Catching Up

Monday, December 20, 2010

So, you may have noticed that I haven't posted anything for a very long time.  There were some comments made by a person who shall remain unnamed which went something like "your silly stories on your little blog."  Regardless of the intent, the result was me swearing off my blog for a while.  But, my kids do such funny things, and it's hard to get them all in my updates on my shutterfly site.  And hopefully I am starting to feel well enough to get some of my life back...

"How do you spell water?"
"W-a-t-e-r."
"I want some w-a-t-e-r please."
We've been doing reading lessons with Duke the last few weeks and he is really into spelling. 

The kids started sharing a room last night.  It didn't go as badly as it could have.  Lilly cried (she was the one who got displaced, so that was understandable) and Duke tried to comfort her.  "It's OK Lilly, lie down and go to sleep.  Can you cover yourself up?  Do you have your binky?  Mommy will be back at wake up time."  This went on for about 15 minutes (it seemed much longer) as we stood by the door to make sure he didn't try to climb into her crib.  She stopped crying and then started laughing, talking, etc.  If Duke was quiet for even a moment, she'd call out, "Duke!  Duke! (which sounds like Doo, Doo)  Hi!  Hi!" until he answered. 
One of the last things I heard him say before he fell asleep was, "Yes, that's my name Lilly.  Can you say your name?  Lilly.  My name is Darrell, but my also name is Duke."  My poor kids, all with also-names!
I didn't know how early they'd wake each other up this morning, and I was sure it'd be Duke waking her since he's my early bird.  But she got up before him, was jabbering away and calling his name again until he woke up.  "Can you see me Lilly?  I'm here.  Are you OK?" "Yeah."  And so on until 7 am, again with us hovering outside the door to keep people in their respective places.
Nap time was a different challenge.  Since Duke doesn't nap anymore and has a (not-so) quiet time, we explained over and over again the importance of being quiet so Lilly could sleep.  Needing a nap myself, I left poor D to cover for me.  He said they were making a lot of noise for a while, and then after it was quiet for a bit he heard "open your eyes Lilly, open your eyes" and by the time he got back to their room, he was poking her in the forehead through the slats of her crib.  D decided that Duke had enough quiet time for one day.

Duke wanted to play hide and seek with Lilly.  It was her turn to hide first.  We told her to hide and she dropped right where she was and buried her head under her hands. 

My crazy hunch was correct.  This baby is a boy.  And if I hadn't had a hunch, apparently I should have known by my out-of-control weight gain.  I've gained twice as much with this baby as I had with Lilly at this time.  Yikes.  And Christmas hasn't even come yet when I gorge myself with lots of delicious, calorie-laden foods for days at a time!  We know the Lord has not blessed me with willpower, so we will pray that my metabolism holds on for another year or so at least.  And the weather is not particularly cooperative for this Florida girl to go walking in the morning.  I am not getting out of bed if it's 32 degrees.  Period.

Overheard

Thursday, May 20, 2010

I never imagined the man I would marry saying, "You know, it's the typical scenario like getting everyone together for Dungeons and Dragons."
*(as an aside, I'd like to say that Darrell couldn't be a better husband or father.  Sometimes what we imagine is neither what we need nor what is good for us.  And I find it perfectly acceptable that while I'll poke fun at him for D&D, I personally have always wanted to try LARPing.  Maybe in a tutu.  Now I'll know how many people read this blog becasue certainly that will get some comments!)
"Happy Pretend Valentine's Day" is what I was greeted with when I went in to get him after quiet time one day last week.  Followed by, "What are we going to do for Pretend Valentine's Day?"  I don't know, there weren't any crafts for this particular holiday in my book...  My answer?  Let's go swimming!  Since we can't do it on real Valentine's Day, why not?

After spilling a whole bowl of pasta (of course with red sauce) on the (white) tile floor and subsequently watching the dogs lick it up, he said, "Oh, thank you dogs!" as they walked away from the now-cleanest-spot on the kitchen floor.

"Please make the fish cakes.  And not let Nonni take them all."  (A few weeks ago he had helped me cook dinner by crushing the crackers with a mallet for fish cakes.  I told him he could have one the next day as they weren't going to be ready for his dinner time.  The next day he asked for one and I had to tell him that Nonni had come over and we had eaten them all.  Apparently the blame lies with Nonni in his mind...)

