Pause

I've taken some time out, maybe a week or something. Maybe you forgot (as I almost did myself), but the marathon that I've paid money for and have a friend coming in to down to do it with me is next weekend. And while I have tried to find a way to back out of it, I haven't had any other excuse other than I have been really sick and have a bronchial cough. This is true. Totally not an excuse. Tell me there is something wrong with me because I am determined. Despite cough and not feeling 100%, I decided to get my butt on the treadmill this weekend. And I did - not once, but twice - and an hour each time. Yesterday I beat my distance by a half mile! GO ME. Additionally, on day two, I wasn't as huffy and puffy at the end. 13 miles this Sunday - if that doesn't scare the bejessus out of me, I'm not sure what will. I think I'm more concerned about finishing the race under the time limit at this point. Will I be in the bottom 10? Quite possible.

In other news, which I will post sometime this week, we got a new car this weekend, as the Crapolla (uh, Corolla) gave out on us last Friday. And we got a spanking new car, which we said we would never ever do after we did it once before. What can I say, this car was well worth driving it off the lot and losing money. Well, maybe not too much because this one holds its value pretty well. Details and pics to come later this week...if I'm not too busy, you know, running on the treadmill.

The latest in kid news is that we've had a little bit of regressing on the potty front for both girls, and it has been a bit frustrating. I think we might own 50 pairs of girl undies at this point. O is claiming that she still wants to be a baby, and Bea, well, she's just too busy to care about going. More on that later as well...and maybe I won't have to report anything other than the problem just mysteriously fixed itself. Wouldn't that be nice?

Also, my parents are visiting this week.

And what else? Well, one of my favorite bloggers, Daddy Dan, has posted an interview on yours truly. Check it out and comment over there if you feel inclined.

Will She Always Be a Terrible Two?

This post is about the one that looks sweet as pumpkin pie with beautiful curls. Her name is Olivia. But you probably knew that already.


Olivia has been a terrible two most of her life, except the first few weeks of it. She came out of the womb beautiful and peaceful. And she slept. A lot. She didn't cry too much at all. Fast forward to about the fourth week and becoming aware of her situation with open space around her and cue the crying. She could never be left in a room by herself. Additionally, she was the actual baby in the house so I showered her with all my attention, and I didn't know if she would be my last. I gave her my all.

She remained cranky. Two steps out of her direction and it was over. So then we thought, hey, maybe it is because she isn't mobile and once she started crawling we would have a much happier child among us. Nope. Worse. Then, well, maybe when she starts walking and talking. Nope. Much more worse.

Don't get me wrong. Olivia is pure entertainment in our house. She is so much fun ... at times. We'll be hitting three in February, and I hope we can get a clear understanding if this is how she's going to be in the coming years or if we can somehow change it, or maybe it will just change on its own.

She's hot and cold. And, we don't know when she's going to be hot or when she's going to be cold. That one can just flip a switch at any moment and I swear sometimes I'm overly cautious when I talk to her because I don't know how she is going to react.

The newest topper of the cake? These words: I'm mad at you! She says this more to us than other words. Try to reason with her, and she has no reason for being mad. I'm choosing to ignore it and see what happens. Walk away.

This stage? I hope it passes fairly quickly and we move on to something else...though i fear what could come next. We've already gone through the stages of hitting, kicking and spitting. And now we are onto words that kind of stab you in the heart. I have to admit that maybe expressing herself with words is better than the physical action she used to take, but oh my.

Did I mention that at one time Olivia's daycare provider called her the "daycare bully"?

Learning as I go

Yep, that is the name of my blog. I don't think I've ever written a post that actually relates to the title of my blog. I think I put a lot out there, and the learning part of it remains internal for me, as I just like to document certain things that happen around here - whether it is about my life, Beatrice's life, Olivia's life, or Josh's life. In any case, let me get to the point already. This post is about those things that I have learned over the years in being a mom, brought to you in lovely bullet point form:

• What happens in a diaper, sometimes doesn't stay in a diaper.
• The second that you are ready to shut your eyes and drift off into sleep, your newborn will loudly awaken, and you'll be up for a good hour after that. Be prepared with TiVo’d programs.
• A swing for a newborn can be either friend or foe. Friend for some quiet time for the adult, foe for the puke that follows after being in the swing for an hour or so...
• Solid sleep is a thing of the past, but we get it more often these days than in recent years. Am blessed.
• Bouncy seats are the best invention ever. How come they don't make these for adults?
• Once the toddler years begin, the only restaurants that are kid-friendly zones are places like Sweet Tomatoes and McDonalds. If you go somewhere else, you will apologize to everyone around you and not show your face there again, or for a few months at least.
• A toddler on the top bunk of a bunkbed is not conducive to potty training through the night.
• The box that a toy comes in is often funner than the toy itself. Buy a bunch of boxes instead of a bunch of toys if you're trying to save some dough.
• When blankies go missing, it is just as scary as losing your purse.
• I never thought I would see Top Ramen noodles again after college. I have seen them for a few months straight in our house now. I sort of have a rekindled love for them.
• Nothing grosses me out anymore. I've seen it all and it has all been on me at some point - whether puke, poo or pee. Shit (or pee or puke) happens.
• Showing your child how to pee in the zoo parking lot is not a good thing, especially when it crosses over to them going on the grass in the backyard, you know, just because they wanted to and thought it was neat. Still trying to unlearn this one.
• Band-aids and ice cream can fix just about everything.
• They're sponges. Watching what you say is priceless, unless you want to hear the conversation you had with someone else replayed over and over again, and at an inappropriate time.
• I never thought I would watch some movies so many times. I thought I watched a lot of reruns between Friends and 90210 before I had kids. This doesn’t even compare.
• Two girls means having two of everything. Not two of the same thing in a different color. They have to be exactly the same.
• Grandmas and grandpas can teach children more than we know, and they will listen to their grandparents more than you.
• Seeing life through the eyes of a child. Stopping to smell the roses and such. It makes you realize what is important in life and that you wish time could stand still.
• The words "I love you" coming from your child mean more than anything else in the world. (Runners up include "please", "thank you" and "I missed you"...)

