Breaking The Dress Code

A Perfect Moment of Joy

FuzzyHead’s first pumpkin. It’s the first year we dared let her near Daddy and his extreme carving extravaganza.

Ushering our Daughters into the White House

One of the most memorable things that was said during the campaigning this year was when Hillary was speaking at the convention and she said that her mother was born before women had the right to vote but that this year her daughter had voted for her mother for President. That really struck a cord for me. We’ve come so far and we’re getting so close. Puddin’ and I early voted earlier in the week, and in four years we’ll go again and take FuzzyHead with us. This is one of the many traditions that I’m proud to be passing down to my daughters.

Babies having Babies: A Story In Pictures

    

Our Future Reader

I can already tell I’m going to have to hide the flashlights and book-lights from this one. After hearing this story only twice she can tell me the whole story back.

Even before she can read she’s proving to be passionate about books. My heart is bursting.

Elmo Elmo Pie

Translation

L – M – N – O – P

From me and my daughters.... just, Thank You!

Summer 2020

If by some one in a Kajillion chance that you're sitting on your couch in the summer of 2020 and some little blondie seems vaguely familiar....

It will be because back in August of 2008  you saw the pictures of the night it all started.

Let a mama dream.

First time at gymnastics.

 

"Open Wide," said the Wizard.

This week we (me, the girls and my wallet) participated in the significant milestone of FuzzyHead's first dental appointment. All's good and no cavities YEAH and overall it was a success.

We go to a pediatric dentist (not in my insurance plan). The kind where there are video games in the lobby and movies in the ceiling. There is one "catch" if you want to call it that. No parents allowed. Past the lobby that is.

Dr. Mike maintains a strict rule about not allowing parents back during the cleanings and  examinations. Never a problem with the oldest one. Going to the dentist has always been one big adventure in "everyone is paying attention to me!" for her. And Dr. Mike eats her up. They are buddies of the highest order.

FuzzyHead however is not that way. Leaving Mama to go with strangers even at Mama's instruction is not her idea of a good time. So Puddin' took charge and led the way holding FuzzyHead's very reluctant hand. "Come on Sissy! It's okay. You'll  love Dr. Mike." and she carefully drug her sister through the door.  (As much as she loves her limelight Puddin' is super protective over her little sis - girl's got her priorities).

I settled into my laptop and waited. I should mention here that I have never once heard a child cry or scream or so much as sniffle after passing through that door. I don't know what he's got going on back there but whatever it is it must be the equivalent of the Hogwart's Express or something.

Afterwards I go through a different door to talk to him in his office. He's totally amused at how very different the girls are. Seems Fuzzy's hygienist came and cornered him in the hall and threatened him about being his normal self around her.

"This one's not like her sister. Not one of those that you can just burst in and be all crazy around. You need to be sweet and quiet with her." he was warned sternly.  And he was. He morphed into just what she needed  - a quiet sweet guy, Prince Charming who wanted her to have Sparkly Princess Teeth. They bonded in their own ways.

He then jumped in the next room over to see Puddin teeth and swap Hannah Montana and Jonas Brother's gossip, Oh and can you believe what happened at the Disney Channel Games .... Wasn't that the greatest?!?!

And then I wrote a great big ol' check and signed it with love from the bottom of my heart because there is no price I can put on how much he makes my kids love the idea of taking care of their teeth or how much they think going to the dentist is fun.

One of the things you won't find in a pregnancy/parenting book

At some point your sweet angel who's been doing a brilliant job with her potty training and who has not needed help in weeks will one day wait a little too long to sprint for the bathroom. And the pee will arrive before she does.

And she will cry with disappointment and shock despite your soothing reassurance that "It's okay." And as you are stripping the sodden shorts and panties from her body, you will realize what it is that she really needs from you.

And no matter how posh or polished you are that day, you will ignore the stray puddles on the floor as you sit down wearing your newly pressed pants. And as you lean your back against the toilet you will not think about your hair brushing against the toilet seat while you reach over and pull her damp bottom onto your lap and wrap your arms around her and gently rock her and whisper sweet songs in her ear while she gulps beginning to calm down.

Because you have seen those monsters at the door, the ones named Embarrassment and Self-Loathing. And you know that the best defense a Mama has is to create a fortress in your arms of steel and hold her tight and show her that it matters not one iota that there is pee on her, or the floor, or on you. That pee happens. And that you love her above all else no matter what.

And then after she's quieted down to gentle sniffles, her tears dried, she will suddenly hear the Backyardigans theme song waft from the living room and immediately pop up and run away careless and naked into the other room as if the whole thing never happened. And you will sit there in the wet knowing you have done your job.

Lighting Bugs

You know how there are things from your childhood that you just took for granted and assumed that every kid had. You couldn't imagine that they weren't a part of every kids summer evening playtime?

Lighting Bugs...

That first night as I sat out on the deck drinking and  letting the gigantic hamburger that I had eaten digest (Cause who doesn't need to eat pounds and pounds of meat when living in the woods) something magical caught my eye. Could it be? Had I just seen that? I waited patiently my heart starting to thump. Yes! There it was again. My heart was racing now. And Another And Another..

I reached out and touched the Dr's hand and pointed and whispered. "Lighting Bugs." He smiled that special I know what your thinking smile. Our hosts heard me and kind of looked at me funny. "Yes, give it a few minutes and they'll be all over that mossy area over there."  I asked for a jar. They figured something out. (Punctured Gladware)

Next I quietly walked in to where our children where quietly watching TV exhausted from their first day in the woods. They had no idea they had one more adventure waiting for them.

Our children had never seen a lighting bug. We live in the suburbs. Too close to civilization for such woodsy miracles.

I calmly asked them come with me. They protested, they were tired. "Trust Mama," I said. My girls by now know that is code for something really cool, they quickly complied.

I took them out of the deck and told them to watch the woods. "What is it?" they whined. "I don't see anything," they complained.

Then there it was the first flash.

Silence.

Then another

"Mama?"

Another

"What was that?"

"Lighting Bugs. Want to catch some?"

"Really?!?!"

And then came one of those times that are the very best part of parenting. One of those times when you get to take your child on a magical adventure that opens their eyes to the wonders that surround them. That makes them so happy they can't stop laughing. One of those moments of childhood that is so completely wrapped in joy and excitement and wonder that it makes you want to cry because its so perfect.

Because Mama and Daddy can catch lighting and put it in a piece of disposable plastic jar. And then show you how to do it. And in that moment you love each other so badly it almost hurts.

 

The next day we went to Wal-Mart and bought them proper Mason Jars and they put lighting in a jar every night for a week.