Poser: Why I Don't Want Baby D to Wear Camo

When I was 18, I knew a girl who had more than one sticker on her car depicting those adorable, rainbow hued dancing bears. That was the year Jerry Garcia passed away. As a group of us sat sipping our lattes around a table (hey, it was 1995. We thought we were Friends.) the girl piped up and asked, "So, who is Jerry Garcia and why is everybody making such a big deal that he died?"
The girl was, as we say, a big ol' poser.

Fast forward to 2012. Camo is everywhere. It's all over the baby clothes made for little boys. And, I don't want to dress my baby boy in it.
Yes, I realize I live in Alabama and camouflage is considered a staple in every person's wardrobe. However, I don't think there is any in our home. Maybe the county fashion police should come and arrest us.

First of all, we're not in the military. My dad was in the Army, my cousins were/are in the Army, both our grandfathers served in WWII, and I am very proud of my former student who is now a Marine protecting our freedom in Afghanistan. But, well, we're not soldiers. Madeline isn't a firefighter, so I don't dress her like one. I don't dress like a police officer to go to the grocery store. So, why would I dress my son like a soldier when he isn't one?

Second of all, we don't hunt. I'm going to try not to get all sanctimonious about this one, because I don't have a problem with people who hunt. But, since there is a Publix roughly 7 minutes from our house, there's really no reason for us to go a-shootin' at some food. We can buy it at the store. (And, a sport is when two opposing players or teams both know what's going on and have an equal chance at scoring. Unless you arm the deer, hunting is not a sport.)
I know of several people, relatives included, who presented their little boys or young adolescent boys with firearms for Christmas. I get that they're going to use them for hunting, and will wear camo as they do it. I'm not judging. I just don't think giving my little boy a lethal weapon is a choice I'm going to make in the future. So, there's no need to get him acclimated to the camo culture this early.

If, when Baby D is old enough to make his own choices, he decides he wants to get up at 3 a.m. to sit in the woods when it's 32 degrees outside on the off-chance that he might shoot a deer that we're not going to eat because we don't like venison, OK. He can wear camouflage. The same goes for if he decides to follow in his Poppa's footsteps and join the military.

But, for now, dressing him in camo would be like me wearing a football...um, uniform? Is it called a uniform?

We try to be genuine people. No need to turn our kid into a poser.

Happy Anniversary!

Ahh, is there anything sweeter than dorky love?

Happy anniversary to my best friend. You still make me laugh like that.

Prayers

Our love and prayers are with those here in the Birmingham area who have suffered losses in last night's round of tornadoes.

Most of the damage was in the area where I taught last year, although I am not aware of anyone I know whose homes were damaged or lost. Many others were not so fortunate.

For those of you who live in other parts of the country, or even in other countries, when it's 70 degrees in January anywhere in Alabama, tornadoes are pretty much a given.

*About an hour after I posted this, I learned that our friend's student lost her life in the storm. Please pray for the student and her family & friends.*

Just a Couple of Pictures

Don't forget to read the other new post when you're finished looking at the pictures! :)
Just hanging out in the Bumbo with a football. Life is good.

Conversations With Madeline

I used to list words in Madelinese and then translate them for you. Now, the girl speaks in complete sentences and is picking up an everything she hears. I know I've said this before, but at this point, it's probably not a good idea for me to listen to Nine Inch Nails with the kids in the car anymore. I had to tone it down and start listening to the local radio stations (which are horrible, by the way), and save my '90's nostalgia for that once-per-month time I find to be alone in the car.

Anyway, I thought I'd share some of Madeline's latest with you, since I know you can barely sleep at night without knowing every time we eat, sleep, or speak.

Madeline likes to, "Hold Dabid's han'," because, according to her, "We're bess fends." I'm so glad they're "bess fends." Also on the "bess fends" list are Cinderella and Snow White, and Mommy and Daddy.

Every night, our bedtime routine is the same. She takes a bath, gets into her pjs, puts her head on her ladybug pillow (thanks, Aunt Ann!) and snuggles in with her lovey. We read two or three stories and then we say our prayers. The prayer goes like this:
"Deeah God, tank you soooooo much fa' ma fammy, an' ma home, an' ma fammy, an' ma home. I' Jesus name, AY-meh!"
I'm going to make the assumption that you can translate that one on your own. It absolutely melts my heart.
Then, I have to turn on her sleepy time music because if I forget, she yells, "Meesic, Mommy!"
Of course, there are kisses and wishes of sweet dreams, and Madeline tells me, "Don' yet da pa-pas pite!" (Don't let the bed bugs bite.)
The other night, I was trying to be so sweet and tell her night-night. She responded with "Mommy, goff my banket." (Get off my blanket.)
Sometimes, she starts listing all the people who love her, which can take a very long time since she names every family member she's ever met, my friend Nina, her friend Lauren, Lauren's brother, God, etc.

