Whoa... Where Did THAT Come From?!

- or - 'A Dose of Humility'

This weekend was really pretty great - except for some sleeping issues that we are still experiencing, but I refuse to talk about because I feel I just may jinx it (jinx as in - make something that is still an issue into a full blown disaster). We are right on the brink of either really solving our sleeping problems and delving into a blissful existence in 'enough sleep' land, or about to blow - and regress approximately fifteen steps and she'll just never fall asleep again. I can't tell which way the shoe is going to drop yet.

There was that, and well, the incident this weekend. The incident that I am not even sure I should talk about, because we will probably be judged all around cyberspace by people who can tell just by this one incident, we are indeed horrible, unfit parents.

We were sitting in the bedroom, getting ready to head out the door to buy Tesfu some new tennis shoes (her favorite crocs just won't cut it in the colder weather) when the Little One got mad at something or another, who knows what, runs over to the door, slams it, points straight at her dad and I, and calls us a word... well, a word that I swear in my heart of hearts we have never said around such little ears. Our reaction? To be shocked, of course, but to then laugh. Oh... such a bad idea. Such, such a bad idea. That elicits a barrage of the word, over and over, because now its become a bit of a show for her. Slamming doors, pointing fingers, yelling that word.

We calmed down, explained that doors need to be closed softly and nicely (a skill that she then wanted to show us over and over the rest of the day that she had mastered), and that it is okay to be mad, but not to act like that. We haven't heard it since, but still I have to wonder - where did THAT come from? Brad and I talked about it last night after the booger was in bed, yes, it is true, I've been known to slam a door or two. It is quite embarrassing to see the way you can behave re-enacted by a two year old. I can say for certainty that won't be happening again. But, the word - come on, fess up - which one of you out there taught my baby that?!

'Cause I can assure you it wasn't her f-'en father and I.

Changes

Seemingly eons ago (okay, like three months) the Little One and I visited a dear friend of mine and her precious new little bundle of joy (who, by the way, was not born on my 30th birthday like I specifically requested) for a playdate. My good friend inoccently enough asked me as we were leaving, "Can you even remember what life was like before our kids?" Now, I noticed very early on that moms are very competative people, even if you don't intend to be. It is just ingrained. So, I of course answered with a smile and "I can't! What did I do with all my time?!" This exchange has been burned into my memory because, honestly, I had remembered very vividly what my life was like before my little girl, and at only two months home, well, quite frankly I missed it. Two months prior, I could use the restroom without a toddler begging to sit on my lap. I didn't have to rock and sing for 90 minutes trying to get a scared, crying Little One to sleep. I could watch tv, I could read a book, I could leave the house.

Then, the other day it hit me - I can't remember what was life was like before my Tesfu. Five months home, and what did I do with all my time? Wow, wasn't I constantly bored? Who did I dance and sing with? Wasn't I sad without that smiley face to wake up to every morning? Wasn't I lonely without those cheeks to kiss goodnight every night? Sure, I still mourn a little that I still can't seem to get to pee alone, but she at least will stand there and tell me, "No sit on Mommy's lap."

Thanks, kiddo.

I can't imagine life without you.

Hair!

And lots of it.

In five short months, we have gone from this:

Darling defined little curls, but so short you can see the scalp

To this:

Beautiful coils everywhere!It is actually at a length long enough to braid now, but my skills just aren't there yet to let her leave the house like that. My model just won't stay still long enough for my fingers to learn to keep it all tight... but I'll get it eventually.

So for now, here is a picture of her current favorite hairstyle - she calls it 'beads and binders'. Really, it is just eight pony tails around her head, and in the two on top of her head I string a few beads on it. She loves it, I think it is pretty darn cute, too.
Peace!

Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Go Into Finance

(Note: I realize my brother and sister are probably the only two people in the world, let alone in my readership, who will find the funny in this post. But, I published it anyway. At least I will ammuse two people today. So, this one is for you, sibs. And may I add, we have an awesome sense of humor.)

A partial explanation to my spotty blogging lately - the economy is seriously stressing me out, as I am reminded day in and day out at my job just how sucky it really is out there. I come home exhausted and spent, and thinking that maybe it is about time we take our money out of the bank and shove it in our mattress.

(I kid.)

(Kinda'.)

(Okay, really, I kid. Don't do this.)

This ain't a pretty time to be sitting around (what I do cannot really be called 'work' - more like 'sitting around') in the finance industry. With each bank closing, each phenomenal drop in the market, means more fun-fun-fun for me. My job has seriously turned into a barrage of daily negotiations with fund companies to accept my trades - I actually used the phrase 'I beg you' when talking to one today. Honestly, this is getting ridiculous. I was going to end it with a 'pretty pretty please with a cherry on top' just to point out the absurdity of the situation, but I refrained. I did, after all, really need them to take this trade. *sigh* So, I'm not so peppy and ready to blog by the time I haul my rear-end home, and I'm not so much looking forward to the next day, either.

I'm trying to change my views to the rosey side, maybe it just seems so bad because I have to deal with the market all day every day? I mean, maybe we as a country will still be alright. If not, I guess I can at least be happy that I have a big backyard - we'll need it for the victory garden.

Peace.

Noah's New Ride

Tesfu has updated Noah's ride - not quite sure how it would have run in a flood, but with the lion driving I'm sure they all felt safe. Except for the elephants and chicken, that is. No room at the Inn for them.
Peace.

Big Bear Zoo

A few weekends ago (I know, I'm behind...) thanks to some free tickets from Brad's work, we were able to take Tesfu to the 'Big Zoo'. I was a little skeptical, because this zoo is always busy, and Tes was already bummed that her best friends the gorillas didn't live there. But, we ended up having a fantastic time!




We saw nearly every animal known to man, enjoyed some popcorn, scared Tes by trying to make her feed the goats, walked and walked and walked, rode the monorail (aka 'bus'! according to Tes), ran into a couple who also has adopted and swapped stories, stuck our hands in the tide pool, - oh, and did I say we got our walking in? All with only one little tantrum. I'd call that trip a success.

Most Beautiful Words...

Okay... I'm fessing up. Our 'Great-Tough-Love-Sleep-Solution' from a few posts back, well, it worked for about a week. Then, Tesfu started to get two molars breaking through, and all heck broke loose in our house for awhile. The one area she sort of regressed in and just hasn't bounced back to her (more) normal self yet, is - sleeping. We not only took two giant steps back and she has decided she needs to be plastered next to Mommy to fall asleep, but she is laying in my bed now, too. Once she is asleep, I just move her to her little bed (which, by the way, is still at the foot of our bed) and slide back into bed praying she will not wake up in the night and wiggle her way back into Brad and I's domain. It is very exhausting... She is what could be labeled as a 'sleep kicker'.

Then yesterday out of the blue, while I was getting ready for nap time, she plainly said to me, "Leave, Mommy". I tried to hide my absoulute freakin' glee as I pulled up her covers and kissed her, but I'm not sure if I masked it well. Ten minutes later I took a peek - sound asleep. It hasn't happened again yet, last night and tonight I had to lay next to her for her standard forty minute toss-fest until she finally just collapses into sleep from exhaustion, but I kinda' sorta' feel like maybe possibly we may be making headway? Maybe?

Good night!