I'm tellin' you, Grammy...if you don't hand over the keys, I'm dropping your sunglasses.
Thank you!
Ooo, what's that one do?
Ah...it was the air conditioning.
Whaddaya mean I'm too little?
Fine, I'll just sit here and chill out then.
Showing posts with label adventures in parenting (bad). Show all posts
Showing posts with label adventures in parenting (bad). Show all posts
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Watch out, World!
She's starting early...
I'm tellin' you, Grammy...if you don't hand over the keys, I'm dropping your sunglasses.
Thank you!
Ooo, what's that one do?
Ah...it was the air conditioning.
Whaddaya mean I'm too little?
Fine, I'll just sit here and chill out then.
I'm tellin' you, Grammy...if you don't hand over the keys, I'm dropping your sunglasses.
Thank you!
Ooo, what's that one do?
Ah...it was the air conditioning.
Whaddaya mean I'm too little?
Fine, I'll just sit here and chill out then.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Unfortunate incident
Remember how I said that Robyn was quickly becoming mobile? That she scoots and pulls herself all over the place? Well, it's true...she does. Most of the time it's safe and I'm able to keep her out of trouble, though we're going to need to put gates up within a week, I think.
This morning we had an unfortunate incident that I wish never had to happen to sweet babies. We were all just getting up, and Robyn was on my bed, where we'd been snuggling/playing for a bit. Julie had come in to join us. I got up to use the bathroom, leaving Julie to keep a close watch on her sister and make sure she didn't scoot off the edge of the bed. Julie usually does this in the morning while I get dressed/use the bathroom/etc. She's usually highly attentive. Well, today she wasn't. She was busy playing in Daddy's closet when I heard the loud thud, followed by hysterical crying.
By the time I got back in the room, Robyn had righted herself, and was scooting toward her big sister (presumably looking for comfort), so I couldn't tell immediately where she'd landed or hit herself. After a few minutes, it became readily apparent.
It took about 10-15 minutes to calm her down, and during that time she didn't want to nurse or take her sippy cup, and would barely take the pacifier for a few seconds at a time. She wouldn't snuggle into me, but definitely wanted to be held. It was so sad.
Eventually she was calm enough to eat breakfast. While in the high chair, Julie kissed her goose egg all better.
Later, Robyn fell asleep on the floor while half-heartedly playing. She's such a light sleeper that I left her right where she was.
She's awake and happy now, and just looks a little worse for the wear.
(Apologies for the low-quality iPod pictures.)
This morning we had an unfortunate incident that I wish never had to happen to sweet babies. We were all just getting up, and Robyn was on my bed, where we'd been snuggling/playing for a bit. Julie had come in to join us. I got up to use the bathroom, leaving Julie to keep a close watch on her sister and make sure she didn't scoot off the edge of the bed. Julie usually does this in the morning while I get dressed/use the bathroom/etc. She's usually highly attentive. Well, today she wasn't. She was busy playing in Daddy's closet when I heard the loud thud, followed by hysterical crying.
By the time I got back in the room, Robyn had righted herself, and was scooting toward her big sister (presumably looking for comfort), so I couldn't tell immediately where she'd landed or hit herself. After a few minutes, it became readily apparent.
It took about 10-15 minutes to calm her down, and during that time she didn't want to nurse or take her sippy cup, and would barely take the pacifier for a few seconds at a time. She wouldn't snuggle into me, but definitely wanted to be held. It was so sad.
Eventually she was calm enough to eat breakfast. While in the high chair, Julie kissed her goose egg all better.
Later, Robyn fell asleep on the floor while half-heartedly playing. She's such a light sleeper that I left her right where she was.
She's awake and happy now, and just looks a little worse for the wear.
(Apologies for the low-quality iPod pictures.)
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Tender mercies
"But behold, I...will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith..." (1 Nephi 1:20)
I have been the beneficiary of this promise today.
Over the last couple of weeks, I've had one friend who had a miscarriage and another who is anxiously awaiting the birth of her fourth child. Both have had a hard time with their particular trials. The first was understandably depressed for a time, and missing her mom. She had told me that she needed a hug in a bad way. That evening I had my regular Tuesday night Young Women activity. My sister was in town visiting, so I didn't have to worry about rushing to pick Julie up from the babysitter afterward, and I had a feeling that I should go visit this friend on my way home. It was a small gesture and required hardly any effort on my part, but it made a big difference to my friend that I stopped by, unplanned, solely for the sake of giving her a hug. We talked for a few minutes and then I headed home.
The second friend has had a really rough pregnancy and is now overdue. She's been in labor -- pretty uncomfortably so -- for a couple of weeks, and her doctor won't do anything for her (other than be a ginormous jerk). Basically she's miserable right now. A week and a half ago I made some amazing brownies, that I'd been thinking about. Julie didn't like them (they weren't standard fare), and they're too rich for Ben and I to eat a whole pan of by ourselves. In trying to figure out how to get rid of some of them, this friend popped into my head. At 8:00 at night I called her to see if I could come over to bring her some. I did, and we ended up chatting for about an hour an a half, which was fun for me, and apparently needed for her. It started because I just wanted to unload some brownies.
I don't mean to sound like I'm totally awesome for doing either of these things, but it's been an interesting experience for me. In both cases, I felt definitely prompted to help these friends. In neither case did it cost me a lot of effort or inconvenience. In both cases I felt like I was helping these friends in small ways, yet I knew that they were significant to them. I've been reminded through these experiences of giving small service that our Heavenly Father is mindful of us -- each of us. What is important to us is important to Him. Our sorrows are His, and if He can ease those through another person, He often does. Usually a reminder of this comes when I myself am the recipient of services, not the giver.
Yesterday was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Robyn has reached an age where she likes to be held (or paid direct attention to) about 12 hours a day (she's asleep the other 12). It's exhausting. Yesterday she was "off" for a different reason (which reason I don't know). She didn't eat very well. She took only two naps, each of which were less than 30 minutes long. She wouldn't stop crying. By 1:45, I was so done with my day. I told Ben as much, though he was at work still. He said he'd be home as quickly as he could be. By 4:45 I was counting down the minutes until he would be. By 5:00, I had to put Robyn down in her bouncy chair, strap her in, and walk away. She wouldn't stop crying, and I was honestly afraid I might shake her. (I hesitate to write that "out loud" but I know I'm not the only one, and I want others to know they're not alone.) Intending to take a shower, I went down to the laundry room to get some clean clothes to put on afterward. Instead I sank down on the floor in front of the washing machine and just sobbed. I stayed there for awhile; the laundry room is the only place in the house where I couldn't hear Robyn's cries still. I wanted my mommy.
Julie heard me and came to see what was wrong. Feeling bad about leaving Robyn alone (aside from this stage she's in, she's naturally very social and doesn't like to be left alone at all), I asked her to go upstairs and stay with her sister. I continued to cry for 10-15 minutes. I finally pulled myself together a little bit and went back upstairs, where I found Julie sitting on the floor, bouncing Robyn in the chair, and singing to her. Robyn had stopped crying. I was so touched by the scene that tears sprang to my eyes again. I picked Robyn up and began to pace with her. Not two minutes later, Ben pulled in the driveway and relieved me. I got my shower, during which time he made dinner and tended to both girls. I needed to make a quick grocery run that night to pick a few things up for teaching school today, so I took Julie with me and got some ice cream as well.
Late last night, I read a blog post that greatly comforted me. I felt like the timing of the article was precise to when I needed it most, though it may also have been coincidence.
This morning, I woke up to find that Ben had gotten me a panini press for Valentine's Day. I had wanted one for Christmas, but it wasn't in the cards this year. We usually don't do anything more than heart-shaped pizzas for Valentine's Day, so this was a big surprise. He got a donut-maker for Julie (and Robyn), which will be fun. He also wrote a mushy and sentimental note with the gifts.
A friend sent me a nerdy and punny Valentine's Day e-card, which was thoughtful.
An hour or so ago, the doorbell rang. We ordered something online last week, so I figured it was that package. Imagine my surprise when I found a box full of beautiful tulips from my dad.
Our individual importance has been on my mind the last couple of weeks, because I have been a part of making sure others know it. Today I have been blessed by others doing the same thing for me when I have needed the comfort and personal reminder. I'm a lucky girl.
I have been the beneficiary of this promise today.
Over the last couple of weeks, I've had one friend who had a miscarriage and another who is anxiously awaiting the birth of her fourth child. Both have had a hard time with their particular trials. The first was understandably depressed for a time, and missing her mom. She had told me that she needed a hug in a bad way. That evening I had my regular Tuesday night Young Women activity. My sister was in town visiting, so I didn't have to worry about rushing to pick Julie up from the babysitter afterward, and I had a feeling that I should go visit this friend on my way home. It was a small gesture and required hardly any effort on my part, but it made a big difference to my friend that I stopped by, unplanned, solely for the sake of giving her a hug. We talked for a few minutes and then I headed home.
The second friend has had a really rough pregnancy and is now overdue. She's been in labor -- pretty uncomfortably so -- for a couple of weeks, and her doctor won't do anything for her (other than be a ginormous jerk). Basically she's miserable right now. A week and a half ago I made some amazing brownies, that I'd been thinking about. Julie didn't like them (they weren't standard fare), and they're too rich for Ben and I to eat a whole pan of by ourselves. In trying to figure out how to get rid of some of them, this friend popped into my head. At 8:00 at night I called her to see if I could come over to bring her some. I did, and we ended up chatting for about an hour an a half, which was fun for me, and apparently needed for her. It started because I just wanted to unload some brownies.
I don't mean to sound like I'm totally awesome for doing either of these things, but it's been an interesting experience for me. In both cases, I felt definitely prompted to help these friends. In neither case did it cost me a lot of effort or inconvenience. In both cases I felt like I was helping these friends in small ways, yet I knew that they were significant to them. I've been reminded through these experiences of giving small service that our Heavenly Father is mindful of us -- each of us. What is important to us is important to Him. Our sorrows are His, and if He can ease those through another person, He often does. Usually a reminder of this comes when I myself am the recipient of services, not the giver.
Yesterday was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Robyn has reached an age where she likes to be held (or paid direct attention to) about 12 hours a day (she's asleep the other 12). It's exhausting. Yesterday she was "off" for a different reason (which reason I don't know). She didn't eat very well. She took only two naps, each of which were less than 30 minutes long. She wouldn't stop crying. By 1:45, I was so done with my day. I told Ben as much, though he was at work still. He said he'd be home as quickly as he could be. By 4:45 I was counting down the minutes until he would be. By 5:00, I had to put Robyn down in her bouncy chair, strap her in, and walk away. She wouldn't stop crying, and I was honestly afraid I might shake her. (I hesitate to write that "out loud" but I know I'm not the only one, and I want others to know they're not alone.) Intending to take a shower, I went down to the laundry room to get some clean clothes to put on afterward. Instead I sank down on the floor in front of the washing machine and just sobbed. I stayed there for awhile; the laundry room is the only place in the house where I couldn't hear Robyn's cries still. I wanted my mommy.
Julie heard me and came to see what was wrong. Feeling bad about leaving Robyn alone (aside from this stage she's in, she's naturally very social and doesn't like to be left alone at all), I asked her to go upstairs and stay with her sister. I continued to cry for 10-15 minutes. I finally pulled myself together a little bit and went back upstairs, where I found Julie sitting on the floor, bouncing Robyn in the chair, and singing to her. Robyn had stopped crying. I was so touched by the scene that tears sprang to my eyes again. I picked Robyn up and began to pace with her. Not two minutes later, Ben pulled in the driveway and relieved me. I got my shower, during which time he made dinner and tended to both girls. I needed to make a quick grocery run that night to pick a few things up for teaching school today, so I took Julie with me and got some ice cream as well.
Late last night, I read a blog post that greatly comforted me. I felt like the timing of the article was precise to when I needed it most, though it may also have been coincidence.
This morning, I woke up to find that Ben had gotten me a panini press for Valentine's Day. I had wanted one for Christmas, but it wasn't in the cards this year. We usually don't do anything more than heart-shaped pizzas for Valentine's Day, so this was a big surprise. He got a donut-maker for Julie (and Robyn), which will be fun. He also wrote a mushy and sentimental note with the gifts.
A friend sent me a nerdy and punny Valentine's Day e-card, which was thoughtful.
An hour or so ago, the doorbell rang. We ordered something online last week, so I figured it was that package. Imagine my surprise when I found a box full of beautiful tulips from my dad.
