I think we might have a neon Vacancy sign flashing over our bed. Logan is finally sleeping peacefully in his own bed. I actually think he prefers it. We were laughing last night as we watched him stretch and roll around in his crib. However, this morning around 5am Kylie wakes up and says she wants to go to Mama's bed. I'm trying to send psychic messages to Eric---don't bring her in here, do not bring her in here. Then I see them coming around the corner. At least he pretended to look apologetic as he dumped her in the bed and went back to sleep. She is a smart cookie.....goes right to sleep. I let her get nice and groggy and then put her back in her bed. The goal is to have them sleeping in their own rooms at night, maybe by the time they go to college right?
The thing I'm enjoying right now is that Kylie seems to like classical music. We have a couple of soft classical cds that I put on at night before she goes to sleep. Now she asks for them. I hope she has some sort of interest in music someday. I'm not going to push it but if she (or Logan) is interested, I will certainly support it! I remember my dad listening to classical cds and telling us which ones were his favorites. I liked marching band so that I could go to the sporting events but my love was in the symphonic band. I enjoyed knowing the stories behind some of the pieces. My favorite piece to this day is Caccia and Chorale by Clifton Williams.
You can read the story here: http://catpages.nwmissouri.edu/m/ewoodru/caccia.htm
And hear the piece here: http://www.auburnschools.org/ahs_band/piece/c.html
It is a high school band, so you will hear some bumps and squeaks along the way....
It is a beautiful day today. I'm waiting for nap time to be over so that we can get out and enjoy it. That's the great thing about living in Atlanta. It can be winter one day and spring the next. I think I'm going to go to the park and let Kylie kick the soccer ball around a little. She starts soccertots in the spring. It is going to be a Kylie/Daddy activity. I know they both will enjoy the time together. He is the first person she asks for each morning. She thinks he drives a trash truck for a living....which is hilarious. Every morning she asks if da da went to work in his truck. I say yes Daddy is at work...she then replies Dada at work in trash truck? I just say yes. I wonder if she will be disappointed someday that he isn't a trashman?
Monday, December 29, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Long Ramblings About a Book
My sister-in-law gave me a book titled My Sister's Keeper for Christmas. I picked it up today and just finished it. In the process of putting Logan in his crib I have confused my days and nights. No, I am not sleeping all day, I am just not sleeping at all!
This isn't a book review but I am going to talk about the book so if you haven't read it and wish to, don't read this post.
I have never been so affected by a book in my entire life. It was such a tough read that I had to walk away from it a couple of times and then come back. The ending left me crying off and on for about a hour. Eric, my gentle, sweet, husband says to me, It's fiction Jennifer, not even a true story, get over it. This is why women give birth to children and not men. I honestly do believe that while men are connected to their children in a way that women may not understand, the bond between woman and child is not stronger per se, but different?
The parents in the story have two children, one created to save the other who has cancer. The younger child decides she doesn't want to "save" her sister anymore. We find out later that the older sister doesn't want to be saved anymore and as usual, the youngest is fulfilling her role of being her sister's watchdog.
If I only had one child, I think I would have come away from this book angry at the younger child. I mean who wouldn't want to save their siblings life? How would I look at and care for the younger child if she didn't want to save her sibling who was the other half of my heart? Since I have two living breathing individual children whom I love so deeply for such different reasons (other than the fact that they are my children of course) I felt differently. I can only hope that I would never place that type of expectation of either of my children. More than that, I can only hope that we never have to even think about something like this.
I felt such sorrow for Anna, the youngest, who had such adult decisions placed upon her at such a young age. She never was an individual to me, only a body to be harvested for the older child's relief. I wonder if her mom truly looked at her that way or if she thought of her as being even more special, because she could do what the mother yearned to do....cure her child. I would imagine she thought of her as being more special but was so wrapped up in the illness of her eldest that she forgot to be a mother to all her children. When one of your babies are ill or upset, you just want to fix it. I think the guilt the mother carried had to be immense.
