She Knows What She Wants

Here is a great birth video I was watching the other day. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgb7AL7kFbg
The midwife didn't make it in time, and the baby needed resuscitation, but mom knew what to do and everything was fine.

Judith heard the grunting and came running downstairs. She stopped at the landing and asked "What is that noise?" (She knew what it was though)

I said it was a birth video, and then she ran the rest of the way down and looked very eagerly around the corner to see the screen. Then she said "Phew! There's a tub. I was scared that she wouldn't be in water. I am definitely having my babies ın water." Then we sat and watched it together. =)

New Blog!

Don't worry, I am still keeping this one too. But this one is going to be for my thoughts on parenting and stuff (STUFF! I love stuff!).

I am creating a new blog where I can post all of the hilarious things that the kids say and do. Mostly because I want to have them all saved somewhere for future blackmail purposes. I mean... for the sake of the memories. I know that some of my readers enjoy these too, so here you go: http://cyclopschicken.blogspot.com/ Go check it out, and subscribe! I am still working on the site, but will try to post every day or so. Enjoy!

Well, That Explains It!

Judith came up to me with Ruthie's Blankie tied around her neck like a cape, and announced that she was a super hero.

She asked me if there was anything I was missing that she could find or "save" for me.

I automatically responded with "My brain."

And she excitedly told me "OH! I saw a brain behind a tree in the jungle, and it had the name KELLY on it!" Then she ran off, to the rescue.

Unfortunately, the super hero got distracted by some toy ponies along the way, then Ruthie reclaimed her Blankie, and there was no more super hero.

At least I know my brain is out there... somewhere...

2010 Favourite Facebook Statuses

(Click to view, sorry it's so small)

Nice Try...

Judith called me downstairs last night, excitedly telling me that she had cleaned up the ENTIRE BASEMENT.

I was surprised to see this:



Then, laughed when I turned around and saw this:



I love how Gideon was totally chillin' on the pile, haha!

The Cozy Coupe Saga

So, I have been on the lookout for a Cozy Coupe (CC) since we moved to this house. I remember wanting one as a kid, but for some reason we never got one (we had enough toys already, really). I knew Gideon would LOVE one! Then, when I got some birthday money for him, I decided I would use it ($20) for that. I don't really buy anything new, especially toys, so I figured $20 was a good budget. I frequently checked kijiji, and had been out at garage sales every weekend since about March. I remember seeing several CC's at sales last year, when we didn't have a yard, but of course this year so far turned up nothing, and everyone on kijiji wanted more than $20.

I got a hot tip yesterday morning that there were a couple CC's for sale at the Value Village (VV) in the south end of the city. Like, I'm talking south city limits. In the SE. We live in the NW. So, it was going to be quite the trek. But I was really tired of looking every weekend at garage sales and coming up with nothing. So I decided to pack up the 3 kids and embark on an adventure. I tried not to think about it too much to save getting overwhelmed. I had to do some errands on the way, then I figured I could stop in at play group or something on the way home, especially if it was a bust.

Once we got going, I realized that I didn't really know where I was going, haha! I had looked up the location briefly when I got the message from my friend, and thought I knew where it was. But I meant to come back later and actually look up directions, but of course I forgot. So I called Dave because he has a GPS in his truck. He tried to look it up, but the only VV's he came up with were the one near us, and one in the more central south, but I was pretty sure it wasn't the one. I guessed the one I was looking for was too new? Anyway, so I wandered around where I thought it was for a while. At one point I had a feeling that I had gone too far north. I was getting closer to the one that Dave had told me about, but I didn't think was right. We had already been looking for a while, so we stopped at Tim Horton's for lunch. Then I didn't know whether to continue on, and maybe just go to the other one (maybe that one was it after all?), or go back and try looking again. My gut told me to go back, so I did. I got to the end of the road, basically at the south edge of the city. Still no VV. I decided to turn left, and find a place to turn around, and go back. Maybe I would just try the other VV. I went down that road until I could turn left again. I turned and was about to make a U-turn on that road, but something told me to keep going (I was heading north down a residential street). I kept wanting to turn left and make my way back to the main road, I even slowed down and signalled a couple times, but then something very strongly urged me to keep going. I'm sure the people behind me were SO annoyed, haha! Finally, I did make a left turn, and headed back toward the main road. Then at one point there was a bend in the road, and something told me to look over my right shoulder, so I did just for a split second, and there was VV! I totally WOULD NOT have seen it if I didn't look over my shoulder, and there were NO signs for it at all (that I could see, anyway), not in the mall sign, or along the road anywhere. It was basically hidden, I never would have found it from the main road. So that was really exciting! I totally believe that God led me there.

