The Burp Rag Chronicles

In All Seriousness

Imagine, if you will, a calm, peaceful family enjoying lunch on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

Everyone is laughing gaily at discussions, jokes and funny faces.

See is talking to Daddy about the importance of nuclear fusion in the suns output of solar energy when Ess interrupts, "See! See...! What do you get when..."

See holds her splayed-finger hand in a "talk to the hand" motion and replies, "Ess... I busy."

It took Daddy and I a moment to realize what she said. What 25 month old says this stuff???

Babelish

S was not a talker. I know you may find that hard to believe because she pretty much goes at it nonstop now, but seriously. Her pediatrician thought she might have some speech issues because she didn't talk. We taught her some sign language and that helped her communicate better, but she was a late talker.

C is pretty on-target. She says mama, dada, no, ew, yah, poop (sounds like pop), sssss (for sissy, what we call S and vice versa), apple, water. She signs quite a few things like milk, eat, cracker, all done, banana, hat, bird, love... and probably some other things I can't rightly think of at the moment.

But she also babbles. And when I say babbles, I mean she is seriously having a conversation with you and you need to understand her. 

C: Blarsh fleeps pshhh mayambls snewwnup.

Me: You know, I thought that at one time, too.

C: Shwlui hniao blasumb wiaps hhbniwm.

M: Really? I hadn't thought of it that way!

C: (with urgency) Schneeop nisdenmth!

M: Ooh! Let me get right on that, ma'am!

This girl babbles like it's her own language of Babelish, and this is a foreign thing for me. I've never, ever used "babytalk" to my girls. I find it annoying and stupid. I'm not saying I haven't talked regular English in strange Mommy-tone, but it's always been real words. And never, EVER the word "snookum-kins."

So tonight we had read our story (Sandra Boynton's Hey! Wake Up!) and she was just laying on me, drinking her milk and chatting away with me. I think I heard her mention something about taking the car out for a spin by herself tomorrow but having issues reaching the pedals - but I can't be quoted on that, it was a little jumbled since she was tired.

So I brushed her teeth, without incident (a feat in and of itself!), and turned out the light. She babbled through both of these activities as if to say, "Sorry, Mom. You are not going to get me to shut up! Hah!"

I laid her down in her bed, covered her up with her super soft minky blanket, stroked her head and hair, and whispered "Goodnight, baby bird."

Then she did the sign for bird to me.

There are few things in this world that melt my heart like that. The best part of watching a baby grow, in my humble opinion, is watching them make those connections. That "mama" isn't just a word, that it is someone. That the sign for "banana" isn't just arm movement, it's a fruit that they love. It's sitting at the table, starting dinner, and turning to me and saying "Dadaaaa!!" when she hears the front door unlock and Daddy step through the threshold.

Welcome to parenthood, enjoy the ride.

Brain Damage

Bill Cosby talked about children having brain damage. I'd laugh and laugh, thinking, "Haha, it sure is funny that his kids are dumb!!" Never once thinking it applied to me, nor would I ever be in the situation where this would not be funny.

It's not funny anymore.

I am now officially convinced that children are brought into this world by unsuspecting adults who think that that small wiggly bundle of joy they bring home with them from the hospital will always be that way. So what do we do? The first one gives us trouble and we think that God can not possibly punish us two times in a row, right?

WRONG. Wrong, wrong, WRONG.

God does have a fantastic sense of humor, and a little bit of an axe to grind with us humans. See, we're not his brightest creation at times. When Eve bit the apple and got everyone the big boot, God said, "I hope you have children just like you!" Thus the parental saying was born. Need I point out Cain and Abel? Not entirely a parents' shining moment.

And it continues. It haunts every parent since the dawn of time. We are continually cursed with children like us.

