Archive for April, 2010
Banana Curl Envy
Apr 15th
This post needs no introduction. Even if it did, I’m not sure I could stop laughing long enough to get it down. Just read it and you’ll see why…
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HI! I’m LCW from Waking Up Williams and since Kristin and her girls are busy loading the UHaul for their big move I’m stopping by to leave you readers jealous and swooning over banana curls. And since I can’t put my feet on her coffee table, since it’s packed up, I’ve kicked my flip flops off and grabbed a pillow, before they were packed, to sit and share with you a fond memory of Kristin, Kindergarten and curls! Yes, for those of you wondering….I know Kristin in real life, we go waaaay back. We’re old, because some of you reading were only a twinkle in your parents eyes in 1986, or maybe a small ball of rapidly developing cells.
From what I remember Kristin and I were BFF’s for some time. We were in the same Kindergarten class and shared snacks, dolls and playtime at each others homes. I remember her brother teasing us, throwing things at us and just playing his role as the “mean older brother”. He was cute though, tall, blond, blue-eyed….Oh I digress.
I have lots of fun memories of us, including the time we cut our dolls hair. I chopped my doll’s bangs so short she looked pathetic and would be ridiculed by the other dolls, what were we thinking? It’s not like the hair was going to grow back…but we had fun and it didn’t hurt anyone. Although looking back we probably shouldn’t have been playing with scissors or cutting anything without a mom nearby. But you didn’t come here to read about our silly mishaps…because I have something far better for you, complete with a picture.
I introduce to you BANANA CURLS. I swooned over Kristin’s banana curls. What are banana curls you ask? Well check out this blondie in the third row third from the left. Yes, that’s Kristin circa 1986 posing for our class picture.
And those curls, I wanted them, I remember asking her all about them. I wanted all the details, down to the temperature of the curling iron (ok I was 5, so I probably didn’t ask that, but I was totally into the curls). Her response was always, “My mommy does them for me.” Well I wanted my mommy to do that to my hair too. I wanted those curls, I wanted the perfectly coiffed hair and all the swooning that followed. I explained to my mom, in detail the precision and sweetness of banana curls, she tried, she really did, but nothing compared to Kristin’s curls. I don’t know why she called them banana curls, at the time I thought it was because she had “yellow” hair and they were long, like bananas and well bananas are yellow. But regardless of their name, I at the ripe age of 28 still have envious fond memories of her perfectly styled hair.
Oh and I bet you’re trying to find me amongst the sea of ponytails, bows and goofy smiles. I’ll leave you with this, I hate the jumper my mom made me wear, I insisted on wearing a necklace that didn’t match and my mom attempted banana curls, but failed miserably and left me with poofy, bouncy curls far from Kristin’s banana curls.
My Sparkly Pink Life
Apr 14th
I am thrilled that Lindsey from High Heeled Mom answered my solicitation for guest bloggers. She is a fairly new blogger and when I first read her stuff, I loved it! She’s a mom to three young daughters AND a full-time attorney. If you’re wondering how the heck she pulls that off, you must check out her blog. She describes her daily routine and how she manages to get out of the house in the morning, in a suit nonetheless! Aside from us both being moms to girls we’ve both struggled with cradle cap and wish we had time to learn how to knit.
I really love her post today because I’ve totally “been there”. Now I have some ammunition to use the next time I’m in this situation.
So, without further ado, I bring you… My Sparkly Pink Life
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The first time you get pregnant, you hear a lot of questions. When are you due? Did you plan it? (Seriously, whose business is that anyways?) Are you excited? (Duh.) And of course, what are you having?
If it’s too early to know the answer to the last one still, the follow-up becomes, What are you hoping to have?
The first time, of course, my answer was the correct answer. I don’t care what, as long as it’s healthy. But yeah, I wanted a girl. When I found out that’s what we were getting, I was so happy, I hardly believed it until she came out, and the very first thing I said when they grabbed her out was, “Are you sure she’s really a girl?” (She was.)
The second time, I put on some show of wanting a boy to even things out, and because it would be neat to have one of each, and because I knew my husband wanted a boy. But really… I wanted a girl. And I got another one. This time I got a good long glimpse on the ultrasound and recognized her for what she was even before the tech said it.
The third time, it became a bit disconcerting. Everyone just assumed we wanted a boy. My husband, of course, did. (And I don’t blame him. If I had two boys, I’d want a girl!) It felt like I couldn’t win- if the ultrasound showed a boy, so many people would be so excited, it would feel like a slap in the face to my girls. And if it showed a girl, I knew we’d immediately get, “So, are you trying for a boy next?”, which would feel like a slap in the face to the girl on the way.
Which she was. Our third daughter arrived, and we had three girls under three. And the comments and questions arrived as well. So here, I present the answers, so that you may avoid the necessity of asking yourself the next time you run into a mother whose home is everything sparkly, pink, and Dora.