My list could go on and on, really. So, is there anything you've learned that you want to share?

Those Yearly Things

So, my birthday is next month. I guess it's a big one. Sort of. As in no longer early thirties. With a 5. It's a little exciting, but not so much. It falls on a Monday. Bummer. So, I'm planning to celebrate the weekend before...all weekend long. And making it all about me. I'm thinking about being selfish this year because, well, it hasn't been about me in a really long time. It's my weekend. And if I want to take the family to Gilroy Gardens to see the girls ride the rides, that's what I'm gonna do. But, I haven't a clue. My parents will also be out this way, but I don't think they'll be here at that time. Though, seriously, I can't think of anything I really want to do...ideas welcome. I still have some time to decide.

Josh was recently talking about taking a cruise...hmmmmmm.

Anyways. I just thought I would put it out there. Next month is going to be busy. Marathon. Then Birthday. Then Halloween.

Which leads me to Halloween costumes. For the past two years I have posted ideas for the girls. I hate to say it and am sad to report, that I am not allowed to do the research for them this year. They already know what they are going to be. Yes, friends, no longer I get to choose. They are going to be what they are going to be, and those will be Disney characters. I promise. Now which characters they will be is kind of up in the air, so the big reveal will come October 31. Sorry. This is one surprise that I keep every year.

Finally, a BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY to MITCHELL. You're still rocking it, sista.

When Painting Turns Ugly

B and O: DADDY DADDY. Can we paint, PUH-LEEZE????

Josh: Okay. Let me get you set up.


B and O: La-la-la....Paint. Paint. Painting!!!! Weeeeee!

After a few minutes:

B: I've done 4 ... LOOK!

O: I'm done.

B: Olivia, let's paint our bodies.

O: Okay.

B: LOOK AT ME!

O: LOOK AT ME!




B: Let's paint our whole body!!!

O: Okay.





Jenna: Is Olivia the newest member of the blue man group?


B and O: LOOK AT US! LOOK AT US!! THIS IS FUN!!!!!!!!






Josh: In the bathtub now, girls!

Summertime

Does it feel like summer is coming to a close quickly for you? It is for me, and I've noticed that I've taken so many precious photos this summer that I haven't shared. It's been busy as usual around these parts, with my parents visiting and us running around and enjoying some of the last days of summer. I've neglected the blog, so apologies all around...Between working more than I have in a long time and trying to have some family time, I just decided to attempt not as much time on the computer.

In any case, I'm gonna fill you in. I think the last time I talked about pictures was Josh's birthday and how we were going to eat cake. I can't believe that was a month ago. Well, here's the cake, and here's Josh, and here are the girls:


For Josh's birthday, we also went to the Oakland Zoo. Amazing zoo. Giraffes and elephants and lions and fruit bats. There was a lot to see. There was so much wonder in the girl's eyes:





Additionally, I got this beautiful cabinet that I ordered online. The sucky thing was that I had to put it together. I tried to put it together myself, but it was way complicated, so my handy husband did most of the work:


Also, it's more than just a cabinet:


IT HOLDS SHOES!

So, after I cleaned out the bottom of the closet with 24 pairs of shoes, I received the typical husband response:

"Does this mean that you are just going to buy more shoes to fill up the bottom of the closet again?"

Yeah, he knows me.

The girls like it, too. So much that they have rearranged my collection and everything is mismatched, but oh well.


My parents were just out visiting for a few days, and as I mentioned in my previous post, we went to the circus. This is the first time, and the last time, that I will pay $12 for cotton candy. Yes, you read that right. 12 bucks.







Other stuff...

When you let your children dress themselves they just might end up looking like this:


Nemo swimsuit, PJ shorts and kitty hat from last halloween, in case you are wondering what in the world she has put together here.

Also, I love them way more than any words because of photos like this:


"I'm a livin' in a box. I'm a livin' in a cardboard box." Don't you remember that song?

Next post: See what happened about ten minutes after this photo was taken: