised on, I will teach them tolerance first.  They will love their friends for who they are and what kind of character they have.  I want them to treat others as they want to be treated, and hold their peers to a similar level.  I hope that they will choose a partner with similar values - real values such as kindness, loyalty, trust. 

I spent more time than I'd like to admit on Sunday watching MTV air retro episodes of the Real World, San Francisco.  I cannot believe it's been nearly 20 years since my freshman friends and I watched this, Pedro's struggle for gay rights.  Back then it was all so new to us, something seemingly unheard of before (again- sheltered).  Though some progress has been made, it seems awfully slow-going that if Pedro were to die today, his husband Sean would still not be afforded the spousal benefits he would deserve.  It's about time for a change.

Last year we attended a wedding for close friends of ours where my husband was a groomsman, and joyfully celebrated the love of this amazing couple.  They are one of those couples that are just overall sweeties and treat each with such love and respect that you can't help but be positive when you're around them.  To think that the generation before us fought for couples like this one, a black man and a white woman, to get married with no barriers gives me hope. 

Hope that my children will know nothing other than equality among both heterosexual and homosexual marriage.  Hope that our generation can achieve something positive for the history books.  And hope for simply freedom - freedom of love and marriage for all. 

Catching up with Gobbles

Over the last few months, every time Gobbles said something that made me laugh I'd try desperately to remember it and email it to myself later on.  Probably 75% of his quotes have been lost out the window of my brain, trying to help him hunt for the latest show n tell item or explain that responsibility is not a tangible thing.

But, I did manage to find a few that I may as well throw out there lest they be forever hidden away in my email.  Let me note that I am ashamed at my son's use of the word like which apparently is, like, every other word out of my mouth and my little buddy picked up on it.  Whoops.

- Each week, Gobbles's class reviews learns about a letter, how to identify it, the sounds it makes, etc.  During T week, apparently he was on the same page as his teacher:
Mommy, Miss J told me that our brains were stuck together when we found our list of T words.  How silly!

- Apparently that same week:
No, I can't bring my little tow truck for show and tell because it's too small for my friends to play with.  I suppose a little of his lil lobster roll / toy sharing paranoia came out here.

- After spending a weekend at my mom's, Gobbles came back singing Skinna Marinky Dinky Dink, but one thing really irked me, especially since my mom is a first grade teacher - she taught him the wrong words!  A minor sound variation, really- Gobbles was singing Skinna Marink-A Dink-A-Dink instead of Skinna Marink-EE Dink-EE-Dink.  The reason it bugged me was because when I tried to sing it to him the right way, he got all indignant: NO Mommy!  Skinna Marinky Dinky Dink is wrong.  I asked why it was wrong, and frustrated, he responds:  Because, it just doesn't make any sense!  We had an argument about how his way could make sense any more than my way, but of course arguing with a 3 year old can only get you so far.  I think over time though, I may have convinced him of the right way (my way, haha) of saying it. 

- This conversation happened on a random ride home from school one day:
Gobbles: Mommy, Where do dinosaurs live?
Me: They're not around anymore buddy, they're extinct.
Gobbles: Not around anymore?
Me: No, there was an ice age and they ran out of food (am I even right? i have no idea? An asteroid maybe?)
Gobbles: Ran out of food? Why didn't they just go to the grocery store to buy more?

- Another way home from school one:

I just, like, fired my friends, because they didn't wash their hands.

 

- Just about every night during dinner, when he wants more of the good thing, but is SO done with whatever he doesn't want:
Gobbles:  (looking up with a huge pout and trying to force tears out of his eyes): But I'm really REALLY hungry!
Hubs or I:  Well then eat your veggies.
Gobbles (matter-of-factly):  I'm still hungry BESIDES my veggies!

And, of course, we have the quirkiest of quirky, some fun pics of my special little guy:

Deep thoughts, with Gobbles... (Notice the planet puzzle footrest)

Deep thoughts, with Gobbles AND Spoons!

Silly Guy!

The obsession with planets continues...

..and continues...

...and continues... I won't post the other 9 pictures.  You get the point!

Inventive and stylish (christmas pj's in March? Noooo Problem!)

Big guy with no worries at the barbershop. 

Obligatory selfie with my sister!

Look mom- a Toothbrush.  So I guess he's obsessed with hygiene too?

Deep thoughts with gobbles... and the Lobster Roll.

Always willing to help out with a science-like experiment that will allow my momma 26-32 weeks of weeknight wine.

Just a few months ago I was scared of both vacuums and footie pajamas, now look at me!