She can actually tell us what she wants now, which is sad because I miss my baby Sweet Pea, but it's making life so much easier!
She can now let me know that she wants "Chee-os and byoobeyyies" for a snack. That would be Cheerios and blueberries. I'm glad I know that kids grow out of substituting "Y" for "L" and "R," otherwise I would be worried.

I'm a little surprised at how well she does with pronouns. Did I say that before? She uses "I" and "me" appropriately most of the time, although she does still say, "Mommy hold you," when she means, "Mommy hold me."

She has remarkably good manners for a two-year-old. Well, at least she does with everyone but me. She says "excuse me," when she wants someone to get out of her way. For me, it's "Move, Mommy!" She is full of "yes, please," and "no, thank you." She also knows the difference between how we behave when playing at home, and when having a meal in a public place. I love it. Good manners are so incredibly important and I hope she carries them with her forever.

Truth be told, Madeline hardly ever stops talking. I tend to be a little more taciturn, so it makes me crazy sometimes, especially when she repeats the same phrase 496 times in a row. But I love to hear her laugh and I LOVE that she is so engaged in imaginative play now! It thrills me to listen to her having a conversation with her dolls (or other toys) and to have her tell me that she's Cinderella and Mommy's a "pincess."

Here are some things we tend to hear at least a few times a week, and I hope you enjoy reading them as much as we enjoy hearing them. Of course, we're her parents so you probably won't, but I can dream of a world where everyone gushes over my children, can't I?

"We go yiberry an' get books, Mommy?"
"Dat's byoo-ful! (beautiful)" Most recently said while gazing upon a cupcake display at the grocery store.
"I go park/chetch (church) an pay wif Ya-Ya! (Lala, aka Lauren.)"
"I yike moah milk, peese."
"I ____ fuhst." Usually at bath time or bed time. She sounds exactly like Forrest Gump when she says, "first."
"I wannnacomewifme." I want to come with me, or, I want to go where you are going. She says it so fast it sounds like one word.
"I helpin', Mommy! I put coze away!" She doesn't actually put the clothes away, but I appreciate the offer.
"Iz pizza night? Daddy bing dinna home?"

There are dozens more, but I'll leave you with those. Stay tuned for a post of David pictures. I would post some new pictures of Madeline, but another one of her favorite phrases is, "No! I no take pick-cha!"
I'll be so glad when this camera-shy business is over.

The Incredible Edible... Everything

This morning, I was present at a very interesting MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meeting and I thought I'd share some of it with you.

I like food. I mean, I really like food. I am picky about what I eat, and I have some of the strangest eating habits ever, but when I eat, I thoroughly enjoy what I'm eating. In fact, I'm devouring a tasty salad as I write this post. I took just as much pleasure in making it as I am in eating it. Cooking, baking, making food look pretty, watching Food Network, finding new recipes - it's all a Mardi Gras for me.
So, naturally, I've taken an interest in Madeline's eating habits and wonder what David's will be. When I learned that our MOPS speaker for today would be discussing food and nutrition, I was eager to get there.

She spent a lot of time discussing picky eaters. I know all about that one. Not only am I a picky eater, I am the spawn of two people for whom "picky" is not an ample description. My mother's restaurant orders take roughly ten minutes to complete once she has finished removing the 7 items on the sandwich/in the soup/topping the pasta/filling the taco that she absolutely cannot have in her presence, and replacing them with the 2 she likes. My dad just eliminates the entire restaurant if he doesn't like the first thing he tries on their menu. But, I digress.
I thought Madeline was picky, but I learned today that all of her food issues are pretty common in toddlers and she'll probably get over them soon. Most toddlers refuse some vegetables and meats because they're very tactile creatures and the textures give them the heebeejeebees. I can relate! I just didn't realize I had a toddler's palate. Most of my food dislikes are texture-related.

Speaking of that, the nutritionist said that it's very important to respect severe dislikes. (Do you hear that people?? Stop trying to make me eat potato salad!! And baked beans, and cole slaw, and pretty much all other foods associated with the 4th of July.) So, how do you know when it's a severe dislike? It turns out that a kid has to watch you eat something 10 times and try it 5 times before it's considered a severe dislike. Who knew?

