Sunday, August 30, 2009

Day glow pink....

If you've been following my blog, you'd know by now that I have a very creative 3yr old with an incredibly active imagination! The days of her stripping, pulling her poopie diaper off and finger painting on the wall are gone. The bedroom has been emptied of anything that she could possibly have fun with during naptime. The lamp has been removed, so she can't wear the lampshade on her head as she dances around the room. The toy bin is gone, so she can not line up her dolls and stuffed animals, then cover them with band aids. Most of the art has been removed from the walls, so she can't rearrange it.

So what is left for her to do doing during naptime? Sleep, I would think, but now who am I kidding! So now really what is there left to do???? Well, to take apart her bed, of course and "paint" the walls with Vaseline! As I stared in wonderment at her room. I keep thinking how could this happen? I had removed everything that I thought she could get! The only thing I had left in the medicine closet of her bathroom was a small jar of Vaseline. A small jar of goo, aka Vaseline, would be way too appealing for my daughter. And now how did she reach the medicine cabinet? Well, she had opened each drawer of the bathroom vanity to create her own steps!

She explained to me that she was "cleaning" and the furniture needed to be polished. As I assessed the situation I see that she had "polished" the entire bed, 1/2 the wall, her bedding, and the mirrored closet doors. Yes, she was a busy bee! To top it off she pulled out the decorative flowers on her bed that covered the screws that hold her bed together. I am positive if she had been able to rig something together to get the screws out, she would have!

After all said and done the room is back to normal. It did take several washings to remove all of the Vaseline from the linens. The only hint left from the crime scene is the shiny patch of paint on the wall that now looks like a day glow pink!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

We stole shoes:(

For some strange reason I thought it would be a fun adventure to head to the mall with the 3 kids. Now what was I thinking? Not only was it one of the hottest days of the year, but it was a little too close to feeding time for the twins. But I figured what the heck, let's go! In the beginning things were going well. At the first store we purchased some shoes for my daughter, along with a pair of angel wings, a cookie and 3 helium balloons. This didn't seem too bad. In hindsight, it was just a case of overconfidence!

With the helium balloons secured to the stroller, my daughter happily eating a cookie and angel wings strapped to her back we moved onto the next store. We arrived at Stride Rite, tried on what seemed like every shoe in the store and finally purchased one pair. My one son starts crying, and we head to the bouncy castle. My plan was that while my daughter was jumping, I'd be able to feed the twins. As we get to the bouncy, the crying turns to high pitch wales and his brother chimes in. The twins are now crying in stereo. As I bend down to take my daughter's shoes off, but what is on her feet but a pair that we had not purchased. We stole shoes! Yikes...not good!!!

I pick up my daughter, we can't scuff the shoes now! She starts crying because she thinks she can't bounce. The boys are crying. I am holding my daughter, pushing the double stroller, getting poked in the eye with an angel wing and getting slammed in the head with 3 helium balloons. I walk faster, start sweating, walk even faster, and the crying is getting louder now. The walk turns into a jog. Still more crying. I'm hot, the kids are hot. We finally made it back to Stride Rite to return the shoes. We retrieve my daughter's beat up old Crocs and head back to the bouncy castle. I am now sweating like pig, have two crying babies on my hands and one very confused 3yr old! Things were not good. I think I have learned my lesson. We'll head back to the mall again, but maybe for a nice leisurely walk and to enjoy the bouncy castle. As for running errands and shopping, I think I'll leave that to the Internet. That way I'll know that I have paid for everything!!!!!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

What's in your underwear drawer?

Every morning I start my day with a smile. It's not necessarily because I had a great night sleep or that I am this wonderful optimistic person who wakes up ready to take on the day. It's because every morning I find a "surprise" in my underwear drawer.

At this point in time it not only holds my undies, but it is the new storage space for the Hungry Hungry Hippo's marbles, a pacifier and a few random papers. This is the place of choice for my daughter to put her prized possessions. So every morning I have to laugh, because everyday it's something new. So what's in your underwear drawer?