I told Eric that I think this book affected me so much because I was afraid that I would have reacted like the mother. We would be faced with a crisis, there would be an obvious answer, and I would just expect everyone to fall into place and do what I expected of them. I know Eric would be Brian, the father who would be able to step away from the emotional whirlwind and see the points of view of all of the children. It made me love Eric even more for being our moral compass but it made me so sad for the mother and the struggle she had for both of her children.
As a side note, the ending was so traumatic that I don't even know what to do with that. I mean really? You are going to kill Anna anyway? So much for happy endings. The interesting twist is that all the guilt that Anna carried was transferred to Kate. So really, in the end, no one really "won" I guess that was the point though.
Ok. I got that off my chest now I'm going to sleep.
This isn't a book review but I am going to talk about the book so if you haven't read it and wish to, don't read this post.
I have never been so affected by a book in my entire life. It was such a tough read that I had to walk away from it a couple of times and then come back. The ending left me crying off and on for about a hour. Eric, my gentle, sweet, husband says to me, It's fiction Jennifer, not even a true story, get over it. This is why women give birth to children and not men. I honestly do believe that while men are connected to their children in a way that women may not understand, the bond between woman and child is not stronger per se, but different?
The parents in the story have two children, one created to save the other who has cancer. The younger child decides she doesn't want to "save" her sister anymore. We find out later that the older sister doesn't want to be saved anymore and as usual, the youngest is fulfilling her role of being her sister's watchdog.
If I only had one child, I think I would have come away from this book angry at the younger child. I mean who wouldn't want to save their siblings life? How would I look at and care for the younger child if she didn't want to save her sibling who was the other half of my heart? Since I have two living breathing individual children whom I love so deeply for such different reasons (other than the fact that they are my children of course) I felt differently. I can only hope that I would never place that type of expectation of either of my children. More than that, I can only hope that we never have to even think about something like this.
I felt such sorrow for Anna, the youngest, who had such adult decisions placed upon her at such a young age. She never was an individual to me, only a body to be harvested for the older child's relief. I wonder if her mom truly looked at her that way or if she thought of her as being even more special, because she could do what the mother yearned to do....cure her child. I would imagine she thought of her as being more special but was so wrapped up in the illness of her eldest that she forgot to be a mother to all her children. When one of your babies are ill or upset, you just want to fix it. I think the guilt the mother carried had to be immense.
I told Eric that I think this book affected me so much because I was afraid that I would have reacted like the mother. We would be faced with a crisis, there would be an obvious answer, and I would just expect everyone to fall into place and do what I expected of them. I know Eric would be Brian, the father who would be able to step away from the emotional whirlwind and see the points of view of all of the children. It made me love Eric even more for being our moral compass but it made me so sad for the mother and the struggle she had for both of her children.
As a side note, the ending was so traumatic that I don't even know what to do with that. I mean really? You are going to kill Anna anyway? So much for happy endings. The interesting twist is that all the guilt that Anna carried was transferred to Kate. So really, in the end, no one really "won" I guess that was the point though.
Ok. I got that off my chest now I'm going to sleep.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Someone Else's Commentary on Toddlers....
I just read this one someone else's blog but thought it was pretty hilarious so I'm reposting....this is not from me, but I can relate to every one of these....
Ten Comments to not say to a Toddler's Mother while Shopping...
Strangers' Comments Couldn't Be Stranger
The little guy looks like he needs a nap.
But it's only eight o'clock in the morning!
I'll pray for him!
Recently, as I was leaving the store pretty thoroughly embarrassed, my usual state these days, a woman turned to me and said, "I'll be praying for him. I always pray for the little ones that cry." I wondered as I took my exit why she wasn't praying for ME. I was the one dealing with the little terror.
And on a related note...
Sure makes you believe in original sin...
I kid you not. Someone really said this to me. Actually I don't believe in that but let's not go into that here.
Tell your mama to hurry up and finish shopping!
Today when a "nice lady" directed this comment to my 21 month old son, I turned to her and said, "ma'am, I'm almost seven months pregnant and moving as fast as I can." If you must direct a snide comment at a kid's parent, through the child, don't expect him to pass it on.