Or, as in my case, we get cursed by our mother-in-laws to have children like our spouse. ;-)

Yesterday we went to Sea World to spend the day at the water park. S wanted to use five tickets she'd earned doing chores to go to a Fun Place, so yay! Water park!! We start out in the 1' deep kiddie splash pool that Cam... well, she doesn't HATE it, but she really doesn't like it either. So her and I spend the majority of the visit hanging out on lounge chairs under a shade umbrella, with periodic jaunts into the water, followed by a splash in the face from another kid (accidentally) and retreating back to aforementioned chair.

J and S went to ride some water slides and play in the bigger kid pools, etc. At one point they come back and S is splashing in the kiddie pool with some other kids, and I see her running around the outside. Opting to NOT scream across the crowded pool, she eventually stops without my words (must have been The Look I threw her). A few moments later I see J holding both girls and approaching me with a little bloody Hitler.

Now, I have no idea what she actually did. She insists she wasn't running, but we all kind of know how that goes. What baffles me is how she got her upper lip, bridge of her nose and her chin, but not the tip of her nose. HOW did this girl fall???

Fast forward to today.

Hey! Let's send the kids out back to play, get sweaty and dirty! Okay!

C has recently taken up the precarious sport of ladder climbing and furniture scaling. She climbs to the top of the ladder that is adjacent to the monkey bars. Goes all the way to the top rung, and I get her down. After about trip #5 she gets to the top and - wait for it - promptly accelerates toward the earth at a whopping 9.8 m/s². Oddly, she landed on her feet and fell to her butt. So I imagine that hurt her legs a bit.

We head toward the porch, snuggle, I check her over and give her a sippy cup. Nothing broken, nothing painful. Woohoo!

I put her down to play in the sand table, and she immediately heads right for the ladder again.

*sigh*

Then when we came inside for me to start making dinner... it was pretty much nonstop crying and harassing me about... well, who knows what.

Let's just say that I am pretty happy that the day is just about over. Time for me to go to bed, dental appointment in the morning followed by picking up the van and some other things. *yawn* Wish me luck!

Damn you, Eve. DAMN YOU.

Hey, I Remember You!

Egads, I thought this semester would never be done! Now, back to some crazy antics and funny stories. Go here for that. If you want boring droning... you can sit by me right here.

So, the Spring 2010 semester is over, thank goodness. I managed to swing an A in Algebra, a B in Anatomy & Physiology and an A in Physics, which puts me on the Part-Time Honor Roll. Wooo, go me! I guess all those months of people not seeing me leave my house paid off. Now I have the summer mostly free (one class, and it's online! Huzzah for Medical Terminology!)and for the Fall I have two classes, though I may spread the two classes over two semesters because if I take the last two pre-reqs in the Fall, I have nothing to do for Spring. Maybe that's a good thing?

Alrighty, so some updates.

S is doing well! We had a rough spot at Mom's Day Out (read the previous post to refresh yourself) but we got the Accountable Kids program and even though we haven't started it yet (I had to wait until finals were over to read the book) just having the peg boards mounted on the wall have made S really do as she's told, and take as much initiative as a four-year-old does.

She started swimming lessons at the nearby YMCA this Monday, and to say that she loves it would be the massive understatement of the year. She lives for that 30-minute class. From the moment she wakes up she informs us, " I have swimming class today!!!" as if we didn't already know that. I liked the Y so much that today I went ahead and registered to work out there. Clean, well staffed, excellent kid care, great machines (I'm an elliptical person, myself) and classes if I opt to do them. Having two kids now really emphasizes that I need to get a shower in after workout. I won't do it when we get home during their Quiet Time.

Oh, so Quiet Time. I started doing this, and so far, so good. Cameron tends to take her daily nap around 2:00. So at that time I also have S go in her room to have Quiet Time. She is going to have to do it in Kindergarden, so why not make the teacher's life a tad easier? She can read, rest, play quietly with toys in her bed. She doesn't nap often, and sometimes I have to go in and remind her that Quiet Time is not Singing Old Macdonald loudly to her "baby pets." But overall, success! And it gives us a break from each other. I love my daughter immensely but she wears me out.

