Jaded

One of Monkey's after-school activities this past fall has been a class called Broadway Bound. They learned all about a song, "I won't grow up," from the broadway musical Peter Pan. They practiced the song, learned their lines, learned how to move around on stage, and generally had fun.

Many of the students in this class also attended the show, currently running at the Madison Square Garden Theater with Cathy Rigby at Peter Pan. We didn't end up going with the group (moved too slow for tickets) so we went this past weekend, along with Monkey's two closest friends and their moms. It was wonderful.

Now, by wonderful I mean it was a wonderful show for kids. It really was. They hawked cotton candy in the aisles, there was a lot of singing dancing and acrobatics on wires as the characters "flew" through the air, and Peter Pan even flew OVER the audience sprinkling them with fairy dust (aka glitter). 

At some point I gasped out loud at one particularly amazing feat of "flying" (that Cathy Rigby is in AMAZING shape (like, I'm jealous of how insanely in shape she is!!)). 

I figured Monkey would be as impressed as I was - but perhaps for a different reason. I was imagining wonder, amazement, and a brain exploding with joy at seeing people fly.

Instead, Monkey turned to me and said "mom, those people have strings on them, you know."

My broadway baby. Already knows the tricks of the trade. 

Bittersweet

Monkey attended her first slumber party last Friday night. It was a birthday party for one of her best friends.

Monkey arrived at the party with her toothbrush & toothpaste, her blankie, her lovie "Softie", her moon nightlight, pajamas and a clean pair of clothing. And of course a birthday present for her dear friend.

She left with a spring in her step and I left with a wrinkle in my brow, worrying that she'd be OK. See, she'd never slept over at someone else's house before without us - not even a grandparents house. Plus that night M and I were up in Rye at his company's holiday party - a good 45-60 minute drive away. You know, in case she needed us and wanted to go home.

We called to say goodnight. And my brave girl did exactly what I want her to do. She broke my heart.

I said hello and in a voice brimming with pride she said "Hi mom, I don't miss you AT ALL!"

That's my girl.

Superman? Batman? Wonderwoman????

Nope, daddy.

Jellybean was engaging in some dramatic play the other night. (read: dressing up in WILD tutus, jewelry, and a hotpink cape with a lemon yellow lightening bolt on it)

She was running around chanting "hero, hero, hero..."

I asked her who her hero was.

Without breaking stride she yelled out "DADDY!"

That's my girl.

Now, go ask for that pony. Quick, before the endorphins wear off...

Sibling order: responsible already

I went to Chicago (or "Chicaco"....according to the moron Northwestern grad who approved the proof for the cups used at Soldier Field. hee!) this weekend to watch the Badgers crush Northern Illinois. It was a girl's weekend - and an awesome one at that: my stomach still hurts from laughing.

Before I left this past Friday, I dropped the girls off at their respective schools. When I dropped Monkey off and turned around one more time for a blown kiss, Monkey told me "don't worry mom, I'll tell dad that we have rules to keep safe...". It made me smile. She really took it to heart when I told her to 'take care of your little sister and your dad'!

 Now, if she'd only take it to heart when I ask her to pick up her toys....

Bed bugs

Reading in bed.

I love that Jellybean is brushing Monkey's hair from her face. It is such a gentle moment. You know, before any maiming or other bodily harm occurs. 

The beginning of the end

Jellybean and Monkey are pretty good together. They only try to hurt or maim each other about 2% of the time, and steal toys from one another about 5% of the time. Altogether, that's darn good. And recently they have started to play - actually play - together, and it warms my heart.

However, the other morning they did something that put a tender tendril of fear in my heart, instead....
they BANDED TOGETHER against a common threat.

They both turned and told a babysitter - in a simultaneous showing of spirit - "no, don't touch our structure." It was like listening to defiance in stereo!

It's the beginning of the end....they are going to plot together against their parents. They will back each other up and wriggle out of trouble together! Manufacture excuses! Plot for more dessert and toys! Get the keys to the car! But, I wouldn't have it any.other.way. That sisterly bond is a beautiful thing.

However, don't ask me about this sentiment when they are teenagers. I will deny it.

Nana raised boys....

And for the record? Jellybean is TOTALLY faking the injured look. The drama! 

Big Girl

After some hemming and hawing (and worrying about someone - ahem - getting out of bed all the time)....

we turned Jellybean's crib into a big girl bed.

The first thing she did was invite her big sister into her bed to read with her. All together now...awwwww.

They are growing up so fast. Where did my babies go?