What did you do to him?
I have heard this question so often now that I have a standard response. "I've been beating him with a wet noodle." Once someone didn't hear the wet noodle part and responded, "Oh, well I wouldn't do that if I were you."
What's wrong with him?
Do you mean besides the demon child inside of him that's making his head rotate 360 degrees on its axis? I have never actually said this to anyone, but the temptation grows stronger each time the question is posed to me.
Staring and head shaking
This one falls more into the category of non-verbal communication. I don't have a comeback for this one, but it isn't helpful. Save your disdain for the trip back home in the car.
And you're having another one?
Sheesh. Gimme a break, will ya? Don't kick a pregnant woman while she's down.
MY grandbaby loves to go to the grocery store!
"...His mother has really trained him well to sit quietly in the cart." Obviously, people who say such things are just looking to affirm their own positively perfect parenting skills. But every once in a while, just for a moment, I think, "Oh yeah? Wanna trade?"
Ten Comments to not say to a Toddler's Mother while Shopping...
Strangers' Comments Couldn't Be Stranger
The little guy looks like he needs a nap.
But it's only eight o'clock in the morning!
I'll pray for him!
Recently, as I was leaving the store pretty thoroughly embarrassed, my usual state these days, a woman turned to me and said, "I'll be praying for him. I always pray for the little ones that cry." I wondered as I took my exit why she wasn't praying for ME. I was the one dealing with the little terror.
And on a related note...
Sure makes you believe in original sin...
I kid you not. Someone really said this to me. Actually I don't believe in that but let's not go into that here.
Tell your mama to hurry up and finish shopping!
Today when a "nice lady" directed this comment to my 21 month old son, I turned to her and said, "ma'am, I'm almost seven months pregnant and moving as fast as I can." If you must direct a snide comment at a kid's parent, through the child, don't expect him to pass it on.
What did you do to him?
I have heard this question so often now that I have a standard response. "I've been beating him with a wet noodle." Once someone didn't hear the wet noodle part and responded, "Oh, well I wouldn't do that if I were you."
What's wrong with him?
Do you mean besides the demon child inside of him that's making his head rotate 360 degrees on its axis? I have never actually said this to anyone, but the temptation grows stronger each time the question is posed to me.
Staring and head shaking
This one falls more into the category of non-verbal communication. I don't have a comeback for this one, but it isn't helpful. Save your disdain for the trip back home in the car.
And you're having another one?
Sheesh. Gimme a break, will ya? Don't kick a pregnant woman while she's down.
MY grandbaby loves to go to the grocery store!
"...His mother has really trained him well to sit quietly in the cart." Obviously, people who say such things are just looking to affirm their own positively perfect parenting skills. But every once in a while, just for a moment, I think, "Oh yeah? Wanna trade?"
So today is the day after Christmas. I think I am a bit hungover from the holidays but we had a great one. We spent Christmas morning with the kids. Eric brought Kylie downstairs and she ran to her Rose Petal Cottage and pretty much stayed there all morning. Logan seemed to like tasting his new toys as well. It was peaceful, the kids played with all their new treasures, and Eric and I sat in the living room and enjoyed the morning with coffee and Christmas music. It's funny how we wanted to find our traditions but sometimes traditions just find you. I imagine all of our Christmases will be similar to this year.
My sister came over later in the afternoon on Christmas and Kylie had a great time hanging out with Uncle John. He is her buddy. They went outside and walked around and John told Kylie the names of all the plants and such outside. He was then allowed to come inside the cottage (first person all day) and enjoy some snacks with Kylie and Winnie the Pooh. I've never seen such adoration on that child's face. I love it. With our shortage on grandfathers, I am happy that John is such a willing volunteer.
We are spending New Year's with Selena and Tyson. The boys will watch bowl games all day while Selena and I explore Chattanooga with the kids. I'm looking forward to it. I miss my best buddy and since we have already arranged Kylie and Emmett's marriage, it is important for them to know each other as well. KIDDING. They are great friends though.