On to C. C has proven herself very different from her older sister in temperament. She's saying "mama" and "dada" and something resembling "sissy" along with signing the words "more," "milk," and "eat" - all of which come in really handy. I'm working on "cracker" and some other important food-related words for her.

She is teething like a monster!! She sprouted her bottom first molars (completely skipping the cuspids. At least I think so. They are pretty new so it's a little hard to tell. Not to mention when I gently rub her gums to feel them she bites my finger. HARD.

She's a walking fool, edging on running. She loves her stuffed monkey that is discontinued from Babystyle (by which I mean the store is no longer in existence), her super soft minkey blankets from Amber at RockerByeBaby, and playing with her sister. She LOVES to play outside in her swing, too. Not such a big fan of the swimming pool yet, I think when I put her in it, it was still too cold of water. Then S pushed her down in it and that was the end of that.

She also has more hair than S had at the same age, and get this... it's starting to curly in the back!! SQUEEEE!! I always wanted my baby girls to have curly hair. It's adorable. :D

So, I guess that is it for now. :)

Pilgrimage

So J made his annual pilgrimage to Las Vegas for the National Association of Broadcasters convention. I am not going to my Physics class tomorrow so that I can take S to her gymnastics class - it's hard to take BOTH girls and I am not saddling my mom with that chore. Plus my dad wanted to change the oil in J's car, so maybe when we're done we can take it over so he can do that.

Final exams are swiftly approaching - my first available one is the end of April for my Algebra exam. Since it's an online class we can go any time that fits between April 29th and May 5th. I am leaning toward earlier rather than later only because that entire week is bogged with finals - Tuesday is A&P Lab final, Friday is A&P Lecture final, Saturday is Physics final. If I get Algebra out of the way that leaves me more time to focus on Anatomy, which is my toughest subject. And the Lecture is probably the hardest of the two.

I am staying up a little tonight so that I can work on my Algebra review for a test due by Monday at midnight. If I do it in pieces it's not SO overwhelming. There are 60 questions and while we don't have to do it, I like to because it's pretty realistic of what is on the test. Plus I make notes to myself on the sheet for easy reference, rather than flipping through my notes.

Let's see... what else.

I get to go register S for Kindergarten on Tuesday! She is so excited, and I kind of am, too. I figure I will keep Cam at home for another year or so (time will tell) and then work on finding her a Mom's Day Out program. I love the one Syd is in because it's perfect for her (active!). But the kids have to be potty trained and C may not even be into that. Though she already likes to get down into a somersault position and have one of us gently roll her over. Ahh, who knows.

Anyway, Kinder registration on Tuesday morning. So I will go to my class that morning, learn about the nervous system, then hightail it to the school to get her in. Our subdivision is so large that some of the kids will get piped to another school, and I really want her to go to the one practically in our back yard.

Monday I can register for my Summer classes, then on the 19th I can register for my Fall classes. Thankfully there won't be another semester like this one, I only have a few prerequisites left and I can't even apply to the sonography program until next May. I probably could have crammed in all the pre-req's with the exception of A&P II, there is no way to get that in and still make it in time this admission year. But that's okay. I figure C will be 2.5 by the time I can start the program in Fall 2011, and hopefully close to being potty trained or something. And hopefully then I can get some sort of either daycare or Mom's Day Out set up for her. The program is full-time, so generally every day of the work week. This semester worked great because I take classes on days that either my mom or J can watch the girls. Might not get so lucky next time.

So, there you have a bi-weekly update. That's really about all there is to my life... school, sleep, children, husband, cooking, cleaning, laundry. What an exciting life, I tell ya. ;-)

Coming Up For Air

Smells kind of funny in here, someone should open the windows. Air the place out/

Alright, it's been a touch over a month since I updated (J has posted a couple times, but I have not), but it's not without good reason. I've been hellabusy since going back to school, and combining that with children, homework, life, and other things like that... well, you know. I swear I have a great entry in my head and plan to blog about it after the girls are in bed, and I just... forget. Or fall asleep.

