It's Never Too Late

I think everyone remembers how it felt to long for that perfect present at Christmas or on a birthday. Hinting, hoping, shaking the box...

I received way more than my fair share of awesome presents over the years but there were a few things I wanted and couldn't help still thinking about as an adult. Three years ago Jackie gave me a tiny black-and-white TV as a gag gift. The screen was about three inches and there was a dial tuner on the side. I LOVED IT!! I always wanted a TV in my bedroom when I was younger. I thought that would be the coolest thing in the world. The TVs I'd look at in the store were all tiny black-and-whites with dial tuners. Jackie was baffled by my reaction - you know, because I'm an adult now with a large color TV with cable and Tivo - but there was just something about finally having something I'd always wanted.

The magic happened again this year. My uncle Bret handed me a brown paper bag and said, "Happy birthday!" I looked in and saw them: five boxes imprinted with NKOTB on the top. I stopped breathing. I started pulling them out and they were all there. Donnie, Jordan, Jonathan, Joe, and Danny, each in their original box. I thought my heart was going to stop and they'd find me unconscious on the floor surrounded by their little plastic bodies.

I didn't have New Kids on the Block dolls when I was 10, but now that I'm 30 - they're all mine!!

39 - 18 - 33

I had a really good reason for getting my old Barbies out for Sam. I will explain in a later post.

I was surprised to just have one Barbie in my old toys box. I've weeded them out through the years and just have the one Crystal Barbie and a gallon-size ziploc of clothes. I brought them up to Sam and he was really excited.

Within 30 seconds Crystal Barbie's head was off. Sam paused just a moment, looking at the decapitated little body, and then worked it into his play. "AAAAAAAHHH!" Headless Barbie cried, as she ran around like, well, a chicken with its head cut off.

I wedged her little head on and gave her back to Sam. Sam started to laugh. "Mom," he said, "She is naked!" I offered to put one of her evening gowns on her but he refused.

Now Crystal Barbie belongs to Sam. Her head will not stay on. Sam put her head in his toybox and plays with her body. Headless Barbie is still completely naked, but sometimes holds a little pink ski pole. She spends most of her time talking with cars and riding on Sam's trains.

I've messed up again, haven't I?

Where Did It Come From?

Sam should be an introvert. Both Eric and I have horrible social anxiety. Sam has spent 90% of his life inside, with me. He should be frightened around people and hiss at the sunlight. Perhaps all of the protection I have given him has caused the opposite effect - he couldn't be any less like his parents.

This weekend my great-aunt and uncle celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. A huge, weekend-long party was planned. We all reserved rooms for Friday and Saturday nights. I realized a few weeks ago that there was little chance I'd get Matilda to sleep in the hotel. (My trade-off for her sleeping so well in her crib - she will not sleep anywhere else!) I told my mom that we would not be staying in the hotel and she suggested that Sam go without me. I warily agreed. I repeatedly asked Sam if he wanted to go.

"Sam, do you want to go stay in a hotel with Bay - "

"Yes."

"...but Mom and Dad and Tilda won't be there - "

"Yes."

"...it'll just be Bay and Miranda and James - "

"An' Jackie an' Mike?"

"Yes. But not Mom or Dad."

"Oh. Yes."

I worried that when it came time to actually go he'd change his mind. Mom, Miranda and James came over on Friday to pick him up. He saw them pull into the driveway and ran to get his shoes. He wildly packed his Elmo bag with books and Big Bird and went outside. I could hardly get his seat into the car before he was climbing in and asking me to put on his seatbelt. He gave me a distracted kiss and impatiently motioned for me to shut his door so Miranda could back out of the driveway.

Well.

Matilda and I went over today to join the fun. I got story after story about Sam being sweet and well-behaved and happy and friendly. Distant relatives I rarely see came up to tell me about Sam running to them with a cheerful, "HI!"

Today before I left there was a random group of people standing together. Sam, with no prompting, began going around the group giving hugs. He had never met any of these people. One distant cousin looked to me with a smile and said, "Where does he get that?" All I know for sure is that it was not from me. I answered that it must have come from Jackie.