So I parked, and then decided that I would take Ruthie in the sling, Gideon in the stroller, and pray that Judith would listen to me while she walked free. I didn't think about it, so I didn't get overwhelmed. People stared at me wide-eyed as I walked in, but I didn't care. I was on a mission. I find that if I just focus on my goal and don't let myself get sidelined by the details and the "what if"s, then the details take care of themselves. So we went right to the toys. Nothing. My heart sank a little, but oh well. Judith of course dove right in and started playing with stuff. Then I happened to look up the aisle, and at the other end of the store, past all of the clothing, in the furniture section, was a CC! I swear that the car had a circle of white light around it and a chorus of angels started singing! I told Judith to follow me NOW, and I set off with my caravan of children towards my treasure. Suddenly there were 4 million people in the way. I tried not to bulldoze them too much. Then of course Judith was distracted my every. little. thing. along the way. Who in their crazy minds left so many toys along the aisle? And did there HAVE to be so many items of clothing with sequins along the way? Sheesh! Don't these people know that I *need* that car, and there were too many people looking around dangerously close to it? Don't they know what all I went through to get there? I was not going to lose it now! Finally, Judith spotted it too, and ran for it. As I took those final steps, I swear Chariots of Fire was playing in the background. It was MINE! ALL MINE! Oh wait, I mean Gideon's... I think he was excited too, but I couldn't see past my own emotions to care about his expression at the time, haha.

Then, I discovered that there were actually FOUR of them for sale! One was $20, one was $15, and two were $10. They all looked to be about the same quality to me. So I decided I would take a $10 one. One of them was not a Little Tykes one, it was another brand, and the horn didn't work. The other was an official, red-and-yellow one, and the steering wheel was a little loose (it doesn't actually turn the car though, it's just for holding on), but the horn worked, so I went with that one.

I got Judith to push it up to the cash. I probably had a triumphant look on my face the whole way, haha. Getting it to the van was a little stressful, as Judith was trying to run and push it all over the place and there were cars and yadda yadda yadda. But I had no choice, I couldn't handle it and the stroller and baby all at once. So we made it (there may have been a little yelling involved), and I got the kids and stroller in the van. But then the CC wouldn't fit in the back with the stroller, like just barely wouldn't fit, but enough that I couldn't get it in, any way I tried. So then I tried putting it in the middle seat beside Ruthie, but then the side door just barely wouldn't close. If anyone was watching me, I bet they were getting a kick out of it. Finally, I reclined the passenger seat and got the car in there. It just barely fit, and thankfully I'm a small person or it may have been poking into my side, but I got it in the van, damnit!

When we got home, Gideon (and Judith) was eager to try it. He really needed a diaper change though. So he spent quite a while sitting in the car, screaming his head off. He kept saying "Bum! Bum!" but refused to get out of the car because he was afraid that Judith would steal it. It was so sad! Finally I lured him inside with some (home made) french fries, and made Judith NOT TOUCH it while I changed him. Later, she decided to play with her scooter instead, and let Gideon play with the car freely, and all was well with the world. Next thing I knew, Gideon was playing on the bouncy horse, and Judith was in the car, and no one died. So hopefully they can come up with some kind of toy time-share and peacefully co-exist.



What an adventure, eh? I was so excited to be able to have such a fun story to share. Days like that are great.

Blurrrrr

Sorry that I haven't been around much since we got back from our trip. Things have been... busy. I didn't realize how hard this was going to be. Not only do I have all 3 kids to take care of 100% by myself 24/7, but I also have to take care of Dave, making him food, keeping the kids from jumping on him, putting on his socks... Sometimes I forget about him as I'm preoccupied with everything else, then I feel bad. They had to open him right up for the surgery, and staple him back together. It's like he's healing from a c-section! I guess this is good doula practice. Although he actually gets to sleep and doesn't have to breastfeed.