Our individual importance has been on my mind the last couple of weeks, because I have been a part of making sure others know it. Today I have been blessed by others doing the same thing for me when I have needed the comfort and personal reminder. I'm a lucky girl.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
In the last 36 hours
Sucky things that have happened:
- Julie flooded the toilet and bathroom
- Julie destroyed my chapstick -- the second in less than a week
- Another bedtime that didn't finish until after 10:30pm
- Woke up at 2:00am to Julie coughing in my face every five seconds
- Forgot to take dinner (that I promised) to a friend who just had a baby
- Julie destroyed my lipstick, which I replaced about three months ago, after she destroyed the previous one
- Julie dragged the lipstick all over the dining room floor and table
- Julie unwrapped and ate every stick but one of the gum in my purse
- Got lipstick all over the whisk that was in my purse from a YW activity
- Unrolled a ton of dental floss from the pack in my purse
- Found DVDs randomly stuffed into the five-disc changer
- Julie wasted a spare tampon in my purse by opening it and pushing it out through the applicator
- Was super hungry at 11:00pm (not pregnant) and ate taquitos -- not great for metabolism
- Julie pulled the block of Parmesan cheese out of the fridge this morning (which was locked, by the way), and started shredding it using my microplane -- I've been using fresh Parmesan a lot lately, and this was actually a little cute and funny, except that she left the cheese out, and it started to get a little hard on the outside
- I've had semi-intense lower-left quadrant abdominal pain for a day and a half
- Julie dumped out her bubble bath, my travel sized shower gel (in a discontinued fragrance that I really like), and squeezed out a bunch of anti-bacterial hand lotion, all over the inside of the linen closet
- I went to a fun YW Mutual activity, made even more fun by the fact that I didn't have to do anything for it
- I watched an episode of Chuck last night after giving up on bedtime and sending Ben up instead
- Melting snow
- Julie snuggling with her Daddy on the couch when he got home
- Julie falling asleep for a nap on the floor next to my chair as I type this...with a DVD on her face
Monday, December 20, 2010
A busy day
Julie has had a very busy day today.
First, there was this. It happened in about 15 minutes, though clearly it doesn't require that long. This is the second time in a week she's done this with my herbs and spices. Before I could clean any of it up, however, I had to find a large bath towel to soak up all the water on the floor. She loves to play with water.
And then there was this. Julie's first encounter with markers.
I tried to take a picture, but she went running away from me. She came back just moments later, carrying "her" camera.
It really is hard to be mad when she looks at me like this. And I guess I'm not mad. Not really. It's still pretty easy to be frustrated, though. I actually think the cuteness fuels the frustration.
Oh yeah, and it's only 2:30.
First, there was this. It happened in about 15 minutes, though clearly it doesn't require that long. This is the second time in a week she's done this with my herbs and spices. Before I could clean any of it up, however, I had to find a large bath towel to soak up all the water on the floor. She loves to play with water.
And then there was this. Julie's first encounter with markers.
I tried to take a picture, but she went running away from me. She came back just moments later, carrying "her" camera.
It really is hard to be mad when she looks at me like this. And I guess I'm not mad. Not really. It's still pretty easy to be frustrated, though. I actually think the cuteness fuels the frustration.
Oh yeah, and it's only 2:30.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Too young for gum
Sigh.
Ben made me take these pictures.
Julie has a thing with getting into my purse. No matter how many times I tell her "no" or suggest/distract with a different activity, the only effective way to keep her out of it is to put it up high out of her reach. But I don't always remember.
Here's the thing about this particular incident: Ben was in the room when she did it. He was reading or napping or something.
Ben made me take these pictures.
Julie has a thing with getting into my purse. No matter how many times I tell her "no" or suggest/distract with a different activity, the only effective way to keep her out of it is to put it up high out of her reach. But I don't always remember.
Here's the thing about this particular incident: Ben was in the room when she did it. He was reading or napping or something.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Owie
Julie got an "owie" this week that is sure to leave its mark for quite awhile. We have a space heater in her room, since only one of her heater vents works. It has a plastic case, so it doesn't stay hot, and we don't leave it on during the day. Anyway, Julie likes to unplug it and carry it around. This week, she missed the floor and hit her toe when she set it down:
Friday, December 4, 2009
Please don't call CPS
I swear it's all been accidents. Perhaps you noticed that Julie's bruises the other day were on the left side of her face. Well, take note -- this bruise is on the right side of her face:
Here's how it happened. In our TV room, we have this dresser, that we don't really have another place for. Well, Julie has started exploring it recently. The doors don't close all the way on their own, so she can open them. She's also started reaching for a lot of things, as she's growing taller. She somehow managed to get a good enough grip on the middle shelf (made of particle board, by the way), and pulled it out on top of herself. She fell over straight backward, gripping tightly for dear life to the board, which landed on top of her.
Here's what the door looks like now:
Here's how it happened. In our TV room, we have this dresser, that we don't really have another place for. Well, Julie has started exploring it recently. The doors don't close all the way on their own, so she can open them. She's also started reaching for a lot of things, as she's growing taller. She somehow managed to get a good enough grip on the middle shelf (made of particle board, by the way), and pulled it out on top of herself. She fell over straight backward, gripping tightly for dear life to the board, which landed on top of her.
Here's what the door looks like now:
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Why does my Wednesday think that it's Monday?
Yep, my Wednesday has a Monday complex. I stayed up well past 1:00 this morning reading (I'm halfway through the fourth Harry Potter book, for the first time), so when I awoke (and I'm being generous when I say "awoke") to Julie's calls for me at 7:30, I wasn't ready to get up yet. She didn't sound super happy to be awake herself, so I thought I'd bring her back into bed with me and we could snuggle for half an hour before getting up. I went into her room and smelled messy diaper. So I decided to change her before taking her back into my room. I picked her up (she gave me a big sweet hug) and carried her to the changing table. When I laid her down, I realized that she didn't have a diaper on, but that my nose had not misled me. She was poopy. I groaned (loudly), quickly cleaned her bottom and put a new diaper on, then put her on the floor. I grabbed the diaper out of the crib, put the wipes in it and threw in the diaper pail, then back to assess the situation. Luckily, it could have been a lot worse. There were a few smears on the sheet, but Donald Duck took the brunt of the mess. I decided it could all wait until after breakfast, because Julie wouldn't wait for cleanup to be done before she required breakfast. After breakfast, I pulled everything out of the crib, then called my mother-in-law for help with Donald Duck. I figured he was took big for the washing machine, but she said just to throw him in there after spot cleaning. So I did. Then I got a washcloth wet with hot water and Lysol, and cleaned the crib where there were smears. Problem over with.
Fast-forward through the morning (during which I still groaned at this new and unexpected -- and most unwelcome -- milestone in my daughter's life) to lunch time. I'm in the kitchen preparing Julie's lunch, when I come around the corner of the refrigerator to throw something in the trashcan. On the other side of the trashcan, sitting in the open doorway to the pantry, is Julie, with half a box of baking soda spilled all around her on the floor. I cried. So I put her in her high chair while I finished making lunch. Then I ate mine, then I got the camera, and finally the vacuum cleaner. I took pictures in the hope that maybe later I'll laugh about it. (And I have no doubt that I will. Later.)
But here's the bigger problem: things happen in threes, right? So...poopy diaper, baking soda, what's next? She'll probably yank on the cat's tail while I'm not paying attention and get her dues from him. Oh yes, we're babysitting a cat for a month. Julie likes to pull his ears and tail.
It's a good thing she's so darn stinkin' cute the rest of the time.
Fast-forward through the morning (during which I still groaned at this new and unexpected -- and most unwelcome -- milestone in my daughter's life) to lunch time. I'm in the kitchen preparing Julie's lunch, when I come around the corner of the refrigerator to throw something in the trashcan. On the other side of the trashcan, sitting in the open doorway to the pantry, is Julie, with half a box of baking soda spilled all around her on the floor. I cried. So I put her in her high chair while I finished making lunch. Then I ate mine, then I got the camera, and finally the vacuum cleaner. I took pictures in the hope that maybe later I'll laugh about it. (And I have no doubt that I will. Later.)
But here's the bigger problem: things happen in threes, right? So...poopy diaper, baking soda, what's next? She'll probably yank on the cat's tail while I'm not paying attention and get her dues from him. Oh yes, we're babysitting a cat for a month. Julie likes to pull his ears and tail.It's a good thing she's so darn stinkin' cute the rest of the time.
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