Vini vidi vici.
We came, we saw, we conquered: what’s the children’s version of that one? Because Monkey and Jellybean had one hell of a good vacation! They had both sets of grandparents’ wrapped around their pinkies. And that is as it should be.
Some highlights:
Jellybean rapturous with joy and wonder, watching ‘Andpa play the guitar
Monkey screeching for joy when Granddad or Nana turned the sprinkler on for the bounce slide & pool combination
Monkey begging for one more Grandma-made muffin “for the road”
Jellybean leaning out of the arms of whoever was holding her, anytime Nana or Grandma walked by…just begging to be cuddled one more time
Jellybean mastering the stairs (up only) and climbing them again and again at ‘Andpa and Grandma’s house
Monkey climbing up on the piano bench and pounding away at both grandparent households
Me taking so many photos I (first time ever) ran out of space on the CF card!
Photos to follow, I promise. As soon as I catch my breath.
Monday, August 31, 2009
On Milestone Charts
Milestone charts were a secret obsession of mine when Monkey was little. I read them ALL THE TIME to make sure Monkey was doing OK. Or to obsess because she *might* be delayed, or better yet gloat because she *might* be ahead woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gentle readers – no one will know, you can nod your head in silent recognition of your version of this common malady…..
No, really - go ahead, I’ll wait a moment................
..............
................
OK, we can move on now.
This time around, I might remember to check in once or twice, but I now realize their value. They are truly helpful at…………driving traffic to those websites. Aaaaaaaand, that’s about it.
Because really, sometimes they are SO wrong it is pitiful.
To wit: one popular website (cough cough cough BabyCenter cough) lists 16 months as the point that “most” children have temper tantrums when they are frustrated.
Jellybean already does that. She’s 8.5 months old.
Yeah, um, so I don’t know if I want to gloat about my baby being “advanced” on that one. Kind of feels like a karmic bite in the ass, if you know what I mean.
Gentle readers – no one will know, you can nod your head in silent recognition of your version of this common malady…..
No, really - go ahead, I’ll wait a moment................
..............
................
OK, we can move on now.
This time around, I might remember to check in once or twice, but I now realize their value. They are truly helpful at…………driving traffic to those websites. Aaaaaaaand, that’s about it.
Because really, sometimes they are SO wrong it is pitiful.
To wit: one popular website (cough cough cough BabyCenter cough) lists 16 months as the point that “most” children have temper tantrums when they are frustrated.
Jellybean already does that. She’s 8.5 months old.
Yeah, um, so I don’t know if I want to gloat about my baby being “advanced” on that one. Kind of feels like a karmic bite in the ass, if you know what I mean.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Time keeps on slipping, slippin' slippin'... into the future
Today is Monkey and Jellybean's last day of summer camp at school.
For Monkey, it marks a transition from "toddler" to early childhood. Jellybean will continue in the infant room, but she's going to walk (sooner than later, to keep up with her sister). And this feels like a big deal to me. I know, it's not exactly graduation from college, but it is a moment in time that needs to be marked never the less.
Mostly because OH MAH GAWD when did they grow up on me? Seriously? They are this big ALREADY? But.....they are my babies!
I remember sleepless nights with Monkey thinking dawn would never break. I remember cradling Jellybean's tiny little hands in my hands, wondering at how a creature so beautiful and durable could be so small and fragile.
And now I have these two KIDS.
Ok, granted, Monkey is barely 3 and Jellybean hasn't even hit 9 months yet, but boy do the days fly by.
Monkey haggles like a senior litigator, sleeps like a teenager, and wants to paint her fingernails red. Jellybean shows her teeth when she grins, desperately wants to walk, and knows how to work a room. They are impossibly small and yet impossibly grown up.
And I love them both dearly. Not a day goes by where I can't believe how lucky I am to be their mom. And how grateful I am to have M as my husband and their father.
For Monkey, it marks a transition from "toddler" to early childhood. Jellybean will continue in the infant room, but she's going to walk (sooner than later, to keep up with her sister). And this feels like a big deal to me. I know, it's not exactly graduation from college, but it is a moment in time that needs to be marked never the less.
Mostly because OH MAH GAWD when did they grow up on me? Seriously? They are this big ALREADY? But.....they are my babies!
I remember sleepless nights with Monkey thinking dawn would never break. I remember cradling Jellybean's tiny little hands in my hands, wondering at how a creature so beautiful and durable could be so small and fragile.
And now I have these two KIDS.
Ok, granted, Monkey is barely 3 and Jellybean hasn't even hit 9 months yet, but boy do the days fly by.
Monkey haggles like a senior litigator, sleeps like a teenager, and wants to paint her fingernails red. Jellybean shows her teeth when she grins, desperately wants to walk, and knows how to work a room. They are impossibly small and yet impossibly grown up.
And I love them both dearly. Not a day goes by where I can't believe how lucky I am to be their mom. And how grateful I am to have M as my husband and their father.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The Great Paper Chase
Otherwise known as the pre-K admission process in Manhattan.
Next week we go on vacation. There’s a family reunion for my mother-in-law's family, a celebration for my in-laws 40th wedding anniversary, there’s a party for my family (both my dad’s and mom’s) to meet Jellybean for the first time….and oh yes, while we are there we also have to write our essay answers for Monkey’s pre-k school applications.
That's right. Essay answers. On applications for pre-K. Seriously. But these are pre-Ks associated with schools that continue, some through 8th grade and others all the way through 12th grade, so I understand.....but still. Gah!
I was (after a glass of wine) imagining the most horrible answers I could write:
Please describe the adults that are important to your child:
Well, there’s the wino on the corner named Kevin. Monkey loves to wave hello and make him smile each morning as we pass him on the way to the bus stop; it’s only when we get too close that she wrinkles her nose and comments on how he smells funny. They share a common love of ice cream, flirting with strangers, and bugging mommy for quarters to buy a treat.
Um, yeah. So maybe it was more than one glass?
Next week we go on vacation. There’s a family reunion for my mother-in-law's family, a celebration for my in-laws 40th wedding anniversary, there’s a party for my family (both my dad’s and mom’s) to meet Jellybean for the first time….and oh yes, while we are there we also have to write our essay answers for Monkey’s pre-k school applications.
That's right. Essay answers. On applications for pre-K. Seriously. But these are pre-Ks associated with schools that continue, some through 8th grade and others all the way through 12th grade, so I understand.....but still. Gah!
I was (after a glass of wine) imagining the most horrible answers I could write:
Please describe the adults that are important to your child:
Well, there’s the wino on the corner named Kevin. Monkey loves to wave hello and make him smile each morning as we pass him on the way to the bus stop; it’s only when we get too close that she wrinkles her nose and comments on how he smells funny. They share a common love of ice cream, flirting with strangers, and bugging mommy for quarters to buy a treat.
Um, yeah. So maybe it was more than one glass?
A ha!
I figured it out.
Monkey wanted her toes painted because Bunny had her toes painted when she visited us!
Oh lordy. Keeping up with cool kids, already.
Monkey wanted her toes painted because Bunny had her toes painted when she visited us!
Oh lordy. Keeping up with cool kids, already.
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