Our trip went fairly well. I had a lot of fun at the ranch and it was great to see my friend Jen (and have her to help with the kids, I don't think I would have survived the first 24 hours post-surgery without her)! Judith suffered a minor (but seemed like major at the time) injury, stretching me to my limits, but we survived. She managed to scrape all of the skin off the top of her toe under a door, it was nasty. But it was nice to be out in the country, and see TREES! The kids loved the horses, and the other kids who lived at the ranch. The drive down, and half of the drive back, was great, I love driving out of the city, I find it therapeutic. The kids slept most of the drive too. On the way home it got stressful though, we drove into very strong winds and rain, making it hard to see and control the van. The temperature also dropped 20 degrees (Celsius) in a really short time. But we made it. My poor nerves, hands and shoulders were the only casualties.





Friday I attempted to go out with the 3 kids, but it was a big fail. I cried a lot. Sunday I tried again and succeeded though! But it was exhausting. Everything has been kind of a blur since we got back, honestly.

The house has been a disaster since we got home, I haven't been getting much sleep, and haven't been eating much/well. I've been really frustrated and short-tempered. Judith's behaviour has actually been ok since we got back, thankfully, she has been really hard to deal with since she turned 4 but during and since the trip she has been better. Well, until today.

Today everything just really got to me. The kids were incessant and would not leave me alone, I could barely think or function. Let's just say, I had a very bad Mommy day. I feel terrible. It takes a lot to get me to openly freak out, but my kids have skillz. I finally kicked the kids outside against their will (I would have rather just physically kicked them, but this seemed like a healthier alternative), then organized and took out the garbage and recycling. I started to cool down, feeling better having finally gotten something done, then I heard a scream, and opened the door to see this...



Seriously, if anyone here needs a facial, it's ME! I was ready to wave the white flag, but instead I tried to laugh and I took a pic. Then ran the bath. Then Gideon and I had cookies (Judith lost cookie priviliges because of the mud thing). Then Judith offered to help me clean up the kitchen and living room (they were disasterous, a major contributor to my stress), so that's what we did. Now the place looks normal again, Judith is making popsicle-stick puppets, Gideon is playing with his puzzles, Ruthie is nursing, and I am finally getting a chance to go online. So I am trying to breathe, while I can.

How to Make Smoothie Window Art

Step 1: Enjoy 3/4 of a fruit and yogurt smoothie for breakfast.



Step 2: Spill remaining smoothie on the kitchen floor. Convince sister not to clean it up before Mommy sees, but rather get hands covered in sticky goodness.



Step 3: Run with great focus, purpose, and intention, hands full of smoothie.



Step 4: Let the creative juices take over.





Step 5: Look cute, as to not get in trouble.



Step 6: Allow sister to join the fun and reach those high places.



The End.

Noodles!

So Judith and I were looking through old videos the other day, and we came across this from 2 years ago:



So, she had to call Daddy up at work (she knows how to use the speed-dial) and tell him she needed more Mi Goreng! He had no problem with this, as it meant he could score some decent sushi at the Asian market.

Then she insisted we make a new video:



Yeah, so what if we had cappuccino, Tim Bits and Mi Goreng for lunch. Shut up.

Putting in Her Order...

Yesterday, as I was changing Gideon's 3rd poopy diaper of the day, Judith came up to me and said, in total sincerity:

"Mommy, next time we get a new baby, we should get one that doesn't poop so much."



Ha, if only...

Oh, Lambie

My nerves are shot.

My day was mostly good, don't worry. I'm just a little worn out. Let me explain.

We got up early-ish and headed out to Once Upon a Child. I was looking for some birthday gifts for Gideon and summer clothes for the kids (we got our income tax return, yay!). Judith was running around, but I wasn't too concerned, and was just trying to look through everything quickly while holding Gideon. I could hear her running around so I knew where she was. Then the running stopped, and I didn't hear it for a couple minutes, so I went looking. I couldn't find her! I was calling and calling her, and then I finally found her in a corner, completely enamored with a purple Disney Princess bike. It was in great shape for $30. It was a 2 wheeler (it came with training wheels too), and big enough to fit her until she's 5 or so I think. She wanted it so badly, and it didn't help that she's been asking for a bike for a while. So I called Dave to see what he thought, and he said ok. Needless to say, I had a VERY happy preschooler on my hands!!! I quickly finished looking at clothes while she "guarded" the bike. She was so excited when we paid for it, I guess she's not used to getting what she wants on the first try! I also got 2 Melissa & Doug (wooden) toys for Gideon for his birthday, and quite a few summer clothes for Judith (I didn't find anything I liked for Gideon). AND I found a book I have been looking for, but unable to find anywhere. Go me!

