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!