Sam at three years old is more outgoing and confident than I have been in my entire life. I don't know where it came from - but I am so thankful he has it!

Happy birthday, Papa!

It Never Ends

Matilda, Matilda. I've known from the moment I found out I was pregnant that this baby was a force to be reckoned with. I just pray she uses her powers for good.

She has been rolling, scooting, and crawling for quite a while. Several weeks ago she started pulling herself up to her knees. Yesterday we were in the kitchen (we are always in the kitchen) when she started struggling with a case of pop. I did the dishes and listened to her struggle and scream at the pop for several minutes. Then I heard a happy scream.

I turned around and saw her there, standing solidly on her two little feet, with just one hand holding on to the pop for balance. She was as happy as I was horrified. We stood like that for quite a while, Matilda beaming and me sick to my stomach. She eventually managed to sit herself down and crawled away.

If I could add a sound to this post, it would be the ringing of the bell marking the start of a prize fight.

Vindication - And Concern

My friend Kelli emailed me the other day to let me know about this:

There is a line of very cute children's clothing called Matilda Jane. My first thought was, "HA!! I'm NOT the only person who thinks it's a great name! Someone else is earning a living with that name!! HA HA HA!!"

My second thought was, "Oh, crap. Grandma Barb is going to see that as an invitation to buy Matilda a new wardrobe with her name on the labels."

Win some, lose some.

Death By Pureed Peas

Seriously. Come on.

I was afraid of doing everything wrong with Sam so I never made his baby food. I don't know why I thought a for-profit company making a million batches a day would do any better - but still.

Matilda is going into food slowly. The other day I decided to make her some peas. I don't have a steamer so I decided to just boil and puree them. Again, I'm not sure if that is right, but I can't imagine how it would hurt if I was wrong.

I got out my food processor and boiled the peas. When they were done I drained them into the sink. Somehow, as I poured the boiling water, I managed to pour it directly on my left hand. Holy cow did that hurt. It caused immediate swelling and blistering.

Cursing under my breath, I held my burning left hand in the air as I tried to pour the peas into the food processor. As I started I noticed a crumb of something in the bottom. I picked up the container to shake out the crumb, not knowing that the blades weren't attached. The blades fell out and I reflexively tried to catch them with my left hand. I couldn't curl my fingers but I managed to catch the blade between the side of my hand and my body. I managed to cut my hand pretty badly.

I honestly couldn't use my hand for a few days. Store-bought baby food, here I come!

I Knew...

...that there was something different about this kid.

While we were in the doctor's waiting room the other day our attention was drawn to a very active little boy. He was throwing his toys at people, screaming, and running up and down the rows of chairs - ON the chairs. I tried to distract Sam but he just sat there, wide-eyed and watching.

I whispered, "Sam, he's being naughty, isn't he?"

"Yeah," Sam whispered back.

"You don't act like that, do you?" I asked.

"Mom," Sam said, looking at me seriously. "I don't even want to act like that."

I just couldn't be more amazed by this son of mine!

Woo Hoo!

Yesterday afternoon I was yet again at the doctor's office with Sam and Matilda. They are both perfectly healthy. Why does it seem like I am always there??

We were in the waiting room when the nurse called Matilda's name. I didn't hear her the first time. The room quieted and waited for someone to stand up. The nurse said Matilda's name again.

Sam sat straight up in his chair. "Matilda Dailey?" he cried. He leaped off his chair, shouted, "Wooo hoooo!" and ran to the nurse. The entire room burst out laughing.

At least one of us was having fun!

Nothing Clever

My brain productivity is hit or miss - and right now it's a miss.

We are very busy this week as we get to play with Charlie every day! Sam is soooo excited to have her here. I have a lot of things planned for us. Any mom knows to exhaust children as much as possible.

I'm off to make coffee filter butterflies!

Therapy, Anyone?

Sam surprised me the other day by drawing a happy face. I laughed and cheered - I didn't know he was able to draw. Since then all he has been doing is walking around with a pen and piece of paper, drawing what he calls "silly faces."

Is anyone else absolutely terrified by my son's interpretation of silly?

My favorite: