Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
My crew
Alex is so smiley, vocal, and happy. He is constantly kicking his feet, moving his body, and talking to us....
Kate's outfit of choice for our Sunday morning Michael Franti Dance party
Charlie's outfit of choice for our dance party:
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Two proud moments
Yesterday was one busy day. We woke up, got dressed, ate breakfast and headed to the doctor. While driving back over devil's slide the kids took one look at the amazing coastline and stated, "Let's go to the beach!" Despite being in my jeans, sweater, clogs...having no change of clothes for the kids, no blanket, sand toys, or food.....we went. We did have water, sunscreen, and my ergo...which is really all one needs.
I sat on the sand nursing the babe and watched the kids strip down to their undies and run in delight away from the waves. It was low tide with small waves, but of course I watched them like hawks. At one point while running away from a wave Kate fell face first in the shallow white water. I held my breath and watched....knowing she would be upset...but also knowing she was safe. Without a single thought Charlie (with a look of panic on his face) reached down, grabbed Kate underneath her arms and scooped her up. He literally picked her up and then grabbed her arm and ran away from the next wave...which was like 20 feet away :) He didn't let go of her arm until they were just inches in front of me. Moments before this happened I pulled them close to be and said in my most serious face (I have been working on a-I-am-serious face) that if they fell down a wave could come and take them away and they would drown....maybe I was a little too drastic...but I think a bit of fear of the ocean is really healthy...Needless to say I was so proud of Charlie and the way he "saved" his sister.
After the beach and lunch at San Benito we had 30 minutes to kill before drop off time at Los Ninos. It was a hot and sunny day in HMB and frozen yogurt sounded delicious. So we went to Nano's. The kids got their small chocolate yogurts with a side of M&Ms and they headed to the back area to sit on the small benches and dig in while I paid. After a few minutes I heard both kids crying....I thought hmmm...stay calm, finish paying and go see what is the matter. When I got to the backyard area I saw Kate sobbing, with her four fingers in her mouth (something she does when she is really worried, embarrassed, and sad)...Charlie was on the ground, crying with chocolate yogurt all over his face and M&Ms all over the ground. Apparently Charlie went to sit down and the chair fell backwards....his yogurt landing right on his face....the kids were alone in this situation for probably 2 or 3 minutes. What was so touching to me was how genuinely concerned and sad Kate was....when I walked up she was holding out her hand to Charlie, trying to give him one of her M&Ms saying: "Here Charwee....."
Sure they tease, yell, and hit each other a few times a day. But most of the time they have been playing so well. These two moments yesterday were proof that all the hard work is paying off. I want my children to have the type of relationship I have with my siblings. Aunt Kate and Uncle Josh are my closest friends......I would give them my M&Ms or rescue them from a crashing wave any day, and I know they would do the same for me.
I sat on the sand nursing the babe and watched the kids strip down to their undies and run in delight away from the waves. It was low tide with small waves, but of course I watched them like hawks. At one point while running away from a wave Kate fell face first in the shallow white water. I held my breath and watched....knowing she would be upset...but also knowing she was safe. Without a single thought Charlie (with a look of panic on his face) reached down, grabbed Kate underneath her arms and scooped her up. He literally picked her up and then grabbed her arm and ran away from the next wave...which was like 20 feet away :) He didn't let go of her arm until they were just inches in front of me. Moments before this happened I pulled them close to be and said in my most serious face (I have been working on a-I-am-serious face) that if they fell down a wave could come and take them away and they would drown....maybe I was a little too drastic...but I think a bit of fear of the ocean is really healthy...Needless to say I was so proud of Charlie and the way he "saved" his sister.
After the beach and lunch at San Benito we had 30 minutes to kill before drop off time at Los Ninos. It was a hot and sunny day in HMB and frozen yogurt sounded delicious. So we went to Nano's. The kids got their small chocolate yogurts with a side of M&Ms and they headed to the back area to sit on the small benches and dig in while I paid. After a few minutes I heard both kids crying....I thought hmmm...stay calm, finish paying and go see what is the matter. When I got to the backyard area I saw Kate sobbing, with her four fingers in her mouth (something she does when she is really worried, embarrassed, and sad)...Charlie was on the ground, crying with chocolate yogurt all over his face and M&Ms all over the ground. Apparently Charlie went to sit down and the chair fell backwards....his yogurt landing right on his face....the kids were alone in this situation for probably 2 or 3 minutes. What was so touching to me was how genuinely concerned and sad Kate was....when I walked up she was holding out her hand to Charlie, trying to give him one of her M&Ms saying: "Here Charwee....."
Sure they tease, yell, and hit each other a few times a day. But most of the time they have been playing so well. These two moments yesterday were proof that all the hard work is paying off. I want my children to have the type of relationship I have with my siblings. Aunt Kate and Uncle Josh are my closest friends......I would give them my M&Ms or rescue them from a crashing wave any day, and I know they would do the same for me.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
the things they say
I asked the kids to clean up the playroom together before moving on to art.
I then walked into the playroom and started cleaning myself. After a few minutes I overheard:
Charlie: Come on Kate, Mommy is in the playroom cleaning up all by herself, that is not fair. We should go help her.
While laying in bed altogether reading books Charlie looks at Kate
Charlie: You are skinny Kate
Kate: Yeh
Charlie: I am skinny too
Kate: Yeh
Charlie: Mommy.....you are wide apart. I am not going to say you are fat...just wide...way wider than daddy.
Sweet!
I then walked into the playroom and started cleaning myself. After a few minutes I overheard:
Charlie: Come on Kate, Mommy is in the playroom cleaning up all by herself, that is not fair. We should go help her.
