Ryan went into the little guys room on Saturday morning. All I heard was, “Mommy?”
The little guy came running into the room I was in and said, “Mommy kiss!” and planted a big smooch on my lips. It was a beautiful way to wake up!!
Monthly Archives: August 2009
Everchanging Emotions and the Terrible Two
When I was pregnant with the little guy I kept myself up to date on the stages of my pregnancy by receiving a weekly e-mail and reading the books that tell you exactly how the baby is growing, how you should be feeling, and what is next. This time around, I have glanced at those books to double check things that I think are OK, or to check on things that I don’t remember experiencing the last time. In addition to occasionally reading about the pregnancy, I have been reading A LOT about toddlers. I think I have read about 4-5 different books in the last week!
This period that we are going through with the little guy is a an amazing and frustrating period called toddlerhood. And, it has me boggled most of the time. For instance, this morning, the little guy and I started out just perfect. He was happy when I went into his room this morning, we waved goodbye to Poppa as he left for work, we shared some scrambled eggs and ham together, he didn’t thrash around as I changed his diaper and got him dressed, we played with stickers, read books, and even colored in a coloring book (which is not something he used to be fond of).
The morning was going so smoothly, I decided that we should venture out to the craft store to get some things to finish up some projects for the kids rooms. I armed myself with jelly beans in my pocket should I need to bribe the little guy to sit in the cart, and we were off! Yes, I had to give up a couple of jelly beans, but the outing was also a success.
Lunchtime came earlier than usual, but that was no big deal. He ate a good lunch, and cooperated for the most part when I reminded him that sitting at his little table was a priviledge and he needed to stay in his seat. He played nicely while I cleaned up the dishes and then all h-e-double-hockey-sticks broke loose!
He came running to me to tell me he had poop in his diaper and his head started spinning around, his arms started flailing, and his legs started kicking! For the next hour, I fought with him (mind you, I am not as able bodied as I might be when I am not 1-month away from giving birth) to get his diaper changed. He kicked, screamed, weasled, hit, ran away with the diaper, ran away with the wipes, knocked over furniture…I was in tears. He would come to me like he was sorry and wanted to give me a hug and then he would hit me and turn away running and laughing!!! I called Ryan, but what was he going to do 3 hours away in Seattle?! All he could say was he was sorry and I was not happy with that answer. Eventually, I was able to get his diaper changed, and he is now in his room for naptime/quiet-time.
A couple of the books I have read compare being a toddler to having PMS or being pregnant…all of which only a mother can understand. So, here I am frustrated with a toddler who I cannot understand because he has no control over his everchanging emotions while I have no control over my own everchanging emotions. While I sit here and feel sorry for myself, I should really be feeling sorry for my husband, who lives in a household with both of us! Now wonder he “has” to be in Seattle every week for work…I would want to get out of the house, too! Forget the “terrible-two’s”, he has to deal with the “Terrible Two”!
Stick the Landing
Just about everyone is in awe of them. Whether a person is an athlete, or an intellect. Male or female. Young or old, everyone is in awe of a perfect score…a perfect “10.”
The All American trait of competitive spirit often drives people relentlessly towards this achievement.
Who wasn’t in awe when they watched Scott Hamilton come off the ice after getting a perfect score in the Olympics?
Who didn’t stare at their television in disbelief when Michael Jordan scored 69 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers?
Who hasn’t pondered the raw intellect it took to put a man on the moon?
These are the thoughts that went racing through my mind this morning. As I was pondering the pursuit of perfection and what it takes to achieve this my focus returned to the task at hand, and it hit me like a perfectly placed putt on the green of the 18th hole at The Player’s Championship…the perfect diaper.
I’m a fairly competitive guy, I may lack some of the tenacity and drive that Tiger Woods has, but I still want to be the best I can be at everything I do. Well friends, this morning it happened. It was spectacular, it was incredible, it was everything I had dreamed it would be and more…it was perfect.
The sticky tabs were perfectly aligned across the front of the diaper and equidistance from the centerline to the nanometer.
The top edge of the backside of the diaper lined up perfectly with the front side.
There were no bunches, bumps or any other irregularities that might have cost me valuable points. No, it was simply perfect, and perfect in its simplicity.
As you can imagine there are hundreds, if not thousands of diapering techniques and I have tried ‘em all.
There is the “Bean Pole” – Subject is standing. This is the most difficult technique of all, in my opinion.
There is the “Pit Stop” – There are multiple diaper technicians working on the subject at the same time. Each technician has one specific task, and is an expert at this. Each technician is working at a feverish pace in order to change the subject’s diaper without the subject knowing it is even happening.
“The Electric Slide” – Utilizing this technique the subject is placed on their back on the diaper. Following this step either the diaper and/or the subject needs to “slide to the right…now slide to the left” for proper alignment.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention “The Smooth Operator” – The subject is placed on their back on the changing table, both feet are held with one hand, subject is lifted up and diaper is slid in to position.
Me? I was just “in the zone.” It was…surprisingly peaceful. I wasn’t nervous, I had no butterflies in my stomach and my palms weren’t sweaty. I blocked out the roar of the crowd, it was silent. I didn’t feel any pressure to perform even though I could sense Bela Karolyi staring holes into the back of my head…looking…critiquing…picking apart every one of my moves waiting to pounce on the slightest mistake, like a tiger waiting for unsuspecting prey to pass too close.
But, none of that mattered. I couldn’t be stopped, it was destiny!!
The diaper couldn’t be better.
I put on his pajamas, straightened his hair, we turned around to face the crowd and bowed, then we bowed to the judges. It was on everyone’s faces, the smiles from the judges gave it away.
Friends…I stuck the landing.
“Stick the Landing” contributed by guest blogger, Ryan Taddeo.
Baby Growing
All is well in the world of baby growing. We had our 32 week check up today and heard a strong heartbeat again…145-147 bpm. Mom (me) is tired, but that is to be expected in this stage of the pregnancy. Only 6-1/2 weeks to go until the scheduled repeat c-section on September 20th! Hard to believe!
On another note, the little guy went to school again today. He was not too keen on it this morning, but I’m sure he will be fine when I pick him up in an hour. He has had a rough go with getting to sleep at night. We are going to try to shorten his afternoon nap and see if that helps us at all. There have been a lot of changes to his routine lately (visit from Meme and Topher, starting school, etc.), so I am sure it will even out eventually…until September 20th!
Wish us luck…
Berry Picking
We have had a major heat wave in the Northwest the last 10 days. This weekend, temperatures in the 90′s felt like a cool off after a high temperature 0f 106 on Wednesday!
After a lovely visit from Meme and Topher, we decided to take it easy this weekend. This, of course, included daily trips to Cook Park to walk and swim the dogs. On Saturday morning, we discovered that the blackberries growing along the path were beginning to ripen. Some are still tart, but if you get a sweet one there is nothing better!
The little guy loved the berries and we picked them on our morning and evening trips to the park all weekend!
