I have no idea how people do it...

Its back to school time, we start right into the madness tomorrow. What a summer. I thought this would be idyllic-my little sweeties would play and take long naps, and dally in the sunshine and we would all be sun-kissed and sleepy from our exertions. It couldn't have been farther from reality. Well, we played, and they are sweet (most of the time), but we had quite a few struggles. Bailey is fast approaching three, and decided this was the perfect time to give up napping. This created a headache I could not seem to swallow. She was constantly exhausted, and really difficult to please. I expected three to be bad, but when we slipped through the "terrible twos" unscathed, I thought, "Gee, I've certainly done a fantastic job parenting! Look at my beautiful angel!" I'm sure I am not the first person to be tricked by an easy toddler and I won't be the last. Her behavior, good and bad, I'm finding, has little to do with me. She is a bear! Screaming so hard that she vomits, hanging on me to hold her constantly. Its been more of a challenge than I can tolerate. I find myself waiting at the door for my dear husband like a puppy. There's little he can do, though, to relieve the madness. By dinner time we are all exhausted, hungry, bored, and truly sick of each other. B starts preschool next week, full time. I'm hoping this will be exactly the stimulation and distraction she needs. Away from home, she's easy. We go to the library, shopping, parks-you name it-and she's a breeze. I keep her moving to avoid the craziness! I just don't know how people stay home with children all day long. I cannot imagine it. I look like hell, and I'm eating for three. Even though I was counting the minutes until school would end so I could hug and kiss my cuties all day long, now I find myself wishing I could get back in the classroom. As time does, its marching on, and we will be back in the frenzied pace of fall in no time. I'm sure I'll be missing them before I can even get through the front door of the school.

Time Sure Does

Its  amazing how quickly one year can go. I recently finished the Happiness Project, and one of Gretchen Rubin's favorite sayings is that the days are long the years are short. Its so amazingly true. How does time skirt by like it does? I can vividly remember a year ago. Early June, I was just back to school. Natalie was just 7 weeks old, Bailey was a terror at 18 months. It was a challenge to get dressed, to eat dinner, forget making dinner. Tonight I found myself vacuuming the stairs without holding a baby. It was carefree and lonely. The things that today seem so challenging I know I will soon miss. Driving to work with two moody babies is extremely stressful for me. But when I ride alone I'm so very lonely. Your children become part of your fabric. The thing I miss the most about being pregnant is not having them with me all the time. I can already sense that as they gradually get older and more independent that is going to be so hard for me, letting them go. Its crazy because we laugh at our own parents and then in a snap it is us that can't be without our children. It must be because they are so completely dependent on you for at least the first year and a half, that you become dependent upon them, as well. My girls are my entertainment, my purpose, my life. I'm sad as I watch them pull away from needing me completely. 

Bailey-isms

I wanted to take a moment and record my favorite Bailey-isms. These are from the mouth of a sweet two-year old who has quite the difficult time with paired consonants.

1. yummy yummy tummy tummy   
2. juicy (to just about anything she likes the taste of)
3. happy tu tu (still clinging to happy birthday)
4. nearly everything is pink or blue
5. baby hannie...baby nonie...baby bake
6. my two anns (for Tom and Ann)




 These are best paired with a teal tutu and a closed-eyed dance to 90's rap. Hmm, what's not to love?!

What is it about bathtime?!

You have to love bath time. I just don't understand all those mothers who so quickly acquiesce this time to their husbands. It is my favorite time of the day. They are happy, they smell good, and usually, they are not crying! We have been investing in as many fun bath options as possible. Our top three:
1. the water flute from Pottery Barn Kids-there are 6 of them, so no arguments there, and the little holder is a fun toy, too!
2. finger paints/crayons-can't go wrong. They can go on any bathroom surface (yes, even the walls) and they wash off easily. Even on skin they are great. The kid loves them, circles everywhere. It looks like we live with Rain Man, but it can keep her busy while I shower, too.
3. plastic food-these are a dime a dozen, come in every shape and size, and they are colorful. The little one loves them because they are all different textures and sizes, aka, easy to hold and great to chew.

The only caveat about bath time is you want to capture the moment, remember those smells and giggles for eternity, but you can't. Photos could land you in jail, and videos are  just cruel. I guess it will have to remain the moments you hold on to as a parent and try desperately to explain to your child-free friends and kids when they are old enough to hear it retold.

A Moment of Greatness

It goes without saying that the dvd players on the back of the car headrests are possibly the greatest invention ever made. We gerryrigged up a VCR version between our car seats post Christmas. This seemed like a wonderful idea; a two-year old completely fascinated for an hour and half. Awesome.

Except...when you use the seriously economically deficient VCR/TV and forget that tapes can be taped over. Watch out for Swamp Thing. It is not the expected 101 Dalmations, and the swamp is far scarier than Cruelly Deville.