Who's schooling whom here?

I still have moments where I can't believe I'm a parent.  I would think this would have sunk in by now, but 2.67 years into this gig, and I still get blown away by the mere suggestion that someone would allow me to care for another human being, especially one that is so cool.  OK, not cool in the conventional sense, but cool in the "wow, how did she come up with that, she must be a genius, I call MY GENES!" kind of way.

(Yes, Andrew and I both territorially claim any hint of smarts/lucky guess on her side from ourselves.  Very mature adults, obviously.  See my earlier point about not believing we're allowed to care for another human being.)

Today we had a parent-teacher conference to go over the things Lilly will be studying/working on in her new class.  This is our second go-round with the teacher-time, so we are Pros at this now, I tell ya.  I brought my pen and pad to take notes, per usual.  I appreciate (to a fault) any sort of insight or advice into rearing children (again, see my previous point).  More often than not, I have moments with her teacher where I say (sometimes internally, sometimes the words incoherently tumble from my gaping mouth), "WOW, you mean kids this age can DO that?!?" 

Last August when I was doing the teacher-time for the first time, I was blown away at the idea of our kid being fully potty-trained and being able to dress herself.  That just seemed insane.  Having lost all sense of perspective, I was at that point expecting to be following her around with wipes, trying to pull a shirt over her head while she tried to escape streaker-style well into her forties.

Today, there was talk about subjects.  Like real school subjects: math, science, language, handwriting, geography, music, dance, practical life skills (OK that one not so much real school - but by golly that should be the name of a class in high school where they teach you how to balance a checking account, fill out a W-4 correctly, set up a retirement fund and understand medical insurance.  Am I right or right?).  The kids are learning the globe and the seven continents in this class.  ARE YOU KIDDING.  I would embarrassingly enough have to scratch my head to get the old hamster running fast enough to recall that kind of information on the quick.  She is capable of for-real chores in the house, and wouldn't you know it, she really does enjoy helping in the house (count the seconds that is still possible, I know) - she helped me unload the washing machine and put the dishes away tonight.  Me = beaming/plotting ways to extend this streak of pure insanity.

With the amazing also comes the... challenging.  She's learning how to "lie" - as in "Daddy said I could do this" when the very opposite is true but she's trying to pit us against one another.  Thankfully she hasn't quite figured out the concept that I HEARD HIM TELL YOU NO yet.  Bed time is a struggle. She knows we don't go to sleep right away and wants in on the action too.  After several lame attempts at stalling, after already having been read fifty books and back-patted into kingdom come, she opens her door and yells "MA-MA, MA-MA, MA-MA" ad nauseum.  The other night Andrew yelled back, "GO TO SLEEP LILLY!" in a warning/frustrated voice.  And Little Miss yelled back in an equal tone, "NO, YOU GO TO SLEEP, I'LL WATCH YOU!"

Excuse me?  I think you just got told by a toddler, Andrew.  I find myself musing this genius book at times like that.  How can you not laugh?!  But that's what she wants, she knows that if I crack and laugh, she's got me in the palm of her hand.  You can see the look of satisfaction on her face.

I'm pretty sure this backs up my point and emphasizes my inexperience when it comes to disciplining but I can't help but give her extra hugs while I giggle over faux-stern eyes.  It's going so fast.

One week

In the past week, I have...

1) Signed up for the MS150, after making some lame/not as lame excuses for 7 rides since my last ride. I'm kind of scared but more excited.

2) Read the first book of "Hunger Games". Awesome way to get back into reading recreationally again. Talk about a gripping - I find myself physically shaking while I'm reading from the anxiety of the scenes. Can't wait to start the second book tonight.

Also reading "Setting Limits for a Strong-Willed Child". I am not much of a parenting-book reader but two guesses why I'm reading that? Maybe the tipping point was the laughter that comes from my daughter at the threat of a spanking? I know you can't even mention that in mixed company - spanking children - but I put it out there. Lilly on occasion will push our limits so far that she gets a spanking. I can feel the judgement from here.

3) We have been completely diaper free for a week. Holy diaper genie I never thought we'd get here but she finally gave up night time diapers too. Minimal accidents since and I couldn't be happier to get that pay raise.

4) Speaking of raises, I got a small promotion at work which isn't a big deal really but makes me feel loved at work all the same.

I am feeling strangely optimistic this week. Maybe our gate will even be repaired this time? (read: seriously, at this point I'm used to it not operating properly). Maybe we will win our plea for denial or variance across the street? (say no to apartment buildings right up in our grill!) The possibilities are not hopeless.

This year I want to...

1. Learn to sew on the sewing machine. I want to be The Bobbin Master.
2. File/Shred the papers that are eating our house alive. We haven't filed since approximately the turn of the millennium.
3. Make the office a usable AND enjoyable space, instead of a place mediocre things go to gather dust and guilt.
4. Do something special for each of my loved ones. They deserve it.
5. Visit a new (to me) piece of the world.

Those Brits are onto something

How did my life ever feel complete without an enormous headdress which announces my presence 5 minutes before I've arrived? Better question, why am I wasting time trying on head bling in the 7th ring of hell that is the Galleria 4 days before Christmas?

I am too that point where I am just trying to make it through the holidays unscathed. Forty-eight hours of jam packed family holiday time, followed by 8 (!!) days of relaxation, free to do whatever I please.

Shopping is officially done and tree is complete.

Breathe.

Now, let's bake!