I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. This was our best yet. Kylie understood what was going on and having Logan this year made it very special.
My sister came over later in the afternoon on Christmas and Kylie had a great time hanging out with Uncle John. He is her buddy. They went outside and walked around and John told Kylie the names of all the plants and such outside. He was then allowed to come inside the cottage (first person all day) and enjoy some snacks with Kylie and Winnie the Pooh. I've never seen such adoration on that child's face. I love it. With our shortage on grandfathers, I am happy that John is such a willing volunteer.
We are spending New Year's with Selena and Tyson. The boys will watch bowl games all day while Selena and I explore Chattanooga with the kids. I'm looking forward to it. I miss my best buddy and since we have already arranged Kylie and Emmett's marriage, it is important for them to know each other as well. KIDDING. They are great friends though.
I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. This was our best yet. Kylie understood what was going on and having Logan this year made it very special.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
In Search of Christmas Traditions....
So this year Kylie is a little older and understands the gist of Christmas....the commercial part anyhow. She can say Santa and Ho Ho Ho. When Eric brought the tree inside on Friday she was really excited about the Kissmiss Tee. She told me where to place the ornaments and while the tree isn't pretty this year, it is exactly as Kylie wanted it....as it should be.
We are trying to come up with our own unique family traditions this year. We are going to leave cookies for Santa, presents in the stockings, the normal stuff....but we thought it would be fun to take the kids out to see Kissmiss lights too. I googled a couple of places online...Stone Mountain was expensive, Tanglewood Farms too far away, and then I found it, the perfect place and only 45 minutes from home! It is an operational farm that has reindeer, camels, a live nativity (for the real meaning of Christmas) and 80 acres of lights. I'm not going to name it because it isn't fair to poke fun at a place online. People can make up their own minds without my input....
So, it looked something similar to this
Kylie was relatively indifferent to the whole experience. There was a Winnie the Pooh at the entrance and that was about all that caught her eye. Logan slept the entire time. I told Eric that I now understand why parents are bummed when they take their kids out and the kids are just like whatever mom. It wasn't Kylie's fault, I mean it was a little country and slapped together, but one ooh would have been enough :) So for this Christmas, the tally is as follows: Santa (check, hated it), Christmas cookies (check, hated it), Christmas light display (check, hated it). I'll update as needed.
We are trying to come up with our own unique family traditions this year. We are going to leave cookies for Santa, presents in the stockings, the normal stuff....but we thought it would be fun to take the kids out to see Kissmiss lights too. I googled a couple of places online...Stone Mountain was expensive, Tanglewood Farms too far away, and then I found it, the perfect place and only 45 minutes from home! It is an operational farm that has reindeer, camels, a live nativity (for the real meaning of Christmas) and 80 acres of lights. I'm not going to name it because it isn't fair to poke fun at a place online. People can make up their own minds without my input....
So, it looked something similar to this
Kylie was relatively indifferent to the whole experience. There was a Winnie the Pooh at the entrance and that was about all that caught her eye. Logan slept the entire time. I told Eric that I now understand why parents are bummed when they take their kids out and the kids are just like whatever mom. It wasn't Kylie's fault, I mean it was a little country and slapped together, but one ooh would have been enough :) So for this Christmas, the tally is as follows: Santa (check, hated it), Christmas cookies (check, hated it), Christmas light display (check, hated it). I'll update as needed.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Only Daddies Know How to Brush Teeth....
Our night routine is pretty much like this---I take Logan up at 730. He fusses a little so I stay upstairs until he is asleep. At 8, Eric brings Kylie upstairs, brushes teeth, and puts her to sleep. Tonight, Logan went to sleep pretty fast and Eric was watching something on TV so I went downstairs to put Kylie to bed. We go to the bathroom and I pull out the toothbrush. She immediatly starts screaming Noooooooo and crying. I had to call Eric upstairs because I do not know the ritual of brushing teeth. Apparently, you first sit on the counter, attempt to turn off the light and then turn the water on yourself (no help from Mommy or Daddy). Daddy brushes teeth and then wipes off hands because hands are messy (repeat this ten times) and then you kiss yourself in the mirror and go night night. I did not know any of this. Good thing I got a lesson tonight since Eric has a work thing tomorrow night. Toddlers are so ritualistic.