Frequently Asked Questions To A Mother Of Three Girls:
Q: Are you trying for a boy?
A: Without spending a whole lot of money on special sperm centrifuges, there’s little you can do to “try”. Besides, we have two toddlers and a baby. We might possibly have more on our mind than making another baby right now.
Q: Does your husband want a boy?
A: My husband loves his girls. My husband wants his girls. He wants a boy. Most guys do, or so I’m given to understand. That said, it doesn’t really matter, since he loves his girls so much and we have limited resources and cannot continue having babies until a Y chromosome hits home.
Q: Your poor husband!
A: You choose! Depending on if I like the “questioner” or not, the answer is either:
No, my LUCKY husband!
Or
Screw you.
Q: Three little girls? That must be a HANDFUL!
A: Sure. But not because they’re girls. Because I have THREE KIDS UNDER THREE!
Q: Is it true boys are easier than girls?
A: I have no clue. I only have girls. I have no basis for comparison.
Q: Well, of course, boys are easier than girls. I have two boys and they’re easy.
A: I have three girls, and they’re easy. What’s your basis for comparison?
Q: You think they’re easy now, just wait until they’re teenagers?
A: I like teenage girls.
Q: You won’t like teenage girls when they’re your own! (Bonus points here if you mention my husband and a shotgun, the syncing of menstrual cycles and PMS, or how slutty your own daughter was as a teenager and/or how much she hated you).
A: Seriously, Negative Nancy, get off my back. They’re toddlers and a baby. Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt!
Q: Do you wish you had a boy?
A: No. No, I really don’t. In a way I wish my husband could have a son to share guy things with, but given that I watch sports, drink beer, and play video games, I don’t think he’ll be hurting for every experience. And there are days I turn around and see him setting a crown on someone’s head, or talking to a My Little Pony, and I know he’s just fine.
I really don’t feel anything missing from my life. I love pink and sparkles and princesses. I think little boy clothing just isn’t all that interesting. I love ballerina tutus and fairies and dancing and flowers.
And even if I were starved for a boy in theory… the kids in my house aren’t my GIRLS. They’re MY girls. I wouldn’t want them to be any different, because they’re my babies and I love them to pieces.
The questions will likely never stop, and my husband says I shouldn’t be so touchy. I’m not touchy, I’m a mom. I just can’t understand how anyone could think I consider my kids any less than perfect and complete the way they are- pink and sparkly and all mine.
Kids Say the Darnedest Things
Apr 13th
My first guest post is from a high school friend of mine, Jesse. We grew up in the same town and sat through many classes together. When we graduated we went off to college and haven’t really seen each other since! Thankfully, Facebook put us back in touch and I learned that we have a LOT in common. Jesse and I both went to college to become teachers and we are both moms to two kiddos. Her daughter, Hannah, sounds a lot like my daughter, Brinley. She hasn’t taken the plunge into blogging (yet) but I think she’d be great at it. Hopefully guest posting for me will give her the bug. Be sure to leave comments and encourage her to get a blog going…
Here she is with Kids Say the Darnedest Things…
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We have all heard the expression “kids say the darnedest things” and now having my own kids I see the reality in it. I have a very verbal two-year-old girl Hannah. Hannah has given me insight into her two-year brain and how she interprets things, the good and the bad.
We had taken yet another trip to our pediatrician’s office, our second home. While I was at the counter checking in, Hannah was looking at the fish and playing with the waiting room toys. As I was finishing up at the counter I hear my little bean talking to another little girl. You would think this little blonde haired, blue-eyed cutie would be talking about the fish or toys. Nope. Not my Hannah. She turned into my mini-me and there was nothing I could do. The other little girl was standing on top of one of the little kid stools next to the little table. There was Hannah standing tall with her left hand on her hip and right pointer finger in the air telling the little girl to “sit down on your bummer right now!” I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or creep back out to my car. Clearly I was embarrassed but not because she created a scene but more because she learned it from me. Obviously it was not a Mom of the Year moment, but her interpretation was not how I intended it and impression well it was pretty good. I have learned to put hand down and pointer finger away to hopefully avoid another embarrassing moment in the doctor’s office waiting room.
Hannah is going through a phase right now where she is calling people boy or girl when talking about them or to them. Perfect teaching moment! During lunch one day I start one of my ‘Mom wants you to be the smartest two year old’ quizzes. I start naming family members and asking whether they are a boy or girl. My quizzes must be paying off because she got all of them right except one, my Mom, affectionately known as Nana. Mommy: Is Hannah a girl or a boy?
Hannah: Girl.
Mommy: Is Ryan a girl or a boy?
Hannah: Boy.
Mommy: Is Mommy a girl or a boy?
Hannah: Girl.
Mommy: Is Daddy a girl or a boy?
Hannah: Boy.
Mommy: Is Nana a girl or a boy?
Hannah: Nana’s a beauty.