How I spent today

6:45am  Wake up because Jellybean is attempting to imitate effect of earthquake on apartment by rattling cupboard boards off of their hinges in kitchen. Wander into hallway to convince dazed self that all is well, and Jellybean is NOT locked in a closet.

6:48am  Crawl back into bed, the better to let the girls "wake me up" with their mother's day offerings. Try to find glasses on bedside table so I can actually see the girls.

6:49am  Attempt to keep heart from exploding with love and blowing roof off building, as my lovely daughters crawl into bed and give me handmade cards and picture frames. Nod knowingly and murmur with surprise every time Jellybean tells me "I made it" (referring to the painted picture frame that has her name written on it by her kind teachers).

6:50am  Look at M and wonder how did I ever get so lucky.

9:30am Subway ride to the West Village with the family. Listen to Monkey and Jellybean sing "we're off to see the Wizard" as they gambol about on the way to the subway. Judy Garland may be an icon, but my girls can belt it out too!

10:30am  Watch my girls get their haircuts, smile at their beautiful reflections in the mirrors.

11:30am  Eat pizza lunch with Jellybean in the West Village. Monkey and M sit on the other side of the tiny restaurant, the better to sit in the sun. (the wan, blue-eyed blondes retreated into the shade...). Enjoy countless kisses from Jellybean and wonder just exactly how much pizza sauce do I have on my face? Decide not to clean any off. Wouldn't want to wash off her kisses by accident. Surely it's good for the skin, right?

12:30pm  Watch girls run in grass, climb trees, pick flowers and stare-down squirrels on campus. Revel in how beautiful Monkey has become, and glimpse the young girl she's going to be in a blink of an eye.

2:00pm Head to gym with the little one in bed, the big one reading for quiet time.

5:00pm Kick wonderful husband out the door to get in run, in the best weather we've had all spring. Tickle girls, build structures (i.e., forts), and then start making dinner.

6:30pm Family dinner with cousin Heather and "third child" C (favorite babysitter, ever).

7:00pm Head out with the girls to find the ice cream truck. Jellybean looked like she had a mustache, and Monkey managed to even get ice cream on her shoulders. Wonder at the physics necessary to spread that little ice cream over that much child....

7:45pm Bath time. Then books and hugs.

8:30pm Lights out.

Best day, ever......

Big Sister...

Recently, we've reversed our morning commute.

Now, Monkey and I take Jellybean to her school and drop her off, then make our way back up to our neighborhood to Monkey's preK class and then I'm off to work. It saves time, and now that Monkey is truly settled into her new school, it isn't too hard on her to visit - and then immediately leave - her old school. (even if she STILL won't talk to her favorite teacher Jenna - I guess some old habits/grudges/love affairs run deep. stubborn kid!)

I love watching Jellybean after we drop her off. She runs into  her room, zooming about to check out any new books, and settles into her "morning work"so happily. She's a joyful joyful toddler - full of humor and love and hugs.

But even better? Is watching Monkey watch Jellybean.

Often, Monkey will lean on a low bookshelf, cupping her chin in her hands, smiling as she watches Jellybean. She loves her little sister as much as I do. And that is saying a lot.

Then, moving on from that peaceful respite, our commute recommences. And monkey says goodbye:

"bye Jelly jelly cocopuff!"

Yup, it's official; Monkey has started giving her little sister nicknames. I love these two.

Bath time

Under the entry for gullible

For the past 24 hours, Jellybean's been walking around, shrugging her shoulders, and saying "it walked away...."

What, you may ask, is she referring to?

Why the christmas tree, of course.

If you ask here where it went (since we took it down to the curb during her naptime), she'll shrug, put her hands up in the air, palms up, and chirp "it walked away!"

Because perhaps -  just maybe - her dad's been messing with her.

A name by any other

I've always loved that quote about how a rose by any other name would still (or wouldn't? hmm) smell as sweet.

Ok, so my literary allusions are off tonight. Sue me. It's the night before the night before Christmas, and my eldest daughter (who believes in Santa) just asked for footed pajamas for Christmas. And I'm not even sure they make them in her size anymore. Huh. Yeah. Anyhoo, I'm tired and need to find footed jammies tomorrow....

where was I?

Oh yeah.

So the whole think about Jellybean's name is that it can be broken down into multiple nickname possibilities. Some of which I adore, others I'm not keen on, and some....meh - indifferent.

But there's one? One that - for whatever reason - I simply didn't think about. Maybe because it's boyish. Maybe because it doesn't seem to roll off my tongue naturally. Who knows.

Yesterday I gave Jellybean a quiz. I told her that she had multiple names she could go by - including her full given name - and asked who she was. What does she want to be called?