"Miss Carmen, did you ever see a thing?" Miss Carmen is our swim instructor, and Duke has quite a crush on her. While he used to encourage his sister on during lessons, his cheers now consist of "Good job teaching her Miss Carmen" and "You're doing good Miss Carmen." I have to think she appreciates this; anyone who's ever seen an ISR swim lesson knows that the kids do nothing but scream for 10 solid minutes (and some from the time they turn down her street.) I have confirmed with her that Duke is the only person, ever, who has cheered for her during a lesson. (She did say she’ll get calls from parents whose kids have fallen in and not drowned thanking her, but after the fact.)  She's quite the catch for a boy like Duke; having two little boys of her own, she knows a lot about dinosaurs, lizards and fishing.  She also scuba dives.
It seems that he likes the older, dark-haired ladies. He also has a thing for Miss Amber, his sitter. He did slip up though; yesterday when she was over he called her Miss Car-mber. Oops. Gonna have to get a little better at that before you can juggle multiple women!

Wanted: Image Consultant

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

When your kid sees you drinking a glass bottle of iced tea and thinks it's wine, then there's a problem. 

Repeatedly I told him, 

"it's iced tea."

"No, it's Mommy's wine",

he kept protesting. 

I really try not to drink wine straight from the bottle (certainly not in front of my children!!), but apparently I need some help cleaning up my image.  Any takers?

'Tis Better to Give than to Receive?

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

   For those of you who've seen every Friends episode 12 times like I have, you're probably familiar with Joey and the fact that "JOEY DOESN'T SHARE FOOD."
   I hear ya, Joe.  Now, I don't mind someone else sharing with me, but please don't ask for my food.  I am a very hungry girl, and admittedly somewhat selfish.  Particularly if there's chocolate involved.

Apparently this trait is genetic. 

   These are pictures of what my son gave me when I asked him for a bite of his French Toast.  He said I could have a "little, little bit."  He wasn't kidding.  I had to take a picture of it; being the smallest "bite" ever known to the human species.  Also, since this is near Mother's Day, I'm saving it for the future when I need some guilt lectures- you know, the kind that incorporate "I gave you life... how could you do this to your mother...7 hours of labor and what thanks do I get...etc."  That is, if I haven't starved to death first. 
Note to self: need to work in more lessons on generosity of spirit, better to give than receive, etc.

Holy Roller

Thursday, April 29, 2010

    Not wanting to have Duke on prescription medications for the rest of his life, I went to the health food store to see what kind of natural things I could try to help alleviate his eczema.  One of the things they suggested was tea tree oil, in that it would help the skin heal, keep infection out from where he's scratching, and also would have aromatherapy benefits.
     After bath time I rubbed some on with his ointments and told him it was something new we were trying.  A little bit later I asked him, "How does your neck feel?  Can you describe what it feels like to me?"
He got this very pensive look on his face, trying to come up with the right words, and he said,

"It's kind of like the burning bush."

She lets her kids do WHAT?!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

*(Since I've posted this some people have been questioning my motives. While this friend and I have discussed parenting theologies and methodologies in a general way and agree to disagree, I've never been as specific as I am here as it isn't my place unless there is an opening of some kind, and there hasn't been. I don't want her to feel like she's getting slammed here if she were to read this. I intended it only as a point of entry for a discussion about the way I am doing things and one way I see others doing it. So, I've come in after the fact and removed all personal descriptions of my friend and her children. When I refer to her kids, I am speaking in generalities, like it was someone I saw at the grocery store or the library. And it's all hypothetical of course.)





I have a friend who is just sweet as can be. She has a couple of kids and while I had some really great stuff to share with you about our Easter adventures (I know, it’s a little late in coming), it will have to wait a bit as I just really have to get this off my chest.