Not much new to report in the Johnson household. Logan is FINALLY on a sleep schedule. I know that could change at any moment but for now he is taking an afternoon nap at the same time as Kylie and both are going to sleep at 8pm. He has adjusted well. Both kids are in good health too.
I'm looking forward to the holidays this year. Kylie is still a little young, but I think I'm going to let her help me bake cookies and such for Santa this year. She pretty much hates Santa, but it will be a fun tradition to start. Logan is growing so fast. I accidentally typed fat instead of fast...both apply. He is now eating first stage baby foods, and loves everything, even the green ones.
This year has been full of changes for us, new baby, new stay at home mom, Kylie is a new big sister, etc etc....but it has been a good year.....probably our best yet as a family.
Not much new to report in the Johnson household. Logan is FINALLY on a sleep schedule. I know that could change at any moment but for now he is taking an afternoon nap at the same time as Kylie and both are going to sleep at 8pm. He has adjusted well. Both kids are in good health too.
I'm looking forward to the holidays this year. Kylie is still a little young, but I think I'm going to let her help me bake cookies and such for Santa this year. She pretty much hates Santa, but it will be a fun tradition to start. Logan is growing so fast. I accidentally typed fat instead of fast...both apply. He is now eating first stage baby foods, and loves everything, even the green ones.
This year has been full of changes for us, new baby, new stay at home mom, Kylie is a new big sister, etc etc....but it has been a good year.....probably our best yet as a family.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Cry It Out--For Babies or for Mommy?
I am trying the cry it out method with Logan. It is a modified version. I'm not leaving him in his room to cry for hours on end or anything. I go check on him every 10-15 mins and usually by that 15 min mark he is asleep. We figure it must be annoying the neighbors who live to the left of us. However, it annoys us when they leave their big rig in the middle of the street and when their dog wakes Kylie up every morning. It also annoys us when they get tasered in their front yard on Memorial Day but that is another story. We figure baby crying vs 20 cop cars on holidays=even.
Back to cry it out...I can't remember how much we did this with Kylie. Aunt Keri watched her during the day and then she went to daycare. When she returned to me she was already a programmed napper. I'm putting Logan on a schedule for his sanity and my sanity. I'm tired. We've been up the past three nights with teething and getting adjusted to the crib and I'm ready to cry it out. I think I may have slept 10 hours in three days and I'm starting to get snippy. Eric was trying to be cute tonight and said something that began with "You know, if this was 1950......" I stopped him right there. I really didn't want to get all Ike Turner on him.
That's the funny thing about kids though. You think you have all the answers and have everything figured out and then they throw you another loop. Logan has started eating solids..just oatmeal and prunes so far. It dawned on me this morning that I now have to figure out how to feed two meals to two children at the same time. Kylie feeds herself but she sometimes wants that extra attention. Just when I thought I was Queen on the Two Kid Parenting I realize that I now must start from scratch. Goodness.
We went to visit Santa today. It isn't the official Santa pics. Wolf Camera was offering free pics with Santa. Logan's will be adorable, he is in his Christmas outfit and is wearing a Santa hat. Kylie? Weeeeellll here's the thing. She didn't want to take a nap today. When she saw Santa she ran between my legs and tried to get me to sit on his lap. I don't know Santa like that ok? So I picked her up, warned the photographer I was about to put her on Santa's lap and then he snapped the picture. The picture should illustrate "angelic"
Back to cry it out...I can't remember how much we did this with Kylie. Aunt Keri watched her during the day and then she went to daycare. When she returned to me she was already a programmed napper. I'm putting Logan on a schedule for his sanity and my sanity. I'm tired. We've been up the past three nights with teething and getting adjusted to the crib and I'm ready to cry it out. I think I may have slept 10 hours in three days and I'm starting to get snippy. Eric was trying to be cute tonight and said something that began with "You know, if this was 1950......" I stopped him right there. I really didn't want to get all Ike Turner on him.