And wouldn't you know it? She pounded her chest with her open palm and said "I'm ______" - the one nickname I hadn't considered. Not even once.

Just goes to show you. She's her own girl. And I love her for it.

My girls

Sunday was a rough day. We essentially cancelled Jellybean's second birthday party because she was just freakin' miserable. Fever, cough, boogers like snakes trying to charm her upper lip. Good times. I couldn't walk out of her line of sight without her going ballistic. And yet? It was perfect. She turned two and we celebrated, albeit quietly. She smiled (a bit), hugged us (a lot), and tried to enjoy her (demanded, and delivered) chocolate. That's my girl.

It's a good thing we called off the party, too. Because that evening? Monkey came down with the stomach flu. She puked one, took it like a champ, and went back to bed. But then....she continued puking. And puking. About every 30 minutes from 10:30pm - 3:30am. At the end she was dry heaving - more tears were making it into the bucket than anything else. She told me "it's hard being sick." So it is love, so it is. But the amazing part was when she figured out that I was "sleeping" on the floor of the front room where we'd sequestered her - and she commented that "daddy and jellybean must be lonely tonight" since we weren't with them. That's my girl.

They're my girls. Our girls. And they're perfect.  (and - knock on wood - healthy again! phew)

Guess who's turning two this weekend? AKA, look ma - I got me some POCKET!

That's right, Jellybean is turning two!

I've been able to intercept most of the presents coming into the apartment these days, and sequestered them in various hidden nooks and crannys (oh fine, they're all piled precariously in the play/guest room and I'm locking the girls out!). But yesterday, our lovely sitter C2 (not the original C, who was bitten by a baby gila monster), was kind enough to bring the package in and say "oh look, Jellybean, it's for YOU" and that, well, that was the end of trying to nip that package out of her prying hands to pretend it wasn't there.

Which is a looong way of saying we opened up her bday present from Uncle N and Auntie G early.

Jellybean loves this dress. LOVES it. Why? Because the necktie portion folds itself into a huge pocket. When we left for school today, she had shoved so many toys, necklaces and princess crap in there she clanked when she walked!

Forgive the crummy cell phone photo - but that look of wide-eyed glee needed to be shared. I think she thinks pockets are the best invention evah!

Hello....anyone still out there?

I know, it's been radio silence. Hope readers still exist...

We've been busy. I'm on augmentin for a sinus/bronchitis infection and am feeling much better (aw, thanks for asking!)  - as a result I once again have the mental capacity to actually note the happenings in our lives....going to bed 38 seconds after the kids do leaves little time for things like blogging. Or, you know, life.

But life has been happening! Let me fill you in:

Jellybean broke my nose. She head butted me. (stop laughing, little brother!) I have been calling her a butthead at work for the past two weeks and only today did anyone get the joke. Head butt....butthead. Oh g*d my jokes are bad that I need to explain them! (I'm here all week! don't forget to tip your waitress! har)

But, no joke here - we're potty training our Jellybean! She's had three days at school without an accident! She's my big girl. We started this process at the prompting of her school - and also because she won't tolerate a dirty diaper. The kicker was that she kept taking off poopy diapers and I had to go find the - ahem - nuggets that rolled away. That was pretty motivating, between you and me.

Monkey wants in on all the praise we're heaping on Jellybean for using the potty - so now she offers to "show her sister how to use the potty" each time she heads in. And what the heck - she's a great role model, so we praise her. I love that kid. And I'm not the only one...

It's amazing how much Jellybean adores her big sister. She wants to sit by her at breakfast. She wants to wear her big sister's clothing to school (she wore two of Monkey's pj tops to school today. Yes, that's right, two. And yes, Jellybean is now picking out her clothes. sigh)

Anything that Monkey does? So does Jellybean. It's (no pun intended) monkey see, monkey do. And it's adorable. We used to think we had Jellybean for Monkey, but I think it's the other way around.

Monkey is thriving at school. We just signed her up for summer camp, and part of it will be Spanish immersion. I give her about 6 months before she starts teaching me things to say in Spanish, and tricks me (you know, like the lead in My Big Fat Greek Wedding who says "I have three testicles" to his fiancee's family....funny).

Monkey has also bought into the Santa thing, hook line and sinker. I was talking to her the other day, suggesting that if she was good maybe Santa would bring her and Jellybean a table that they could do artwork on together, and wouldn't that be fun...and she sighed, said yes it would be great, but "how will Santa get it down the chimney? the chimney is only 18 inches wide!!" Funny kid. Especially since we don't have a chimney!

Guests, be forewarned!

Guests....be forewarned. If you come to visit, Jellybean will put you to work reading!

My princess

So here’s the thing.

My brother and his lovely wife G have a history of sending awesome, yet totally (how shall I say this politely? Urm…) ANNOYING presents to Monkey.

A set of bongo drums.
A harmonica.
A tambourine.
Etc.

Now, mind you, each of these items was selected with love, and sent with hopes that she, like they (and their beautiful kids), would appreciate the music she could make! The beautiful noises and sounds and thumps and squeaks – just all the NOISE that a joyful toddler can make. (Clearly they live in a house, on a lot, without annoyed neighbors pressing in close and listening through walls and ceilings and floors.)

But really? All joking aside? These presents are awesome. I think Jellybean likes them even more than Monkey; watching Jellybean figure out how to use the harmonica has been charming. To date, she can make it work by sucking in, but blowing out still confounds her. It is hilarious! But I digress….

This year they did not go the musical-annoy-the-neighbors route. Nope. Instead, they sent….. an ENTIRE BOX OF PRINCESS COSTUMES. (By Disney, of course)

AN ENTIRE BOX. With 23 or more pieces to keep track of. Color coordinated tops and skirts. Necklaces and tiaras and rings and earrings and lions and tigers, and bears OH MY.

Monkey about had an aneurysm with pleasure when she opened this box up.

On the other hand, I confess that my first reaction was not as positive. It’s not that I don’t like princesses – I do! It’s just that, well, it pisses me off that Disney always kills the mom off, the sought-after fairytale ending is always getting married, and most of all? Most of the kids toys “The Rat” produces are poorly made. Just dreck. Sh*t that falls apart the first time you use it. Built to self-destruct so that you need to buy another one to replace it.

And that really bothers me. I bought a beautiful castle with Monkey’s name in vinyl wall art from elephannie on etsy, and it is beautiful! I hung it with pride, with love, without wondering just how many seconds would pass before it fell apart and broke my daughter’s heart. The Disney stuff? I think it’s all going to break her heart as it falls apart in her hands. How am I supposed to explain profit margins to a 4 year old, when she is sad and angry that her favorite things fall apart?

Until that happens, however, I am going to watch Monkey, with my heart in my mouth, enchanted by her behavior. She’s so in love with these silly princess outfits, it takes my breath away.

When Monkey puts away her costumes, even with her mom and dad rushing rushing rushing her to just get to bed already? She slows down, and lays out each item with such care and reverence you would think she was holding items spun from gossamer and gold. Priceless yet infinitely fragile. Watching her put each item away in its allotted space is like watching a Japanese tea ceremony. No unnecessary motion is made. She is poetry and grace.

She IS a princess.

Sometimes, money CAN buy you happiness

Jellybean is precocious in the manner of all second children (or any number other than first!). She watches her big sister and imitates her.

She imitates her reading. She imitates her silly voice. She imitates her dancing. She imitates her mad toothbrushing skillz..... and, she imitates her using the potty.

In fact, the other night we put her on the potty, and she actually peed in it! I'm not sure who was more startled - her, or me!

Now, as a resident of Manhattan that isn't wildly wealthy (or wildly underwater on a jumbo mortgage), we have limited living space. Our bathroom, shared by 4 humans and a geriatric cat, gives new meaning to the concept of family closeness. We simply don't have much extra space.

When Monkey was potty training, I bought her a special Elmo potty training seat. Which she thought was cool (in theory), but I hated. HATED.

See, this g*dam&n potty seat was HUGE. It took up half of the available space on the floor of our bathroom. And worse yet? When you touched Elmo's hand? He'd cackle, and say something congratulatory like "way to go" in that highpitched voice of his (shudder).

Then, when we were visiting Grandma and 'Andpa, we saw...THE potty seat. The BEST potty seat - ever. The kid part is hidden (held by a magnet) in the lid of the regular seat. No extra stuff in the way. No creepy voice in the middle of the night when your foot brushes Elmo's hand, causing you to leap 3 feet into the air.

And do you know that it cost about $30? That 30 dollars really made a vast improvement in our life.  Sometimes, just sometimes, money really can buy you happiness.

Interlude

Usually, evenings are a hectic mashup of the girls being hungry, being tired, struggling to garner my attention, etc. etc. etc.

This week, school is closed. In fact, Monkey will not be going back - she's graduated! But I digress.

This evening, I came home to reliever the sitter and, as I was leisurely preparing some baked salmon, I heard the girls....doing nothing.

I heard nothing.

So, I investigated. And found the two of them, side by side on the guest bed, reading books. It was lovely.

And then Jellybean objected to the excerpt she was reading and threw herself screeching on the book.

Interlude, interrupted. As it should be.