Party Pro

Or so I have been told. My in-laws tend to rely on me when it comes to party planning. I have been a mom for 2 years and 4 months now. In that time I have thrown : 2 christening parties, 5 birthday parties, and countless holiday dinners and cookouts in between. I love to entertain. Granted I always get stressed and have major meltdowns during the prep, but they always turn out good!

On a brighter note

My older child is now using the potty 100% throughout the day. She even takes her naps without pull ups! Time to work on the baby.

Older daughter also is taking to the pool very well and is learning how to swim. It is a work in progress but she is no longer terrified of going in the pool.

The First

My Abi as you can tell, turned one recently. I am happy. She is healthy and growing. Learning new things every day. I am truly blessed. But I have said this before and will say it again. I am sad. Maybe because I know she is my baby. I will not have anymore, although her father has been implying that he wants to have another in an attempt to have a son. [insert rolleye smilie here]

Despite all that, I can't imagine how my life would be without her. When I found out I was pregnant with her I was less than thrilled. Sarah was 7 months old when I conceived her. I was not ready for another. I was very disconnected from the pregnancy. I was sick for most of the time and busy between work and caring for Sarah so there was no desire or opportunity to bond with the unborn baby. It was a labor of love that I wanted to get over with.

But the moment she was born and came into the world my heart melted instantly. Funny I did not feel this emotion with my firstborn even though her birth was highly anticipated. The love I felt when I first saw Abi's face, when I first held her in my arms, when I first put her to my breast, that love is such a powerful indescribable feeling. A feeling I still feel to this day when I see her one year later, running around the house, finding new things out on her own, when she kisses me, or is calling me to come get her out of her crib, or when she smiles at me like she has not seen me in a very long time. This is the first time I think I can say I know what true love feels like.

Pee-Pee in the Potty Puddle

My 2 yo has opted to pee on my bathroom floor.

I thought for a brief sec that my toilet was backed up.

I am pissed...literally.

Bits and Pieces

Alot has been going on lately. Had a few deaths. One dramatic birth. And a whole lot of different emotions in between. But in all the confusion we must remain in a state of functionality for our children right?

• Sarah has been going to the potty on a regular basis. She had one accident free day but everyday I have at least 1 accident. But she is enjoying the reward system. I have a reward chart in her room and she puts Dora stickers on the squares each time she goes. So far she has earned a trip to the playground. This time around she is gonna go for ice cream when she gets all her stickers.

• Abi is walking! I am so sad. Happy, yes, but sad. My baby is getting big. She cut her first set of teeth too. All on the verge of her first birthday.

Which brings me to my next point:

• I am so stressed over what to do for her birthday. I feel that I have done it all for Sarah. And I am struggling to "top that". But I am so tired of the preparation that goes into it. And the clean up. I am tired of guests who show up just to eat and get a plate to take home with them, but never pitch in to help with anything, or even compensate with a decent gift. I wanted to do something simple and outsource the prep work but the father wants to keep it at home. I guess so his tribe can come over and get their grub on. Joy!

Also running through my mind:

• How do I keep my kids busy through the summer? Playgroup is done until the fall so my kids are home until it resumes. We have been on 2 vacations since March and I feel as if it is time to take another one so the girls, Sarah in particular, can get loose.

• I hate this weather. It has not been hot, but most days have not been suitable outdoor weather. I took the girls out to watch fireworks the other night and it was so chilly! We haven't even opened out pool! Not good swimming weather at all. We did get a little kiddie pool for the girls to splish splash in on those rare hot days.

• Lastly, I am conflicted as to whether or not I should post pics here. I have tons of pics to share of the girls but I do not like the photo option on these blogs as they often get in the way of the post. I wish there was some way I could have a thumbnail of pics in an album here on the blog. If any of you know if such an option is available please drop me a line.

The Jackson Lesson: One for the History Books

Yesterday was a hard day for me. I have never truly declared myself a Michael Jackson fan. Fan is short for fanatic. I do not consider myself a fanatic. But I can surely appreciate some good music and smooth dance moves. And that is what I take away from MJ. For as long as I can remember in my childhood, he has always been a highly respected musician. I remember the 45's in our record collection...Jackson 5 albums...the christmas album I always played during the season.

Off the wall, then Thriller. The MTV crossover. The fashion, the dance moves...moon walk, crotch grab, pelvic thrust, a zig zagging silhouette who could pull a mean spin.....

It is hard for me to sit here today and remember all this as I type with a heavy heart......

What is even harder for me is to acknowledge that although Michael died physically yesterday he has really been dead for a much longer time than that. He died when he turned into an adult. There was no way one could argue that he transitioned well. He even penned a song that he said was closest to how he felt in his heart.

Have you seen my Childhood?
I'm searching for the world that I come from
'Cause I've been looking around
In the lost and found of my heart...
No one understands me
They view it as such strange eccentricities...
'Cause I keep kidding around
Like a child, but pardon me...

People say I'm not okay
'Cause I love such elementary things...
It's been my fate to compensate,
for the Childhood
I've never known...

We can argue all day that it was Joe Jackson's fault for thrusting him in the limelight at such a tender age, or we could say that Michael was an adult and should have made decisions based on such, but what no one can deny is that he was truly a revolutionary icon. There is no one in his league. No one. That is why he will be imitated but never truly duplicated.

Now where my girls are concerned, I look at them in their blissful youthful ignorance. They will never truly grasp how big this man is, how brilliant he was. Yes they will appreciate his talent. Much as I have appreciated the talent of those artistes long before my time. But never will they feel the true appreciation that the King of Pop has generated from fanatic followers to passing listeners alike.

The roller coaster life he led also put alot of things in perspective. Fame and fortune cannot replace a happy childhood. You can buy the playground but it still does not compensate for the lack of small childhood joys that come from the most mundane of things. Parents, I charge you to hug your kids. Tell them you love them everyday. Do simple things with them. Run around with them. Color with them. Paint with them. Take them to get ice cream. Make a mess with them. Happy well adjusted kids make happy well adjusted adults. It is our duty as parents to make happy well adjusted little people for the betterment of our society at large.

R.I.P.

Michael Jackson

1958-2009

Little Ears

Little ears do not hear when Mommy says "Come here."

Little ears hear when Mommy says "Oh shoot!"

Little ears do not hear when Mommy says "Don't do that."

Little ears hear when Mommy says "Dang it!"

Little ears do not hear when Mommy says "Don't put that in your mouth."

Little ears hear when Mommy says "Doggone it!"

Little ears do not work when they need to hear.

Little ears only work when Mommy should be silent.