Sunday, August 23, 2009

What's wrong with me????

I recently went to dinner with a good friend of mine and half way through dinner she decided that I needed serious therapy. Normally, I would have been insulted, but I really respect my friend and maybe she was on to something. So the next day I discussed it with my husband and he declared "yes, that there is something wrong with me"! I sat there with my mouth wide open...almost speechless, but much to my husband's dismay not entirely speechless! So what is my problem? Well I can't let go, I am a helicopter mom, I can't say "no", I keep taking on new projects and the list goes on and on. First off, my daughter starts preschool on Thurs. I have called the school and almost canceled her enrollment. Changed my mind, found a different preschool and signed her up. I changed my mind once again and decided she was going to the original school. I then made special drop off and pick up arrangements to fit into the twins schedule. I have been crying for weeks that she is leaving. Left the purchasing of her school supplies until the very end, just in case I change my mind again. Now that I am committed (at least for today) I volunteered to be the classroom head mom. So when I told my husband I wanted to be classroom mom, he asked me if that was a really smart thing to do? Didn't I have enough going on? Yes, I have a full plate. I have a small import business, my custom art business, my blog, my baby product review site, I am a co-chair for the San Diego Chapter of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, I have 3 kids, a husband, do an endless amount of laundry, grocery shopping & cleaning. To top it off last week I felt as if I was running an at home daycare. Last week I watched my kids, another 3yr old and a 6 month old! So why, oh why can't I let go? Why can't I just be a mom.That is really all I want to do and it should be fulfilling enough, right? Every time I take on a new project, in the back of my mind I know I shouldn't, but I just can't stop. So maybe I do need therapy after all. Well, at least to learn to use the word "NO" and be okay with it!

Monday, August 17, 2009

Go Daddy!

This evening, when my husband arrived home at 5pm, he surprised me by saying that he had made an appointment for a one and a half hour massage at 6pm and that I should take it. Well, it didn't take me long to grab my keys and run out the door! Then it dawned on me that he would have all three kids. With no dinner made, all three kids to feed and needing to put down for bed, I retreated back into the house. He said he could handle it, he'd figure it all out and I should relax and enjoy the massage. What a guy!!!! Well when I returned home at 7:40pm, the house was quiet. Could this be? Did he do it? As I tip toed up the stairs, I heard him and my 3 yr old daughter singing soft lullabies. There she was tucked neatly in her bed, my husband in the rocking chair burping a baby and a satisfied smile on his face. Yes, two down, one to go! As I fed my other son, I thought about what a great job my husband did. Not only did he make a shrimp and linguine dinner, he managed to get two bottles made, 2 kids fed and tucked in. As I finished feeding the last baby...time check 7:55pm, all I could think of was "Go Daddy, go"!!!

8am to 8pm

It amazing to have gone from being completely exhausted to feeling human again in just 4 short months. Thanks to Babywise the twins go down around 7pm, I sneak in and feed them at 8pm and the don't make a peep until 8am! What a blessing. So many people say I am lucky. Yes, I know I am, but I do think it's not just luck. I put a lot of time into sleep training my kids. In the beginning it was round the clock every 3 hours for the first 6-8 weeks. I did what everyone thought was foolish, I woke not one but two sleeping babies! The Babywise premise is it to get the infant on a schedule. So you get them fed before they get too hungry, too agitated and too hard to calm down. For me it worked, but you have to be dedicated and disciplined. So it is not for everyone. My daughter is a perfect example that Babywise works. The first time around I may have chalked it up to "luck" but now that the twins are here and they are sleeping well I have to believe it was my diligence to follow a schedule. So, this evening I am looking forward to laying on the couch and watching a movie with my husband by 8:30! Wow, even I am amazed!!!!!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

It's not you, it's me!