   She refuses to let her kids be "uncomfortable". Meaning, if they don't want to do it, if it isn't "fun" or doesn't "feel good" for them, they don't have to.
   I have so many issues with this mentality. One: it's not safe. Physical harm could ensue from her desire to keep her kids from discomfort.
   Secondly, I believe that not only is she providing potential harm for her kids now, long term she is setting them up for problems. "I don't want to ______." You fill in the blank: go to school, do my homework, get a job, resolve conflict with someone in my family, obey traffic laws, cook dinner, wash my clothes, take out the trash, work on staying married to my spouse, and on and on. Regardless, as her kids get older they will face things that they HAVE to do. And if they don't they will suffer loss of a job, no income, divorce, problems with the law, and will probably move back home with her. Ha ha.
   The part that I have even more trouble reconciling is that this is a Christ-loving girl. Yet her parenting methods scream to me of post-modernism. Meaning that her "if it doesn’t feel good, don't do it" will probably morph into the "if it feels good, it must be worth doing", which is just a wide doorway for substance abuse, immorality and other self-pleasing (read: worshipping) actions and lifestyles.
   Christ died to save us. He took all my sins, and yours too, on himself even though he knew no sin. He was beaten for our transgressions. Are we not to undergo a little suffering as well? The Bible says we are to "die to ourselves" and that "unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains a single seed. But if it dies it produces much fruit." How are we to come under the authority and discipline of our heavenly Father if we cannot (or are not required to first) come under the authority of our earthly fathers (and mothers of course)?? If obeying our parents on earth isn't required, why would someone choose to obey God? They haven't "disciplined their Spirit" or learned how to submit (which in relationships with people and spouses can translate into compromise).
   Christ was so selfless in dying for us, and in doing so he was also obedient to his Father. Even though he did not want to go to the cross his words were "not my will, but thine be done." Was his selflessness just so that we could have free license to indulge our flesh? This I-will-please-myself attitude goes against the Mission of God: because "God sent His only Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life" it tells us that God's heart is for people, that they would come to know, love and serve Him and in doing so have hope here on earth and the promise of heaven. And as Christ followers it's our job to get the Word out. Which requires an attitude that focuses on others, not just our emotions and desires.
   I pray that she will see that she is feeding their flesh and fleshly desires, and that she would come to this realization soon before their fleshly appetites get so big and accustomed to having their own way that she has even more of a fight.

   While I don't think a lot of people read this, I certainly don't mean to ostracize or offend anyone by my views. Nor do I want to make it seem like she is a bad parent, and that I have it all figured out. I most certainly don’t! I just see such a discrepancy by what she believes and what she's living out, not in her own life but as it affects her kids, and I have really strong opinions about this stuff. (Even more so than my other strong opinions! I know, I'm opinionated.) I would never say anything to her (we're not THAT good of friends; I don't even know if I'd say something like this to my sister if it was her!) but hey, it's my blog and I can say what I want. :)

Getting to Know You

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Duke wouldn't sleep last night.  Wasn't tired, I guess.  Lord knows it happens to me (alot lately).  I went in to talk to him for a bit.  He kept asking so politely "Mommy, please come in. Open the door Mommy.  You can come in.  Please Mommy." and as Darrell said, he'll only be this age once and soon probably won'twant much to do with me.  So I went in and we sat in the rocking chair.  What can I say, I caved.  I wanted to be loved by that little boy for a moment and to enjoy it, selfish as it was.  He wanted to answer me
(earlier I had been asking him a question which he kept responding 'yes' to, which was not an appropriate answer.  I would tell him 'that's not an answer' and he would dissovle into giggles)
so I tried to think of some questions.  I learned a lot about him, though I'm sure most answers would be different today.
What's your name? Duke.
How old are you? 2
What's your favorite #? 3
What's your favorite animal? Whale
What's your favorite fish? Tang
What's your favorite color? Purple
What's your favorite reptile? Frilled Lizard
Who's your favorite Sesame Street Guy? Elmo
What's your favorite book?  Little Einstein (a library book we checked out yesterday)
What's your favorite book that we have? Bee & Me (we rarely read this)
What's your favorite stuffed animal? The lion
What's your favorite animal at the zoo? The otters
What's your favorite song? So I Never Will Forget
What's your favorite Bible story? The Cross
Who's your favorite Little Einstein? Annie
Who's your favorite from Clifford? Emily Elizabeth
What's your favorite thing to do outside? Spraying (as in car, plants, Daddy...)
What's your favorite dessert? Chocolate
Do you like chocolate pieces or chocolate cake better? .....
or both?  Both!
What's your favorite food?  Cake
What's your favorite regular food? Nemo snacks
Really?  I thought it would be sausage.  Nemo snacks and sausage!
What's your favorite part of school? Painting
What's your favorite fruit?  Peaches (he never eats those)
What's your favorite vegetable?  Broccoli
Broccoli!  You don't eat broccoli!  I do.
Who's your favorite from Nemo? Bruce

" 'Quote' of the Day"

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

     After sitting in front of the computer and getting a chance to read a friend's blog and her "Reflections on Mothering", it reminded me of some things that I had been feeling this week, and brought to light some things that had been hidden.  She talked about how she always thought she'd be like her mom, and the other ideas she had about motherhood, which are so strong in us until we have a child and have to adjust.  I remember being pregnant when everyone was a harbinger of doom, telling us "oh, you wait, you'll see" and things of the sort.  That we'd never have a shower or breakfast.  That a night's sleep was a thing of the past.  That our kids would bicker and not get along, and what a headache they'd cause us.  From everything people said, we wondered if they were lying or stupid, since they all had multiple children and it sounded like they didn't enjoy having kids at all.  In general there wasn't a lot of joy in any of them and they really didn't see their kids as a blessing.  I swore to be different.
     Now just 3 years later, I find that I too am falling into the trap of blasting those dewy-eyed moms-to-be with a hard dose of reality.  And probably making it sound a bit worse than it is, so I can feel like I'm doing something hard, surviving in the trenches, being a super mom of sorts and not just baking cookies and coloring and playing all the time.  But really, I am playing all the time.  I get a full night sleep every night (well, other than the occasional insomnia, but not due to the kids).  I can take a shower anytime, even if my kids are awake.  Yes, there's a lot of "training" thrown it, which on some days really takes it out of me, but on the whole I'm as fulfilled as I've ever been.
     Which leads into the sleep-chasing thought I had the other night: Lilly will be a toddler soon.  I loved the toddler times, even though they were excruciating! They were so much fun, even though I said “No” about 300 times a day for 6-9 months (that felt like 2, no, 5, years when you’re pregnant on top of that). And then all of a sudden you’ve got a little boy who is a little person, who you can relate to and have conversations with and who makes these crazy observations about the world. So why am I so dreading the toddler years with Lilly?!
     Ha, well she’s a girl, which intrinsically frightens me. (more on that below) She has this darling little look that says “I’m up for anything, especially trouble.” And frankly, my world is pretty ordered right now.  It's as predictable as possible considering I'm dealing with two small children, that is. And we all know I love order and control!!!
     I'm just praying that God gives me wisdom on how best to handle her, so that she can emerge on the other side a happy, good little girl whom I have a relationship with like her brother.

     As I was reading some of Erma Bombeck's books, I was struck by this one passage that sums up EXACTLY what I've been trying to put into words about girls and boys.  The chapter was about which is harder, girls or boys.  There were letters from readers (I have no idea if they were real or not), which all said the same thing.  Who is the hardest to raise?  Girls.  As she states, with boys everything is right there on the surface, from the flies over the wastebasket to the smelly socks.  Girls are more expensive. When you ask a boy what that noise was upstairs he replies "'Joey threw the cat down the clothes chute. It was cool.'  When (my) daughter is upstairs playing with her dolls I yell 'What are you girls doing?' and she sweetly replies 'Nothing'.  Later I find out they're making cookies with my new bath powder and expensive moisturizer."
[This was really a conundrum for me on how many quotation marks and of what kind to put in since I'm quoting someone's work who was quoting someone quoting someone.  I'm going to just leave it be, since if anyone is reading this, you won't know if it's right anyway.]

Misplaced Fears

We have handicapped doors in our house, you know, the kind with the long handles that you pull on rather than a round knob that has to be turned.  When Duke was about 10 months old, he could open them.  We worried that he would be getting into and out of every room.  While there wasn't one of these knobs on the front door, there is one on the garage. 
Our fears never came to fruition.  He never really took advantage of his power.  And it comes in handy now; one of his jobs is to let the dogs out.
There have been some odd things happening around here.  I've been writing a lot of them off because frankly, I can't be too sure if I've locked the dogs up, or been sure to shut the door from the garage all the way.  The dogs have been roaming free at odd times.  I know this by the trail of dog hair and doggie snot on my couch.  I know becasue they are at the door to greet me when I come home.  And I now know this because Hunter has opened doors consistently enough now that I no longer question my memory.
In fact, yesterday he escaped the house 3 times.  First he opened the door to their room twice- once in the middle of the night.  I came out early and locked them up again.  While I was making my coffee, in they trot, Hunter having sprung them.
Later we had them in their room again; once again a strange appearance.
That afternoon Trixie was whining at the window.  I thought maybe a cat or bird was out there.  Nope, it was Hunter, in our neighbor's yard, sniffing around and doing his business.  Miraculously I caught him and dragged him back in, being ABSOLUTELY certain to shut the doors tight incase the change in pressure from people going in and out had somehow freed him.  A few moments later, he was out again!  That little dog had figured out how to open the door form the kitchen to the garage, where the overhead door was open, and escape.
Door handle covers for our type of knobs are exceedingly expensive.  It would be $100+ to buy covers for them.  If I wasn't going to do that for the kids, I'm certainly not going to for the dogs.  So what options do I have?  (Hunter has a microchip, so they'd eventually track us down if he got really lost.  You can look at that how you like.)

