Category Archives: parenting

Yummy yummy, fruit salad!

So, my mom (Hi, Mom!) bought the kids a Wiggles DVD. I have heard of the Wiggles, but never actually watched them. The kids… weren’t huge fans. There was some dancing, but ultimately they wanted to watch Paw Patrol instead. However, the next day out of the blue, Enzo asked for the Fruit Salad song and I had to wrack my brain to figure out what he was talking about. For whatever reason, it is the only song that stuck out to him on this DVD and he has found enormous pleasure in getting it stuck in my head. Out of the blue he’ll suddenly start singing “Yummy yummy, fruit salad” and he’ll look at me and crack that smile with the adorable dimple and giggle while repeating it over and over until he has it stuck in my brain. Now we go back and forth with it. Sometimes I’ll sit down next to him on the couch and sing it in his ear to get him to smile, and this weekend I wouldn’t be surprised if he wakes me up by singing it.

We’re supposed to get a nice storm early next week, and while the weather won’t be terrible this weekend, I think we’ll stay in and maybe do some more painting. Enzo asked to paint something besides paper, so I picked up a little project for them (obviously I can’t spoil the surprise). Otherwise Phoebe has really been into Barbie and princesses lately, so I imagine there will be a lot of that as well.

Oh, and for the curious… (Sorry) Oh, and my bad… it’s “Fruit salad, yummy yummy” not vice versa. 😉

Probably going to ramble…

January is always a weird month. It’s typically slow after months of being busy, and it’s also usually the coldest month. It’s also generally the time of year my body decides to get sick. All things considered, it’s really only been a meh kind of month this year. I’ve been having some tension headaches (I think), but also have been experiencing some vertigo, so probably something going on with my ears or mild migraines? I do sometimes get the flashing light sensation. However, I don’t know that migraines are mild? Maybe I’m just dehydrated…

I haven’t really been taking photos as often lately, so these are a little old. I do have some I need/want to sort through on my computer, but at the same time I just feel meh and don’t really feel like sitting in my cold office and doing anything. I can’t even tell you how many nights I’ve just wanted to stay curled up in Phoebe’s bed after she falls asleep even though it’s only 8:00. I get up tired and cold and any motivation falls by the wayside as I curl up in bed with a book or a TV show and 1-3 cats. There are so many things I want to do and need to do, but just don’t have it in me lately.

We haven’t gotten out much, though we did get out for a bit this past weekend to see an Ice Castle. The kids got cold fairly quick, though, despite being bundled up like marshmallows and neither of them wanted to walk. My camera battery died after a couple of pictures and it wasn’t long before Enzo asked to go home. There was a lot of fussing and whining while we tried to get them out of snowsuits with our own hands frozen and I may have had a moment where I kind of lost my head for a moment – yelled really loudly (which did get everyone’s attention), but also felt a tad embarrassed when I realized my door was open and there were lots of other families in the parking lot. Not my finest moment. We probably should have waited for a warmer day, but the previous 2 or 3 weekends have been spent in the house and I needed out.

I think it’s just my typical seasonal funk and I have to deal with it as I do every year. Granted, we’ve had some extra stress so that doesn’t help things either. I’m just trying to take it one day at a time and am allowing myself to just be meh for the rest of the month. Come February I’m going to give myself a stern talking to and make some changes. I’ve been a tad too lenient with myself and allowed myself to wallow and procrastinate long enough. So, time to make the most of the rest of this week and binge watch some more Grey’s Anatomy and Downton Abbey because you know I picked up the full season today and can now finish it at a much more desirable pace.

Constantly Busy

The weekend was busy and once again I’m reminded that children are way more easily affected by lack of routine and sleep then I’d sometimes like to think. They were up a bit late Friday night, which wouldn’t have been so bad except for the fact that Enzo didn’t want to take a nap on Saturday and even though Phoebe did, she was a tad more clingy than usual. We’re also learning that we really, really need to limit all screen time and come up with some household rules because it is becoming apparent that too much screen time is making children (and I think occasionally the adults) more prone to crankiness. It was still a fairly productive weekend with some fun mixed in, though. It’s funny how different Enzo and Phoebe are and how it becomes more obvious as they get older. For instance, if I announce we’re going to get of the house and go shopping, Phoebe will get excited and want to leave immediately. Enzo, on the other hand will immediately say, “I don’t want to go shopping.”

He’d much rather stay at home with his Dad and snack and play video games or watch TV. I knew that there had been too much time in the house, though, and made the executive decision to take us all to the mall. It probably serves me right that the kids were full of energy and completely uncooperative and into everything. Thankfully most people were in a great mood and didn’t mind when our circus crossed their path. We had one mom with teenagers laughing because she remembered those days (as I chased Phoebe down an aisle while Enzo went the opposite direction), and a couple of young girls were laughing at Phoebe’s antics as she attempted to outrun me a second time. You’ve also go to love the limp noodle when you try to pick them up and suddenly you have a toddler laying on the floor at your feet. At that point I had to laugh because we must have looked like a complete and total joke and like the most inept parents unable to control two small children. There are just those days, though, you know?

Thankfully it isn’t always like herding cats when we take them out, so I suppose we’ll keep allowing them out of the house. 😉

The Little Things

It was a very busy and slightly crazy weekend, both personally and the world in general. There was no missing the news this weekend and how horrible it was. I admit, it starts to make me wonder what kind of world we’ve brought two children into. I admit I often avoid the news because it’s either all very trivial celebrity gossip or it’s just very awful. Both make me shake my head, just for very different reasons. Honestly, I’m not even sure what to say when it comes to the state of the world we live in. It makes me sad that there has to be so much hate and violence, though. I’ll never understand it. So, this weekend I focused on my family. We celebrated the 2 years that Phoebe has been with us and then on Sunday we went and bought her a big girl bed. These pictures aren’t from this weekend, but from a few weeks ago when they helped me make a pie.

As you can see, Phoebe was also due for another trim, but she’d rather have her hair in her eyes then let me trim it for her… which I guess I can’t say that I blame her for that. I’m not a hair stylist for a reason. Anyhoo, it’s always hit or miss with the kids in the kitchen. Some days they’re thrilled to help out, and others not so much, so when Enzo asked if he could help, I couldn’t refuse and he pulled his chair up to the counter. Phoebe is never one to be left out and pulled a chair over as well. Thankfully, Key Lime pie is pretty easy to make and what’s not to love about crushing up graham crackers?

I’m sure Phoebe would argue that sneaking bits is probably the best part, but Enzo was far too intent on getting the right amount so we could do the actual fun part, which is when you get to push the button. I love how excited they get at the thought of just pushing a button to make something happen. I often forget about taking joy in the little things, but the kids have been helping me remember that it’s often in the little things that we find the most joy. Whether it be coloring in a coloring book or sipping hot cocoa and watching it storm or putting flannel sheets on the bed when the weather gets cool… it doesn’t have to be much.

While we were at Target yesterday with the kids, a woman actually walked over to me and smiled and said, “I just wanted to tell you how adorable your family is. It made my day to see you all.” So often I feel like we’re a chaotic mess and it was such a huge thing what she said. Usually I try to keep the kids corralled, but we didn’t today and while it may irritate some people that our kids are giggling and having a great time looking at everything, there are people who also find joy in seeing two very happy kids shopping with their parents and having a grand time. It may have even been her words that kept me from getting frustrated with them when the didn’t want to listen and Enzo kept removing things from shelves and Phoebe would suddenly run down an aisle out of the blue. Granted, having a parent for each of them helps, but this stranger’s words also helped me take a step back and just watch them from someone else’s point of view. I could either get irritated like some people, or I could smile and laugh like so many others watching them interact with each other and everyone and everything around them. I chose the latter. I think we all just need to slow down a bit and learn to smile more.

2 Years

I think I can easily that the past two years have gone by more quickly than any previous years. Enzo was our parenting test dummy, so we felt pretty confident when Phoebe came along. It’s true what they say, you become much more relaxed with your second and it also helps that she has always been a fairly mellow gal. There is so much to say about this girl of ours that we all love so much.

She has a great sense of humor, even if it is a fairly naughty one.

She is loving and a great cuddler.

She is very independent and as is fairly typical of this age, we hear a lot of, “I do it!”

She loves music and singing and dancing.

Her favorite songs to sing are the Alphabet Song and Bah Bah Black Sheep.

She loves reading. Right now she enjoys reading to me more than she enjoys listening.

She loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Paw Patrol.

Her favorite colors are pink and purple.

She loves poofy skirts and shoes (especially new ones).

She is very active and is a bit of a daredevil.

Her favorite movie right now is Inside Out.

She loves chocolate milk and pancakes.

She’s so smart and her teachers have commented on her vocabulary and what a quick learner she is.

She likes to paint and color.

She has an eyebrow raising sassy side that is also somehow endearing.

She loves her big brother, but also knows just what buttons to push and enjoys it a bit too much.

While independent, she is also very much a mama’s girl and there are days where no one except mama will do.

She’s a warm weather gal, and winter is not her favorite.

Phoebe has definitely been a shining light in our household full of mixed personalities. We can usually count on her goofy grin and silly antics to make us laugh. She and Enzo are such a great duo and I hope their good relationship continues. The two of them have us in stitches at times and I can only imagine what the next year will bring. Happy 2^nd, Phoebe! You are now officially much more expensive to take on flights. 😉

Dino and Bunnies

Every day adventures