We've all been there at some point in our life, when we've had to break up with a boyfriend who was text book perfect, but yet something was just not right. I myself have had to use the "it's not you, it's me" line, and recently I found myself almost having to use that line again. Seems rather strange to me since I am happily married and have three kids, but there was a person in my life who had been sucking the daylight out of me. When I would tell my dilemma to other friends, I was advised to "dump her" or "break up with her". I found this so disturbing, even though after every time that particular friend and I would talk or meet, I left feeling unsettled, aggitated and even sad. I couldn't quite forget how she was there for me or what a reliable friend she was. But when does the bad out way the good? This was and still is my greatest struggle. I kept making excuses for her unkindness or her rudeness. Eventually I did "let go" of the friendship as hard as it was for me. Almost instantly a weight had been lifted from my shoulders and I was able to focus on my family with pure joy. This is when I knew the decision was right. Now that we have broken up, it is interesting to see things more clearly and recognize how much time I wasted discussing her issues with my husband. I am only sorry that I didn't do it sooner. Now if only I can get my husband to break up with the downer in his life...

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Poo Pooo Poker Face?????

As I was driving in my minivan the other day, with all 3 kids, my daughter started singing and asked if I could play her song in the car. I couldn't quite figure out what lyrics she was saying, so as we went through each CD that was in the car, she kept rejecting song after song. No it wasn't "Row, Row, Row Your boat", "Twinkle Twinkle", "Itsy Bitsy Spider" or "I Eat Apples & Bananas". For the life of me I couldn't figure out what she wanted. Finally she said "no it's not mommy's music", as if I truly enjoy the themes from every nursery song blasting from the speakers of my car, but it's daddy's music. I turned my head suddenly and shot her a look that even she couldn't believe. As I asked her to sing a little louder and a little slower the song became clear. In her sweet helium balloon sounding voice came "P-P-P poker face, P-P-P poker face, I won't tell you that I love you, kiss you or hug you, cause I'm bluffin with my muffin". I guess the word muffin really got her, because at that moment she burst out laughing. I on the other hand did not! She even continued to tell me that it was sung by Lady Gaga Goo Goo. Okay, well at least she brought the name down to her level. Yes, I was shocked and I think my daughter realized that I was not happy because she looked at me and said " Does Daddy need a time out?"

Thursday, August 6, 2009

I will always be in your heart!

Yesterday, I started reviewing the list of school supplies that my daughter would need when she starts preschool in Sept. Not only was I overwhelmed with how much she will need, really she's just 3, so I don't understand why the supply list is a full one page but I was saddened at the prospect of dropping her off each morning. As my daughter was trying on her little school jumper, my lower lip quivered and my eyes welled up with tears. My daughter consoled me and said "don't worry mommy, I will always be in your heart when I am at school". Yikes! That's what I used to say to her when I would have to leave to run errands and we were dealing with separation anxiety. When did our roles reverse? As I think about it, maybe I was the one with separation anxiety and never her! Could that be?!? How sad:(

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

10x's in 3 1/2 hours!

I really haven't found time yet to get to the gym. I have gone twice since the twins were born and I keep beating myself up, with that fact that I still can't fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans. As I found myself exhausted, and my arms sore and my quads feeling like they had gotten a workout, I started to wonder if maybe all this "mom" stuff that I am doing is actually contributing to my weight loss. So as I thought about my day, I came to the revalation that in a period of 3 1/2 hours I had put the twins in and out of the car 10 times. The reality is that I had picked up the 20lb carseats with my 14lb boys tucked safetly inside 20 times total and that's not including chasing my 3 year old. That's madness! Now how could that possibly be, well I'll tell you...
8:45am- Put all three kids in the car. (1)
9:10am- Take all three kids out of the car. Walk my daughter to class. (2)
9:20am- Put the boys back in the car. (3)
9:50am- Take the boys out of the car. Visit my husband at work, show off the twins. (4)
10:40am- Put the boys back in the car. Drive to the doctors office. (5)
10:50am-Take the boys out. Visit the doctor for their check up. (6)
11:30 am- Put the boys back in the car. Drive to my daughter's school. (7)
11:45am- Take the boys out. Get my daughter. (8)
12pm- Put all the kids back in the car. Drive home (9)
12:15pm- Home, take all the kids out! (10)

Wow, now wonder I am tired!!!!