I also learned that nutrition should be a weekly goal for the kids, not a daily one. So, if Madeline doesn't get all her green veggies in one day, it's OK. She can make up for it later in the week.
To be honest, though, her eating habits intrigue me. I have a feeling she might be a chef one day. The kid won't eat cheddar or American cheese. Nope. Feta. Broccoli with cheese sauce? Uh-uh. Try raw spinach with garlic peppercorn salad dressing. She also pretends to make coffee, but I think she's just imitaitng something she sees happening all throughout the day.

Why the heck am I sharing this with you? Well, for one thing, I found it fascinating and I wanted to pass it along. For another thing, I want to hear about your experiences. Are you a picky eater? Are your kids? How do you handle it? What are some creative ways you've found to work healthy stuff into kid food?
More importantly, does anyone have any toddler-friendly dinner recipes you'd like to share? I'm getting tired of making the same old stuff.

Three Months Old!

"I'm Just a Kid Who's Four..."

If you have a toddler or preschooler, there's an excellent chance that the title of this post just struck a chord of mortal dread and fear in your very soul.

If not, allow me to explain. There is a cartoon, quite popular with the little ones, called "Caillou." I know I've mentioned Caillou (kai - yoo) in previous posts. Madeline is obssessed with the whiny little beast. My dear friend, Jakki, doesn't even want her kids to watch it. I don't blame her. Good heavens, that kid's a big ol' whiner! The newer episodes are not quite as bad, but the original episodes are enough to make a grown-up want to put her head into a blender.

Whining aside, there are some things that I just do not understand about Caillou, his family, and the world he lives in. And, by that, I don't mean Canada. My good friend, Cindy, has assured me that the show is not an accurate portrayal of Canadian life.

I'd like to report Caillou's parents to the local child protective services. The kid lives in Canada and wears shorts and a tshirt every day of his life, even when there's a mighty snow storm outside that causes a power outage. Don't even get me started on his mama's pajama jeans and sweatshirt with a ruffled collar, or her Hillary Clinton circa 1992 headband. The point is, she's wearing warm clothes. So are his dad, his sister, all this friends, his teacher, the next-door neighbor... Do you get where I'm going with this? Doesn't the kid ever get cold like everyone else does?

Speaking of storms, why does Caillou's friend Sarah have to spend the night at his house when the power goes out? She lives next door. Is Caillou's dad too stinkin' lazy to walk her twenty feet to her front door?

Why are there so many redheads in Caillou's life? Now, you all know how much I love (and envy) red hair. But, there's a very small percentage of people in the world who actually have naturally red hair. In Caillouland, his sister, best friend, best friend's mom, his teacher, three kids in his preschool class, and several random people who show up in Caillou's adventures are redheads. I keep expecting to hear someone say, "O'Doyle rules!"

When Caillou goes to play at Clementine's house, why do they have to take the subway there, but it's close enough to walk home?

How old is Rosie, exactly? Sometimes she acts as if she's two-years-old, and sometimes she seems to be no more than nine months or so. And, where the heck is she when Caillou's mom is driving him to and from preschool?

Why do they go on so many picnics? Who has a picnic every week of their lives?

Finally, and prehaps most importantly, why is Caillou's head still slick bald at the age of four??

I'm probably overthinking this, but give me a break. I'm home with a toddler and a baby all day. My thoughts revolve around what they do. I just wish she were this obssessed with Little Einsteins.

Enjoy the clip, if you dare.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqnQqg8MouU

Happy New Year!

OK, so I'm a couple of days late with this greeting. I've been a little busy.

So, let's see...there's the matter of New Year's resolutions to address, I suppose. I'm doing the whole cliche thing this time around. I have to get rid of this baby weight. Have to. HAVE TO! I haven't quite mapped out a master plan for making it happen yet, but I can say that I've eaten less and moved more today. Wish me luck!

I also want this to be the year that Dan and I focus more on making our lives Christ-centered. Oh, sure we go to church every Sunday and try to do Wednesday night fellowship dinners as often as we can. But, is that really making Christ the center of our lives? I'm thinking we could start with a Bible-study together when classes resume, or something along those lines. I'm also thinking I should tell him this before I sign us up for something.

There are dozens of things I would like to accomplish this year, but I don't know if I would necessarily call them resolutions, per se. I'd like to become organized again, evict the dust bunnies from my house, go back to work at a job that I like, and make more time for Dan and me without the kids.

I'd also like a mini-van and more frequent trips to Atlanta to visit the friends I so desperately miss.

We'll see how it all pans out.

What about you? What do you see for yourself in 2012?