That's the funny thing about kids though. You think you have all the answers and have everything figured out and then they throw you another loop. Logan has started eating solids..just oatmeal and prunes so far. It dawned on me this morning that I now have to figure out how to feed two meals to two children at the same time. Kylie feeds herself but she sometimes wants that extra attention. Just when I thought I was Queen on the Two Kid Parenting I realize that I now must start from scratch. Goodness.
We went to visit Santa today. It isn't the official Santa pics. Wolf Camera was offering free pics with Santa. Logan's will be adorable, he is in his Christmas outfit and is wearing a Santa hat. Kylie? Weeeeellll here's the thing. She didn't want to take a nap today. When she saw Santa she ran between my legs and tried to get me to sit on his lap. I don't know Santa like that ok? So I picked her up, warned the photographer I was about to put her on Santa's lap and then he snapped the picture. The picture should illustrate "angelic"
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Teething, Tantrums, and Wii Fit
Both kids had their checkups on Monday. Logan is 17lbs and in the 75% for his height and weight. We were worried that he might have some of Kylie's eye issues but the ped thought that his eyes looked fine. She is referring us to Kylie's eye doctor just to be cautious though. We mentioned to the ped that Logan had not rolled from his back to his belly. Of course, in typical Johnson fashion, he promptly rolled from his back to his belly to prove us wrong.
Kylie's checkup went well too. She is 25lbs and in the 50% for her height and 25% for her weight. Everything was right on target. Of course, Kylie threw the biggest tantrum known to man in the dr's office. Our ped suggested timeout. Our biggest issue right now is biting. She didn't "pick it up" somewhere because she is home. I don't bite the kids (believe it or not) and we don't bite each other so I have no clue how she decided to do this. She bit me today while we were out in public. I'm really kind of clueless on how to stop her. I don't believe in that whole biting back thing (I think that is nuts actually) and time out is a joke to her. It also doesn't make sense to me to say don't inflict pain on me with your teeth by inflicting pain on her by spanking. Ahh, the joys of parenthood!!
Eric bought me Wii Fit for Christmas. I found it on sale at Target so I bought it, brought it home and said Hey I found my present at Target! We have been playing it for a couple of days. Yes, you break a sweat with some of the aerobic games. However, I think it would be very hard to lose a ton of weight even if you played everyday. My most favorite part of the game is when I was weighed, classified as overweight, and my character in the game now has a bulging belly. THAT, my friends, is what we call a good time!!
I have a few new pictures of the kids but I'm too lazy to walk downstairs to get the camera. I'll get them up soon.
Kylie's checkup went well too. She is 25lbs and in the 50% for her height and 25% for her weight. Everything was right on target. Of course, Kylie threw the biggest tantrum known to man in the dr's office. Our ped suggested timeout. Our biggest issue right now is biting. She didn't "pick it up" somewhere because she is home. I don't bite the kids (believe it or not) and we don't bite each other so I have no clue how she decided to do this. She bit me today while we were out in public. I'm really kind of clueless on how to stop her. I don't believe in that whole biting back thing (I think that is nuts actually) and time out is a joke to her. It also doesn't make sense to me to say don't inflict pain on me with your teeth by inflicting pain on her by spanking. Ahh, the joys of parenthood!!
Eric bought me Wii Fit for Christmas. I found it on sale at Target so I bought it, brought it home and said Hey I found my present at Target! We have been playing it for a couple of days. Yes, you break a sweat with some of the aerobic games. However, I think it would be very hard to lose a ton of weight even if you played everyday. My most favorite part of the game is when I was weighed, classified as overweight, and my character in the game now has a bulging belly. THAT, my friends, is what we call a good time!!
I have a few new pictures of the kids but I'm too lazy to walk downstairs to get the camera. I'll get them up soon.
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