Then we went to the mall to hang out with a friend. We went for lunch right away once we met up. It was a little crazy because my friend had her 4 year-old nephew (who Judith knows from church) and her 15 month-old daughter, and I had my kids of course. Both the 4 year-old and Judith have a thing for running off. So it was quite the effort the entire time to keep them close to us (my friend and I each had a stroller for the littl'uns). And Judith just WOULD NOT listen to me! Not in a deliberate defiant way, but she was just too distracted and preoccupied to care to listen to me. It was frustrating. After we ate we did some shopping. I got some more summer clothes for the kids. Then we let the kids play in the play area for half an hour. I attempted to nurse Gideon, but he wasn't interested. So I ended up just totally soaking my shirt. The kids had lots of fun. Then we went to The Bay because my friend had to get something, and then finally Toys R Us to look for more birthday gifts for Gideon.

Yeah, that was... interesting. The kids were getting tired by then, and both Judith and my friend's nephew wanted to play with everything and not stay with us. At one point I was looking at wooden toys and Judith was reading books. Then I looked and she was GONE. Totally gone. I started walking around calling her and looking down the aisles, I felt like such a crappy mom. Nothing nothing nothing. I was on the verge of panicking. Finally my friend called out to me, she found Judith looking at the bikes. I gave Judith QUITE the talking to. She really scared me. I don't know why she wouldn't respond to me all day! At least while I was there I remembered that Judith needed a helmet for her bike, and there just happened to be a Disney Princess one right there, and it was 25% off.

After we left there my friend had to go, and I decided to take Judith for some ice cream (it's been quite a while since she had any). When Judith was just finishing up with that, she started asking for Lambie. At first I thought we had left him in the van, but Judith insisted we had him, and then I remembered that she had him at Starbucks (where we met my friend). My heart sank. I tried my best to keep my cool and not panic. I packed everything up quickly and we set out retracing our steps; Toys R Us, The Bay, the play area, Old Navy.... I asked at the front desks of each place and literally retraced our steps carefully examining the floor. Nothing. I was walking really fast, and Judith was getting upset because she was tired and having trouble keeping up. She really didn't grasp that fact that LAMBIE COULD BE GONE FOREVER. Gideon was getting fussy too, he was tired and could probably sense my anxiety. What was I going to DO if we didn't find him? Would Judith even be able to sleep? I felt like with every second that went by our chances of finding him were getting slimmer. Finally we got to H&M. Our last store to check (well, besides the food court & Starbucks, but I was pretty sure she had him there). I asked the guy at the desk if anyone turned a stuffed lamb in, assuming he would say no and I was trying to figure out the easiest way to explain to Judith that she would have to suddenly be a big girl and go on enduring life without her favourite essential lovey. Then he said "Oh yeah, a brown one?" and he turned to open a closet behind him. I was caught in suspension, because Lambie is, in fact, white and not brown. Time pretty much stood still until he turned around, with Lambie!!! I guess Lambie has gotten quite dirty and just looked brown. My eyes welled up with tears as I took Lambie and gave him to Judith. I hugged her and we just cried together. The clerk probably thought I was crazy. But whatever. I no longer had to worry about my little girl's heart being broken and having to explain to her over and over why her best friend was lost forever. I knew that she would go to bed and sleep well tonight. We seriously would have had to have a memorial service or something!

We left the store and then found a bench to sit on for a few minutes to recover. At that point Judith was REALLY done, and just didn't seem to have the energy to go on. I had to force her though, because I was carrying the big Toys R Us bag and pushing the stroller (which was full of stuff too) and just couldn't carry her. We somehow made it to the van. Judith perked up again when she saw her shiny new bike in the back. I got everyone and everything packed in, and then sunk into the driver's seat and called Dave to tell him everything. Overall it was a really good day. But I was completely DONE. Done done done. Done.

So we have decided, that, unless we are going somewhere overnight, Lambie is NEVER leaving the house again.

And I need to figure out some sort of way to tether Judith to me when we go out, lol.

Busted

Judith totally busted me for blasting through a yellow light the other day. She has been really interested in the red light/green light thing lately. She watches for all the lights and tells me whether to go or not. She doesn't really know what yellow means though. So when she saw a light go from green to yellow, and I sped up to get through it, she freaked out and screamed "RED MEANS STOP!" I explained to her that it wasn't red, but actually yellow, and tried to tell her what yellow means, but I don't think she got it, it's a bit too vague for her yet. She still likes the black-and-white answers in life.

But still, I was totally busted...

Oh Poop

Last Wednesday Gideon turned 11 months old. He celebrated by rolling around in and eating his poop. He has a rash on his butt so I let him go diaper-free in the play pen for 10 minutes while Judith and I made brownies. I smelt something when I was putting it in the oven, but assumed it was the litter box. Then I came out of the kitchen and saw Gideon rolling around in slimy flax-seed-filled poop, and of course eating it too. Surprisingly it didn't freak me out and I just made up a bath for him, cleaned him up and dressed him (complete with diaper!), then threw the entire contents of the playpen in the laundry (thank God the pad in the bottom has a removable cover), toys and all, then scrubbed the sides of it down. And everything was back to normal. Just in time to get the brownies out of the oven! I'm such a mom, lol. Nothing grosses me out anymore.

Princess Kelly

Judith has given me the prestigious title of "Princess Kelly" lately. I am flattered.

Something about hearing her little voice say my first name is so precious! I don't think it's disrespectful at all.

<- She also loves to wear Dave's ear muffs and scream at the top of her lungs. I'm sure most parents would not approve of this, but I think it's hilarious.

The Best Compliment

The other night for dinner I made spaghetti. It's a staple in our house. I make my own sauce and I like to think it's pretty good. And it's one of the few suppers that Judith will actually eat. So she ate all her spaghetti like lightening, and then ate a good chunk of mine! When she was done, with sauce ALL OVER her face, she jumped on me and gave me a big hug (yay spaghetti stains) and said "Mommy, you're my BEST friend! I love you SOOOOO much!!!!!" I can't ask for a better compliment than that!

Anatomy 101

Today

Me: Judith, where is your heart?
Judith: I don't know! (she normally knows it's in her chest, though)
M: Is it here? *pointing at her chest*
J: No... I think it's in the laundry...

LOL

She is Never Getting Her Lisense...

About a month ago I was out driving in some very snowy, slippery conditions, when Judith started throwing a tantrum.

Me: What's wrong?

Judith: Mommy, I want to crash!

M: No, I am not going to crash. That would be bad.

J: I WANT TO CRAAAAASHH! *continues with tantrum*

Judith + Mommy's Eyeliner + Locking Herself in the Bathroom =

Frick.

GAG

The smell of Vicks Vaporub is totally burned into my throat.

Judith was quiet for a few minutes so I went to investigate, and she had climbed up on the diaper pail and reached the almost full tub of Vicks on the dresser. When I found the tub, it was EMPTY. She had smeared the stuff EVERYWHERE. I was horrified, and almost suffocating from the smell.

I didn't even know what to do and just sat down for a few minutes, before stripping Judith down (it was all over her clothes and hair) and putting her in the bath. The cat was also covered, so I had to give him a bath right away before he attempted to lick himself. THAT was fun. Then I had to strip her bed down because the sheets and blankets were covered, as was the entire bed frame, some of her stuffed toys, her shelf, the ledge, and whatever random things were around. It was awful! I cleaned up while Judith was in the bath.

I was SO mad, I can't even begin to tell you. It just added to my already bad day. By the time I was done Judith was all whiny so I just put her to bed. Surprisingly, she actually went to sleep. She KNEW I was mad. I wasn't really sure what to do though, to make her realize what she did was wrong. I explained it to her of course (after completely freaking out at first), but I'm not sure if she got it.

She slept for a couple hours, which at least gave me a bit of time to mentally regroup. Then she woke up just as I was putting Gideon to bed (of course), and she apologized to me. She helped me clean up the living room, and then we did some puzzles and coloured together. I'm sure she was just acting out in the first place because I was having such a horrible day and didn't want to be around her.

But yeah, what an awful day!

Back (Car)Seat Driver

Today on the way to the naturopath I ended up behind a big truck on the highway that was going kind of slow, so the cars in the other lanes were whizzing past us, and Judith kept telling me "Go faster, Mommy! We gotta catch those cars!"

Then we hit construction, of course, and she asked "Are we stuck???" After a few minutes of being basically parked in traffic, Judith started whining and wanted out of her carseat. I asked her why, and she replied "I'M GOING TO WALK!!!!"

Road rage starts early, I guess.