The November Spiral

It's the last day of November - also Saint Andrew's day - so I have to give a shout out to that Andrew guy I'm married to.  He's pretty swell really.  In Poland, There are all out parties for St. Andrew's Eve, it's a straight-up throw-down.  Poles bring out the psychics and voodoo, for good times.  Saint Andrew's day has been some what auspicious for us actually, given that Andrew met my parents at a Saint Andrew's party he attended with a fraternity brother (who happens to be Polish).  This wouldn't be so strange except that this was a year before we started dating.  And neither of us had any real idea about each other at the time.  Life is funny sometimes.

Since today is the cap of the month, I will recap.  November is always nuts for me.  It's never-ending celebrations, which is great (hi, firstworldproblems) it just means a fair amount of preparation on my end.  It starts with our wedding anniversary on the 10th, Andrew's birthday on the 13th, my parents birthdays on the 19th and 20th, and soon after, the food-fest known as Thanksgiving.  All good reasons to love November.  Also all good reasons to never have an available weekend in November.  Gulp.

This year, we hosted the whole family for Thanksgiving, and it was awesome.  Seventeen hungry people in all.  Seriously, we feel so blessed to have a space, even a cramped one, to crowd everyone in.  Because I really wanted to have a "everyone at one table" feel (I've done my time at the kids' table, thankyouverymuch), we decided the living room was going to have to be it.  So we [ok, Andrew and his dad] loaded all the living room furniture onto the balcony and set it up as a cozy living room outside.  The weather was brisk and beautiful so it worked great.  The table setting ended up going something like this:


Before the Carnage.



Mid-Carnage.



Lilly with her Great Granny and Mimi, Thanksgiving Day 2011

Yes, there's a strange gap in the middle, but some how it worked out all right.  Yeah for rented linens!  And yeah for inlaws who own copious tables and folding chairs!  Although, to be honest, I hope we get the opportunity to make Thanksgiving/whatever holiday a tradition at our house, and maybe it would be a better idea to just invest in some serious linen-age.  It's hard to beat the lack of laundering/ironing required though.  Everyone brought a few dishes, so each family's "regulars" were covered, and it came together as a super-delish time.  Just like our house came together as a group effort, so did our first Thanksgiving.

It get's me all teary, I know.  Barf, eye roll, sob.  Work with me, I'm reflective today.

For our wedding anniversary, Andrew and I decided to continue our romantic streak and get each other new iphones as gifts.  While I didn't really see the purpose in spending the money at the time, I will admit I was slightly giddy once it fell into my anxious little hands.  The camera, guys.  It's LOADS better in quality and in user-friendliness.  I have been so lazy about the DSLR as a result, it makes me feel like I'm cheating on my Nikon.  I have to take her out for a spin every once in a while to keep the relationship fresh.

So Lilly had to pose for the new phone.  That's my girl.


She knows where it's at.

For Andrew's birthday we took a trip down to Tookie's, his all-time favorite burger dive, which just happened to re-open this year after Ike.  It was just as good as before the hurricane, and dare I say the addition of a bar and balcony makes it even better.  We even managed to go out like adults that night, and dare I say that I am out of practice.  Four bars in one night is about my limit.  It took me days to recover the sleep.


That'll teach him to make silly faces at me when armed.



How exactly does one walk through the cluster-F gracefully?

 For my Mom & Dad's birthday's we held a dinner at their house with the neighbors, which was a great celebration.  They are always good sports about the fact that their days get lumped together.  Bonus: Water Conservation Project Phase 2 is now active (i.e. happy birthday here's a rain barrell)!

Christmas is upon us like mosquitoes in the rainforest, and I am giving it a concerted effort to prepare in a way which isn't centered around frantic shopping and a fat jolly man (no offense).  I managed to buy a few board books about the Christmas story (not The Night Before Christmas) so I'm hoping something sinks in with Lilly on this matter.  "Lilly, it's a birthday party for Baby Jesus" is as far as we've gotten thus far.  She prefers to call Baby Jesus "Dor-tee," I have no idea what's up with that.  I figure baby steps are what we can expect on comprehension of religious holiday significance. 

We will be "home for the holidays" so let's see how we survive a week straight with the three of us in the house.  Truthfully?  The best part of the holidays are that Kasia and Janet are coming home.  I can't wait to see two of my favorite ladies.  Best. Gift. Ever.

Sentimental Thankfulness: It is the little things that keep me sane(ish)

If you look at my Facebook feed, it is essentially a list of reasons people are thankful, given the upcoming holiday. And while I wouldn't claim that kind of FB dedication, I do support the reflective intent.

I am thankful for a daughter who is such a good eater. I have heard numerous horror stories of 2 year olds who refuse to subsist on anything but mac'n'cheese or PBJ. I want to hope Lilly is improving on her parents, so when she ate BBQ shrimp, couscous with leeks, mushrooms and feta, and finished off with roasted brussel sprout leaves with pecans and Chardonnay raisins for dinner, I can't help be happy she is willing to give it all a shot.

OK,the brussel sprouts were pushing it, but she tried them before picking out only the pecans and raisins. We'll take points where I can get them.

Who needs a woodsman?

This morning, I grab Lilly's beautiful handmade (by the sewing genius Mrs. Tina) Red Riding Hood costume for the fall festival at her school. At the end of the day, there is a parade of all the children in their costumes, all cracked out and jittery on sugar, where parents run around like deranged monkeys wielding expensive camera equipment they don't know how to use (I am including myself in this scenario).

My daughter sees her costume, and in her high-pitched-imitating-adults voice, says "it's so cuuuute!". And then immediately looks at me dead-pan and says "Mama I need a sword." Apparently she was picturing a Red Riding Hood more of the self-defense variety.