Done in a Day

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Can you tell I've been on a kick to get some sewing projects finished with?  This is what I made today.  It took me about 35 minutes (if I'd been able to work straight through).  It was so easy and I think it turned out really cute!

I just love projects that don't drag on.  Unfortunately that seems to be the type I usually pick...  I may make hundreds of these dresses simply for the fact that I can have the thrill of completion so quickly.  Anyone want one?!

Made this the same day for Gabby- I like the color combo a lot better on hers. 

Now I just need to be taught how to take better photos...

Problem Solved

We've tried to turn our kitchen into a "green" zone- added composting and have gotten rid of paper towels and napkins.  So we've been using dish towels and washcloths a lot more.  We have been keeping a towel on the oven handle:

but it usually end up like this:

Darrell had sent me an idea from a blog about putting velcro on the towel to create a loop so they don't fall off.  But, velcro always sticks to everything in the wash and pulls the fibers out.  And since I don't have the special foot for sewing velcro, it can be a little difficult (as in I've broken several needles on other velcro attempts).  So I thought buttons might be good, and it would be great to learn how to do buttons and buttonholes.  Because all of my dishtowels are alternately stained, have bleach marks, or both, I found some cute flannel on sale and experimented with it.  Here's the results. 

We're pretty pleased with it so far (it's only been 2 days).  Next I think I'd like to do it with some real dishtowels, once I can afford a couple of nice ones and matching buttons!

Sands of Time

Monday, March 8, 2010

I've never understood the appeal of sand. Maybe it's because I was deprived as a child and never had a sandbox. Oh wait, I did. It was the beach. And I hated the sand. It was always everywhere and stuck to everything.
When we put the sandbox in last year for Duke, it was with a little misgiving. Mostly in the form of "how am I going to keep this out of the house?” But, it's provided many hours of entertainment for Darrell and Duke. Who knew that a sandbox was a suitable substitute for snow? They've made sand sharks, sand balls, sand castles, and had the usual dump truck traffic. During the summer, we just jump in the pool or spray off with a hose. So, most of my fears have been unfounded.
At preschool they have a sandbox on the playground. Every now and then, Duke must get a little overzealous with it. Now, I only have his word to go by and as our pediatrician says, at this age it kind of seems like they're always hallucinating. But, here's the sitch according to Duke:
A few weeks ago he came home and when we took his sneakers off, they were FULL of sand. Later, I changed his diaper. Also full of sand. And his ears: full of sand. I asked him what he did in the sandbox. "I was making Snow Angels".
A week or two later: more sand in the hair. "I was making pretend cookies in the sandbox with Abi and Ryan." And he proceeded to tell me about adding the flour, butter, sugar, etc. (though for some reason he thinks we use milk to make cookies).
*I should probably take responsibility for this one since we had been making “real" cookies at home the day before this incident.
And this morning? Again, the shoes full of sand. And the answer to “what were you doing in the sandbox today?”

"I was rolling around like a pig."

UPDATE:
Today, I could see the sand on him from across the parking lot.  On his face.  Coating the top and back of his hair.  Pools of it in his ears.  What were you doing in the sandbox today?
"Swimming like a fish."

Dude Looks Like a Lady

Friday, February 19, 2010

Or the other way around?

I think Lilly looks like the perfect little lady; her button nose, sweet smile and profile says all girl to me.  Even when I dress her in some of Duke's hand-me-downs (pj's only people!), she looks somewhat out of place in them.  Apparently only a mother can see these things.

Last weekend we were out at a store, where they were having a large promotion, wine tasting, etc.  It was packed.  She was wearing a fleece lavender top with little flowers and pants with snowflakes.  4 people said what a cute boy.  4 people!!!  I responded that she was not a boy, but a girl, sometimes cleverly disguised as a retort containing "she" with extra emphasis.  I got apologies from everyone, and 3 of the four gave for their excuse that "Purple is a gender-neutral color".  Really?  Really?  I mean, I realize that the lines between male and female are distorted, shady, ever-changing and without reason, but come on!

Now that I have the supplies, you will not see my daughter out without a barrette or something to signify that she is not a he!

Where's the Fire?

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Well, this has been quite a week.  Duke had his first job (more on that later), our car broke down on the side of the road on the way to pick him up from school, and that was all by Wednesday morning.

The van had been making an odd noise for a while.  It wasn't anything too terrible, so I kept waiting until I could justify getting an oil change to have it checked out.  (One of the major disadvantages to having a car repair place that is on the other side of the world.)  Finally yesterday I figured it was time and called to set up an appointment to take it in on Monday for an oil change and to have the noise checked out.  Less than 3 hours later, I was on the side of the road, the smell of burnt rubber strong in the air, waiting for a tow truck with a baby in the back.  The good thing that came out of that was now we have a car place that we trust that's close by.  I have also stocked the diaper bag with a cup for water and a snack should we find ourselves indisposed again.  Next time I hear something funny, I won't have to wait until the regularly scheduled oil change to get it checked out.

Lilly and I were on the side of the road, waiting for my mom, who had picked up Duke, to come and get us too.  As I put her in mom's car, I asked if we could roll the windows up because her scalp was starting to look as red as her hair.  I made some comment like "Lilly's getting burnt".  Duke shouts out, "BABY LILLY'S ON FIRE!"

It's Sew Much Fun

Monday, February 1, 2010

We should all listen to our mothers. Mine has tried to get me interested in sewing for, oh, forever. While I did appreciate the basic skills I had (sewing on a button, fixing hems, making a pillow or a simple curtain), I never really got excited about sewing stuff from patterns. Having tried making clothes, it didn't seem worth the time and effort, generally speaking. But in the past year, I've started to see some practical, non-clothing applications and have slowly been expanding my skill set. Last October I took a beginning sewing class. While most of it was review (thanks, Mom!), it did spark an interest in sewing for me and made me realize it was something I'd like to pursue. I went crazy when Joann’s had a $1 pattern sale and rationalized that I'd figure out how to make the stuff eventually. Around this time, I also realized that my double stroller had NO PLACE FOR MY WATER BOTTLE. Anyone who knows me knows that me and my water bottle would be surgically connected, if that was possible. So I considered kicking Duke out of the stroller and using his spot for my water bottle. But that wouldn't always be practical. Some other mommy friends told me about things they had bought for their double strollers that held their water, keys, etc.
I ordered one. It didn't fit. Returned. I ordered another. Didn’t fit. Returned. Enter the pattern sale, where I saw a pattern for a stroller organizer. I had no idea they had such practical stuff available! I bought my fabric, which requires a side note:
*Another thing that has really kept me from sewing is that I have problems making decisions. When sewing, yes, you have the whole world open to you, but that can be a little too much for someone like me. Going to the store and selecting fabric has been one of the hardest things in the past when my mom and I have made stuff. I just can’t seem to find something that I definitely want to purchase and that I definitely want to see my thing made from. But not this time!!! I found the most perfect fabric and I knew instantly it was just what I wanted. Glorious feeling! I couldn't wait to get started so that I could see my fabric selection in it's glory.
Fabric in hand, I set out to make this thing. I read "Sewing for Dummies" cover to cover. I signed up for a level 2 sewing class. It got cancelled. So, I forged ahead on my own (with some consultation work done by my mom.) After cutting out my fabric, I awoke one morning at 5 am with the realization that the pattern made something to hold a small water bottle, not my ginormous size. But isn't that what sewing is all about? Customization for your every whim?
True, I wasn't qualified to make these kinds of adjustments, but since I didn't have really high expectations of my ability, and since in sewing you can always "unsew" (the new PC term for ripping out your seams. Must have evoked too violent of images.), I figured what the heck. I set about creating my own pattern pieces to accommodate my large water bottle. Turns out I also like large sunglasses; modification # 2. And since my other pieces were so large, modification #3 was required to get everything onto the main piece.
At this time I had adult supervision; I had finally been able to get into another class and the excellent instructor allowed me to work on this project instead of the one scheduled for the class. With her help and guidance I forged ahead and finally this weekend, I finished!!!!
One reason I am so surprised that I liked sewing is that I like instantaneous results. I do not like to wait. I do not like delayed gratification. I do not like the process of anything. I just want it done. And sewing projects take FOREVER. I don't care how simple and easy they're supposed to be, between washing fabric, pinning, measuring, cutting it out, ironing, sewing, piecing, sewing, ironing, ripping out sewing, etc., you cannot finish a mildly easy project in less than 5 hours.  And this was a little less easy than mildly so.  Add to that the fact that I only get small increments of time on some days to work on it and it's like a life-long endeavor.
But I found it to be fun, to see the progress, and to anticipate the next steps. (It also helped that I had several other small sewing projects to work on in the downtime that I could accomplish and be finished with).
So what was all the fuss about?

Here are some shots of my finished product. It's not perfect, but it's a world away from what I bought from the store. It's made just for me, and by me.

Sometimes

Thursday, January 14, 2010

What is it with the English language?

Is there anyone else out there who thinks that every time should be written everytime?  But only "sometime" are words combined in our language. Not "every time". 
I know I write it everytime, every time.  Only the first time, because spell check is as illogical as the language it's checking.

The Bonds of Brotherhood

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Duke and Lilly are so cute together.  Unsurprisingly, she adores him.  Everything he does is fascinating, and just watching him go about his regular business reduces her to belly laughs.  The surprising thing is how much he really seems to like her.  Of course, she hasn't gotten too bad about wrecking his toys, and she can't say no yet when he wants to use her stuff, but really I've been absolutely amazed at how he loves her.  He loves to get "my sister" in the mornings, and wants to help feed her breakfast.  He brings her toys from his room when he doesn't want her to grab his stuff, and will pick things up that she's dropped. 

Today there was a red, heart-covered present on the kitchen counter when he got up from his nap.  "That's a Valentine present!"  Yes, for Baby Lilly.  "Happy Valentines, Baby Lilly."  That's sweet, but she's not in here.  (as he's running down the hall to his room where she's hanging out) "I will hug her and tell her 'Happy Valentines Baby Lilly!'"

Just before this, while he was sleeping, she and I were playing on the floor.  Which means she was sitting and I was looking at her.  She was holding my hands and pulled herself up into a standing position and said "Butha".  (well, it sounded like that)  I am convinced that one of the reasons she will not roll is that she is just waiting to walk so she can catch up with that brother of hers.

In the bath, I got her hair wet and he started laughing, squealing "Her hair looks like weeds!" 
"Really?  I guess it does.  Where did you see weeds like that?"
"Umm.." And then he spouts off something equally random.
Yet he says the exact same thing every time they take a bath together. "Mommy, her hair looks like weeds!"  I began investigating what he was talking about, trying to prompt him with questions about weeds in the yard, or a picture in a book.  Maybe something he saw at school?  Finally the questioning paid off: "Umm, they look like tea leaves!"
We had been talking about tea and how it was made and had made some of our own with loose leaf.    We smelled some different kinds (we have similar tastes in tea, or the odor of, it turns out) and I let him see what they were like dry and then what they looked like after. And he's right, there is a resemblance.

Tea for One?

Monday, January 4, 2010

Christmas gave me great fodder for blogging.

And it's ever present in my mind as Duke is still singing Christmas carols.  And every time he gives me a big hug he says "Merry Christmas, Mommy."

On Christmas Day, the kids kind of had their own separate present fests.  Lilly was napping while Duke and the rest of the family opened their gifts.  Then, Duke went down for a nap while Lilly opened her stuff.  And to continue with our whack-a-mole kids, Duke got up and Lilly went back down.

So when Duke got up from his nap, new toys were in the living room that his sister had unwrapped.  He sat in there for a while playing with her stuff while she was sleeping.  I noticed that he was becoming a little attached to a certain tea party set and commented on the fact that they were Lilly's toys and he had gotten his own presents for Christmas.  I walked away for a moment and came back by.  Duke said "We sharing, Mommy." 

Nice try, but not quite.  I'm pretty sure the owner has to at least have knowledge, if not consent, of their belongings being molested!