Mom! MOM!

Lately Emma has developed a bad habit of screaming for me in whatever room she finds herself at the time. If we lived in a glorious rambler, this might not be a big deal. Unfortunately we lived in a three-storied townhouse, and the run to find out what the screaming about can be tiring. And so not worth the trip.

For example, two days ago. Mom! MOM! Emma was screaming upstairs and so I ran to find out what was the matter. Apparently she wanted help putting the shirt on her Belle doll. Emma got a lecture about how we don't yell over doll clothes.

Then there was the Mom! MOM! when it turned out that she was hungry and could I get her a fruit roll-up? For a million reasons, um, no, and we do not yell over fruit roll-ups.

The other morning I was trying to get breakfast ready and I heard what I thought was Mom! MOM! I ran upstairs (you'd think I'd learn) and discovered she had not yelled Mom! MOM! She was watching Little Einsteins and had yelled BLASTOFF after she pat, pat, patted because they told her to. Darn cartoon.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Yesterday Molly turned five months old.

Molly loves to be held and snuggled. She likes to face out so she can take in the whole world.

She likes sweet potatoes and squash but not peaches. She likes warm bottles but will accept lukewarm ones, too!

She spits up a lot, especially if she laughs too hard. She smiles a lot and is a joy.

She will finally take a pacifier but refuses to be muted. If she has to cry, she has to cry. Loudly.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Wow, That Would Be Embarrassing!

Have you ever had a close call in a store when your child got too close to a display and almost tipped it over?

Quickly you imagine in your mind HOW EMBARRASSING that would be. If something broke would you have to pay for it? Would you walk away and pretend that it was not your child that did THAT. How would you clean up the spillage and ruin? Or would you just apologize profusely and quickly leave?

Today I took all three girls to the grocery store. They asked if they were really good could they please have some donuts?

Um, there were no donuts and, yes, it was just as embarrassing as I always imagined it would be.

Going Around the Block

Garry and I used to watch "Everybody Loves Raymond" quite frequently. One episode we still laugh about is one where Ray gets busted by his wife for driving around the block a few times after work before he comes inside. Just a few more minutes of peace!

Last night we had a great time with my sister and her family. We went out to a Thai restaurant in Shirlington and then out for ice cream and finally back to their hotel for swimming. It was fun, but it was very late by the time that we pulled into the driveway.

Garry was in a separate car because he had to ref at a few flag football games earlier that day. I called him on his cell phone to warn him about 20 deer that were hanging out on a nearby road.

"Where are you?" I asked.

"Bensville." He answered.

Well, to me that meant four minutes away, but I should have remembered that Bensville is a very long road. I started getting the kids out of the van, hopeful that Garry would be right there.

And then the perfect storm hit.

Molly started screaming. Macey started crying really hard and then peed her pants. And Emma started yelling at Macey.

Still no Garry.

I put a screaming Molly in her bedroom, gave the wet and crying Macey a quick bath, and tried to help Emma get into her pajamas.

Still no Garry.

I got a cleaner Macey into her pajamas and then picked up a crying Molly and grabbed a diaper so I could change her.

Macey was still crying. Emma was still yelling.

Still no Garry.

Finally, Garry arrived and took over, trying to help Emma and Macey settle down.

And I had to wonder, since it took longer than I expected, did he hear the crying and screaming and decide to take a few more laps around the block?

This Is Going To Hurt Me More. . .

We've all heard the saying "this is going to hurt me more than it hurts you" in regard to discipline, and when we're the child, we roll our eyes and label it as a complete falsehood.

But now as a parent, I'm starting to believe it.

It has been very difficult to potty train Macey. VERY difficult. I thought that we had a break through and for two weeks she was perfect. It was when we were on Spring Break and she thought that she could not go to school until she did a better job. And also if she did a better job the Easter Bunny would bring her a Tinker Bell dress.

But this week, she just fell off the bandwagon! On Sunday she had three accidents in one day. And then another accident again on Tuesday and another accident again on Wednesday.

Fine. I told Macey that she could not go to school.

But it was not that simple. Emma still got to go to school. So Macey got to see school, touch school, see the other kids at school, and then leave.

She seemed to take it okay and promised to do better. But I was a wreck! Knowing how much Macey LOVES school, I was nearly in tears walking out of the door with her because I knew she was sad.

I'm pretty sure it hurt me more than it hurt her.

Something To Look Forward To. . .

This is how interesting my life is. . . Tomorrow I have a dentist appointment at 8 am, and I am so excited!

Not because I like going to the dentist.

No way.

Not because I enjoy that "fresh from the dentist" feeling I hear about on commercials.

Nope.

Why? Because Garry is watching all three girls. And for a blissful hour the only person I hope to hear cry is me.

Put The Cookie Down!

Molly has miraculously started drinking from a bottle. This has been a great thing for the both of us. I am no longer having to feed her everywhere around town and having her starve while I am downstairs teaching piano.

But there is one really big downfall.

Unfortunately that big thing is my butt.

I have gained 5 pounds in the last few days.

I am no longer pregnant and no longer nursing so I can no longer eat what I want whenever I want. Farewell to the days when I ate Swedish Fish by the pound. So long precious Dorrito chips!

So, it's time to put the cookie down and pick up the carrot stick. Is this any kind of reward for having a baby?