Classes are going well! I had a rocky start, but I am going to chalk that up to being a little rusty. It's been a very long time since I took three (four if you count Anatomy Lab and Lecture as two different class, which they should be considering we are nearing the end of the semester and they are just now beginning to sync up!) and the speed at which they go is ridiculous. I'm old and they need to go slower.

So the report card at this moment is a B in both Anatomy classes, A in Physics and A in Algebra. I can handle all of those as a final grade, although an A in everything would be better. Finals are the first week of May, so you may not see much of me between now and then.

The good news: I won't have this heavy a course load until Fall 2011, providing I get accepted into the sonography program next Spring. I have about three more pre-requisites to wrap up, and I would like to take a photography class for fun. I enjoy it and I'd like to better learn how to do it. :)

Cameron is walking, like full-on walking. I'd say she probably walks 50% of the day now. She's not saying a whole lot but she sure does point like a pro. She's also come down off a bottomless pit binge, and is now refusing to eat so many things. But, she won't starve. I have to repeat that to myself when she throws her sweet potato pits on the floor or turns her nose up at the Baby Mum Mum she so loved the previous 5 months.

Sydney is learning more and more reading, and shows a lot of interest in science shows and stories. Her recent love is The Magic School Bus and Sid the Science Kid. Both of which I am totally okay with. We had to curb Spongebob shows because her attitude was starting to STINK, and since we've cut it out her attitude has been MUCH better. Thank goodness, I was about to lose my mind.

We register her for Kindergarden on April 12th, and she is so excited. We live about 3 blocks from her school and when we take a walk as a family in the evening, she always asks if we can walk by the school (she rides her bike). She's going to love school, just like twice a week she loves Mom's Day Out. She got very upset when it was Spring Break and there was no school. ;-)

J is doing fine, too - he's gearing up at work for NAB in Las Vegas in April. I hate it when he is gone for a week, but it's part of the job, I suppose. :P These last few weeks of school for me are spaced with breaks for Fiesta, Easter, etc. but unfortunately none of them are when he is gone. So... wheeeeee. :P

But, we muddle along. At least with the new health care nonsense that has passed, I can be happy that it does come with job security for me in the form of 32-million or so extra patients that will need care. Woot!

Exactly

Mommy captured a great expression today. :)

What a Week

This has been quite the week - my account being disabled by Facebook was just the start. I still don't know what I did or if I can get my account back or not. I miss it, I feel so out of the loop. :( Dang it, Facebook - get to my email and help me understand! Give me back my darn account! *scowls*

And now Spud is sick. With what, I don't know - last Friday she threw up, but then everything was fine. Then Tuesday she came home from school and took a nap which is VERY unlike her. When she got up, her temperature was 103! We've been able to successfully manage it with Tylenol and Motrin, but it'll go down for a while and after the medicine wears off, it's back up. She's acting fine, so I think it's just a wait-and-see.

But no one likes to see their baby sick. :(

So we've been laying low, yesterday we only went out briefly to get some more medicine for Spud and a quick drive-thru stop at Burger King for a special treat lunch. Which brings me to my next point: Spud cracks me RIGHT up.

We discuss the entire way what she wants from Burger King, chicken or cheeseburger. This is the same conversation we have every time we go to any sort of fast-food place. Today, she declared that she wanted sweet little Krabby Patties, and that ketchup AND mustard were okay because mustard is her favorite.

This is an out and out lie.

I keep trying her with mustard, because I suspect that, like ketchup, she will eventually like it. It's got a heavy vinegar base so... come on! What kid doesn't take a little coaxing with ketchup, then begin to put it on everything under the sun?

So I order her the Burger Shots (yep, that is what a "sweet little Krabby Patty" is!) with no special instructions, and we head home. Apparently they come with ketchup, mustard, AND pickles. I know she will freak out at the pickles, so those come off. Here goes, two little cheeseburgers head her way.