I asked her again and got the same answer. It took me a minute but then I understood. Since Hannah was born Nana has been calling her beauty, Nana’s beauty or beauty girl. Even though my Mom is a beauty it wasn’t the answer I was expecting; but the teacher in me was happy it was in a complete sentence.
You know those days when you wake up and your hair looks like it has been teased, sprayed and not brushed for days. This daily occurrence in our house, most of the time for me as well as Hannah, has been named kooky hair. It would always be my husband or I remarking at Hannah’s kooky hair with giggling and mirror glances. Over time she has come to appreciate and verbalize her love of kooky hair. One day our family joke left our house and followed us to dinner at the 99. Hannah always says hi to anyone passing by, whether you are looking at her or not. The 99 was no exception. She said hi to every customer, waiter and waitress that passed by our table. Some of them stopped for a quick toddler chat others continued on their way. A pleasant mannered waitress made a stop at our table. She was probably in her twenties, wore lots of jewelry, had several piercings and most importantly a very “trendy” haircut. This conversation went something like this:
Waitress: Hi! How old are you?
Hannah: Two.
Waitress: You are a cutie!
Hannah: (giggling) Look at your kooky hair.
Oh no here we go again, another not a Mom of the Year moment. Do we laugh or somewhat reprimand her? At that moment I wished her verbal skills were lacking. My husband and I both pretended as if it hadn’t happened. The waitress quickly turned on her heel and went back to her tables. It was difficult to have a conversation with a two year about what to say at home and what to say out and about.
Hannah has learned a few things and thankfully so have I. She is my first so I know these learning and teaching moments for both Mom and child will continue. Hopefully I will have some Mom of the Year moments mixed in with those not Mom of the Year moments.
Be Our Guest! Be Our Guest!
Apr 12th
This week is going to be quite a busy, hectic week for my family. On Wednesday we’ll be closing on our new home. From there we will begin moving which means I have to finish packing which means that when I’m not eating or sleeping I need to be putting things in boxes and organizing all of this stuff. All of that means I’m not going to have much time to devote to blogging (sadly).
So, last week I put out a call for guest bloggers to help me keep my blog going while I’m busy with the move. I’m thrilled to have received such a great response. This week I’ll be hosting at least five guest bloggers. I may even wrap it into next week if I’m still tied up (figuratively not literally) and the “guests” keep coming. So far my guest bloggers include three moms who write their own blogs (one I know personally) and three friends who don’t write their own blogs (maybe this will give them the bug).
I hope that you enjoy what they have to say and leave them some nice comments. Thank you to all of you who have graciously volunteered to guest blog for me. I’ll be busy with my move but I’ll be checking in periodically and I’ll still be reading my favorite blogs as often as I can!
Enjoy!
If you liked it then you shoulda ballerina on it.
Apr 9th
If you walk into my house on any given day chances are you will see Brinley dressed like this:
There isn’t a moment of the day where she doesn’t want to be dressed like a ballerina. So the second we get home from being out, she asks, “Mom, can I be a ballerina now?” There’s really only one answer to this questions. If I say no, she just fights me until I change my mind. And really, is it worth a tantrum? So, every single day for the past, well, for a long time, she has gone up to her room and come down with tights (sometimes plain but more often polka dotted or stripped), a leotard (she has a few pink ones, a blue one and one black one), and a tutu (unless the leotard already has one “built in”). For a while she’d ask me to help her get the ensemble on, but now she’s completely capable of doing it herself. Sometimes she doesn’t even ask me if she can change. She’ll just disappear into her room and then reappear as a ballerina.
No matter where we are she will end up performing some kind of dance. Sometimes it’s ballet, sometimes it’s African Dance (don’t ask) and yesterday at the beach she declared that she was sand dancing. So you might wonder how this all came about. Well a little over a month ago I enrolled Brinley in a mini dance class. It was four weeks (four Thursdays) long. She would go with about 8 other little 3, 4, & 5 year olds and dance in a cute little studio for a half hour. I was really reluctant to sign her up for something like this because she’s pretty attached to me and had a bit of a hard time adjusting to preschool. But she kept asking me so when I found this mini class, I thought it would be perfect for her.
Well, it was perfect for her. She absolutely loved it. But, the four weeks have come and gone and now the class is all over. The studio where she went doesn’t offer any more of those mini classes. I have to wait until September to enroll her in the next preschool aged session. Now my mission is to find something dance related for her to do over the summer.
Oh and if you’re wondering about the title of this post, let me explain. I’m sure you know the song Single Ladies by Beyonce (which was also referenced in Tuesday’s post). Well for some reason when Brinley first heard this song, she thought that it said, “If you liked then you shoulda ballerina on it” (I have no idea where she comes up with this stuff, but it’s clear what was on her mind). Anyway, she refuses to believe me when I tell her what the real lyrics are. So now I just sing it her way.
