Toddler Socialism

In the grand realm of things in life this is not a big deal, but it greatly upset my child.

Nora goes to St. Andrew's Preschool at our Methodist Church. They have been teaching them about Easter and the meaning of all the religious symbols surrounding the holiday.

Of course, I really don't think 2 yr olds fully grasp that an egg is symbolic of new life and the life in heaven that Christ promised us through his crucifixion and resurrection..

What Nora now understands is that she is an AWESOME egg hunter.

That there is candy in these eggs.

If you go fast, you find more.

That her basket was taken from her and the great effort. She found about 15 total.

AND, her eggs were separated out to the kiddos that didn't find as many as her.

Her take home haul was only 8 eggs. WHICH she noticed was less than what was there originally.

So, today Nora has had a opportunity to experience toddler socialism. She worked hard, did her job and lost half her haul to those slower than her....welcome to life kiddo.

(of course, this is a sarcastic post. We definitely understand the concept of sharing)

If I was Half the Mom you were....

We've all heard this expression.

The truth is what one woman does the other one doesn't do and vice versa. Collectively, a group of friends might keep all 1 million 'to-do' balls in the air.

I started realizing how many things mothers keep up in the hectic schedule and how many we let fall through the cracks. This brought to mind all the things I DON'T do on a regular basis.

You might have the make up on that I don't.

You might have your shirt ironed because I rarely see my iron.

You'd care about vacuuming more than once a week, b/c there are weeks that this doesn't happen.

Your kiddo might have her hair done everyday.

Your kiddo might have pants on more than 50% of the day.

You might have dinner on the table by 6pm, me it's more like 7pm on a good day.

You might not let laundry pile up so badly 6 loads are necessary when you finally get around to it.

Your checkbook might be balanced. I stopped keeping one a LONG time ago.

Your car might not have enough cereal in it to qualify as a serving.

Your 'to-do' list might not get crammed into the 48 hrs before your parents arrive.

You might not run your gas tank so empty that the light comes on, not out of gas economy but out of sheer forgetfulness.

The Report.

Well, he had his appointment this morning at 8:15. The good news, the radiologist says his has a unremarkable brain meaning everything is clear. NO pituitary tumor, no brain surgery.

The bad news.

The only way to fix this is to put Rich on hormone therapy(steroids) to bring his testosterone levels back up. Which, will effectively kill his fertility over the next several years. Dr. Parman told Rich he can stop taking it and the affects will reverse but that's to be seen. Rich is going to be put on a LOW dose so that may make a difference.

We had to make a decision.

I guess I'd rather have the promise of a healthy husband and marriage than the long shot of Rich saying 'yes' to kiddo #3. We had a discussion a while back and decided to table talk of another kiddo until Trent is 21mths old or so. Did this when considering #2 as well.

According to all the research I've done. we are also playing Russian roulette with early prostate cancer by letting Rich's levels stay low. Once again, healthy husband or jeopardize health for sake of more children?

We are both relieved, want to cry, and want to laugh all at the same time today. It's an odd combination of emotions due to all the stress.

Operation 'Byes'

Well, it has taken 9 days to get to this point but she seems to be losing interest in her 'byes'! This is what we did in case anyone is curious. I didn't keep ANY emergency 'byes' in the house so I could crumble under toddler tantrums.

First, I took a diaper pin and poked 6 holes in the tip of her paci....this lasted 3 days.(Nora didn't notice)

Second, using the same diaper pin I poked 12 holes ....this lasted 3 days. (Nora didn't seem to notice)

Third, used scissors to cut the VERY tip off her paci...this lasted 3 days.( Nora told us the byes had a hole and was broken)

Today, cut HALF the bulbous end off the paci before nap. (Nora told us byes hole got BIGGER! and giggled, she laid down and continued to stick her finger in and out of the hole but no paci in the mouth)

I ALWAYS did the paci destruction before naptime, not bedtime. My thought was disrupting naptime with paci upset was better than bedtime, plus shorter nap meant more tired kiddo at bedtime. Most of this info can be found on a website call Bye Bye Binky(google it). The website suggested doing this at a much faster pace, but I chose to use some mommy instincts. The whole theory behind this is that the holes in the paci start desensitizing their brain's pleasure center when sucking on a paci. Basically, they start poofing air into their mouth which becomes more annoying with more holes. Cutting the tip off gets them one step closer. This technique made so much sense to me as it uses their senses on a subconscious level to let go of the paci.

Hope this helps some of you that also have paci addicts!

Next Tuesday

ARGGGHHHHH!

That didn't help.

Nothing is going to help until we have some answers.

Next Tuesday we might have an answer.

We might have an answer we don't want.

Next Tuesday is going to be a LONG day.

We might be able to pour these emotions into something positive.

Next Tuesday may be a very scary moment in my life.

Until then, until we have answers I can't talk about it.

Next Tuesday makes me cry, stop in my tracks and pray.

Next Tuesday is all I keep thinking about.

Ramblings from Nora

Haven't done an update on the crazy toddler lately...these have been the funnies in the last month or so.

Story 1

"Mommy we need to go home"
Me: 'Why do we need to go home?"
"Cuz"

Jaw HIT the floor on that one! She sounded so grown up and isnt' even 2.5 yet.

Story 2

Rich and I were wrestling on the couch one Saturday morning...

Nora: " Daddy! Don't squish the mommy!!!"
Rich: (laughing) 'Ok baby, daddy won't squish mommy'
Nora: " No squish the mommy, you hurt that baby!'

She's told almost EVERY day to not squish the mommy tummy because she'll hurt that baby. Guess she's been listening and become the rule moderator on that one.

Story 3

"Mommy, I want two chicken nugget. NO more, no less"

HA! The character, Henry the penguin from Oswald says this ALL the time. Funny when you get it from the toddler. The best part is she puts up her little pointer finger and trys to be very serious.

Story 4

"Mommy, you need a food. I get fridgerator. You hungry, need the food. I get fridgerator. I be careful, get a plate.

One afternoon she just decided I needed food and was very serious in this conversation.

Story 5 - This one happened last night

Nora: "Daddy, look an airing port(airport). I see a plane! I fly the plane daddy. You come to my airing port?'

Rich: Yes, honey I'll come to your airport.

Nora: "I fly the plane, go high, go see Mimi far away!"

Rich: "That's wonderful Nora, Daddy would be ok with you being a pilot"

From here the conversation got detoured in the toddler thought process.

Nora: 'Oh no! There a ghost! Ghost get me!'

Rich: No the ghost won't get you honey, mommy's car has ghost proof glass. The ghost can't get in.

Nora: 'Ghost to big get in car, no get me, bonk the glass'

Rich: 'That's right Nora'.

Nora: 'Ghost fly but no wings. Daddy, plane has wings! You have wings daddy? You want to be a dragon.

Rich: 'No daddy doesn't want to be a dragon, it's not really his bag. Does the dragon breathe fire Nora or is it a nice dragon"

Nora: 'He nice dragon, my friend. Daddy, you be my friend? Mommy, you be my friend?'

Of course we answered 'yes'....melting our hearts with the innocence that was in the question.

Nora: You come my airing port, we fly plane high like dragon. Go vroooom,vroooom...(giggles)

This is the very edited version of about a 10 minute dialogue on planes, dragons, wings, friends, and ghosts. I told Rich these are the times I WISH we had a recorder in the car...such precious moments.

Other funny phrases:

'Oh dear, what happen to your bathroom' - when seeing the destruction for the first time.

'Yes siree'

OH yes!...when she agrees with something you are saying.

'No thanks'...she says it so nicely! And it can be 'no thanks' to the offer of dinner, a new diaper, going outside coloring. Let's hope this one sticks because how awesome would that be.

'Sister'...in response to us asking her what baby brother's name is. Of course we correct her but she's so adamant