Hey! She's eating it! And enjoying it! I dice up some pears and give them to her as a side... chomp chomp chomp! Wheeee! Is this the turning point? Has my daughter made the final transformation into her father and has made mustard her new love?

Then, after all but about two kid-sized bites she declares to me, "Mommy, I decided that I do not like mustard. Can you take it off? It's too sour."

I laughed and told her to eat her pears.

So Miss Cameron is standing on her own for brief intervals! Most of the time she does it when she is distracted by something with her hands (a toy, the TV, her sister), but she is on her way, people!

Shudder.

Seahorse of Doom

Yesterday was J's company Christmas Party for the kiddos was at a local bowling alley. That gets the horns because I happen to LOVE bowling. I have my own ball, shoes, rolley bag, the works. J has the same. The fact that I kicked his butt the third game doesn't hurt. ;-)

So we get there, have some yummy pizza and salad (well, I had salad, anyway). Then the kids are informed that the Red Suit Man is here!! Wooooooo!!! Syd runs up the stairs to the landing where Santa is. I mean, the girl was mid-bite on a piece of pizza, but she has her priorities laid out.

He calls her name first! She hops on up and sits right on his lap, smiling away!

Someone else is called to come get their present. Then it's Cameron's turn. She is less enamored with Santa.

Syd received the Tag Reader book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (which I think will be AWESOME at helping her read!)

And Cameron received a Fisher Price Seahorse that lights up and plays lullaby music.

So, in all my smartness, I thought, "Hey! The seahorse lights up! She loves playing with it! I think I will put it in her bed so she can play with it and have it light up, etc.!"

No. That child is so set in her ways that she cried for about an hour while we scrambled about trying to figure out what her deal was tonight. Did she poop?? Does her belly hurt?? She is cutting her fourth tooth, is it that????

Nope. As soon as I took the seahorse out of her bed, she laid in there quietly and fell asleep.

I think it will become a living room toy. ;-)

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

Hi Santa! My name is Sydney, and this is my little sister, Cameron. I'm four, and she is ten! It'll be my five years birthday party soon! I live at... [snip]

Mommy said to tell you what I want for Christmas, and this year I want a cup. Or maybe a teddy bear. Or a new Wall-e and a book.

I've been a good girl, mostly. I love going to school and I really like showing Mommy my pictures when she picks me up. Best of all, we spend the last hour or so in the gym and I get to bounce on the trampoline. If I remember my socks I can bounce on the Sock Trampoline!

I help take care of my sister when I can, but I'm sorry about those times I tried to pick her up. She sure is heavy! But she does love to play with me and I like to play with her. I think she loves Peek-a-boo. She loves to eat crayons but I don't because I am a BIG sister!! Soon it will be my FIVE years birthday party!!

I think I have earned a present because I am awesome! I also help try to help my mommy and daddy by cleaning my room, eating my dinner without complaining, and picking up my toys. I do what I can to be the best four year old (almost FIVE!) I can be.

So Santa, please stop by my house and leave me lots of presents because I love them!

Love, the best almost five year old EVER,

Sydney

P.S. We left carrots out for the reindeer and cookies for you because we thought you might want a snack. I sort of ate one cookie, but Mommy said you would be okay with that. It was yummy!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dear Santa,

I would love some custom Guerilla Fluff diapers for my booty because that velour stuff isn't working for me, I like bamboo fleece inside. Bagshot Row Bamboo diapers are also cool - they have fun prints. I am not into those baby themed ones with cute little animals. Gimme funky zebra and cheetah any day of the week!

And, uh... more pureed pears would be good, I like those.

What have I done to earn these things? Come on! I've more than doubled my body weight in 10 months and grown three teeth! I cruise all over the place, AND I am really ultra cute.

I'm jus' sayin'.

Cameron