While laying in bed altogether reading books Charlie looks at Kate
Charlie: You are skinny Kate
Kate: Yeh
Charlie: I am skinny too
Kate: Yeh
Charlie: Mommy.....you are wide apart. I am not going to say you are fat...just wide...way wider than daddy.
Sweet!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
still alive and kicking
Our power cord to our mac went out about three weeks ago, so we have been more or less unplugged. We dug out our ipad and plugged that in for the first time in 5 months, but other than the late night quick check of emails and facebook, we as a family have been unplugged while at home, and I have liked it.
Alex is now 2 months and chubby chubby as Charlie calls him. He smiles, laughs, coos, and seems to be a happy little lad. Kate and Charlie enjoy him to no end. We are often asking Kate to cool it on the "petting" of Alex's head, but other than that there have really been no problems. The big kids adore the baby and I am pretty sure that Alex saves his biggest and best smiles for his big bro.
We have our cloth diapers up and running and it is going great. I am forever grateful for the friends and family that replenished our stock of our beloved bumgenius diapers.
I am also proud to report that Kate has been fever free for something like 2 weeks and although she ended up with quite a cold about a week ago I am hopeful that her 5 different viruses in 8 weeks is coming to an end.
As of me, I am always realizing things: good and bad. I had a pivotal night about a week or so ago when I realized that I wasn't that happy, and I wasn't being the patient, fun, loving, present mom that I wanted to be. Just coming to terms with this fact helped in huge ways. Shortly after that I realized that in the end of August things will all change. Charlie will be at kinder 4 hours everyday and Kate will be in preschool 3 hours 3 days a week. On top of that I will be teaching all day Saturdays and tutoring about 10 hours during the week. While I look forward to breaks from the big kids in the mornings, and reuniting with my students....I am a bit sad that my work schedule is exactly opposite than my kids' school schedules. Infact it breaks my heart. But we do what we must, and make the best of the time we share.
I also had a rough week in the past month. Every once in a while I question the way I parent. Something small happens in my life, and my mind spins. To make a long few days short I tried the authority hat on. Feeling stretched thin, tired, and without exercise I spent a few days yelling, trying time-outs with my kids (something for good reason I have never done), I even tried punishments and rewards. And while throwing out the term "Charlie if you don't listen I will take away privileges" actually worked in the moment....I realized quickly that I didn't even know what privileges I was taking away. And I hated who I was, and what I was teaching my children. I want them to behave in a certain way not out of fear or the promise of something special. I want them to listen and respect each other because of their intrinsic motivation to live in harmony with one another. I want all of our needs to be met. I want us to make mistakes together and learn from them. I want all of us to become problem-solvers, and while it is true that Adam and I are the parents and therefore mainly in charge... we believe that our children have opinions that matter, should have a say in solutions, and are valued for the wonderful individuals that they are. And we have truly been living in harmony, most of the time.
When I sat Charlie down and told him what I was feeling, when I explained that I felt like he wasn't listening to me which was why I was yelling and getting mad, he seemed to really understand. He expressed that he hated getting set to his room, and that he didn't like things to be taken away from him. We saw eye to eye in that conversation. I saw him as this little boy growing up, trying to use his words, express his feelings, learning and it felt right. It isn't perfect by any stretch, and everyday I have moments where I feel angry but now that I am more mindful I can wait before I respond, I can overlook small infractions, and I can think to myself...what do my kids need....what do I want them to take away from this situation... . And I think we are all happier for it.
so that is us. growing and learning one day at a time. enjoying dance parties, playing sports, games, and just savoring the moments we spend together...because come this fall a lot of those moments will not be spent together. Afterall we are all growing up I guess
Alex is now 2 months and chubby chubby as Charlie calls him. He smiles, laughs, coos, and seems to be a happy little lad. Kate and Charlie enjoy him to no end. We are often asking Kate to cool it on the "petting" of Alex's head, but other than that there have really been no problems. The big kids adore the baby and I am pretty sure that Alex saves his biggest and best smiles for his big bro.
We have our cloth diapers up and running and it is going great. I am forever grateful for the friends and family that replenished our stock of our beloved bumgenius diapers.
I am also proud to report that Kate has been fever free for something like 2 weeks and although she ended up with quite a cold about a week ago I am hopeful that her 5 different viruses in 8 weeks is coming to an end.
As of me, I am always realizing things: good and bad. I had a pivotal night about a week or so ago when I realized that I wasn't that happy, and I wasn't being the patient, fun, loving, present mom that I wanted to be. Just coming to terms with this fact helped in huge ways. Shortly after that I realized that in the end of August things will all change. Charlie will be at kinder 4 hours everyday and Kate will be in preschool 3 hours 3 days a week. On top of that I will be teaching all day Saturdays and tutoring about 10 hours during the week. While I look forward to breaks from the big kids in the mornings, and reuniting with my students....I am a bit sad that my work schedule is exactly opposite than my kids' school schedules. Infact it breaks my heart. But we do what we must, and make the best of the time we share.
I also had a rough week in the past month. Every once in a while I question the way I parent. Something small happens in my life, and my mind spins. To make a long few days short I tried the authority hat on. Feeling stretched thin, tired, and without exercise I spent a few days yelling, trying time-outs with my kids (something for good reason I have never done), I even tried punishments and rewards. And while throwing out the term "Charlie if you don't listen I will take away privileges" actually worked in the moment....I realized quickly that I didn't even know what privileges I was taking away. And I hated who I was, and what I was teaching my children. I want them to behave in a certain way not out of fear or the promise of something special. I want them to listen and respect each other because of their intrinsic motivation to live in harmony with one another. I want all of our needs to be met. I want us to make mistakes together and learn from them. I want all of us to become problem-solvers, and while it is true that Adam and I are the parents and therefore mainly in charge... we believe that our children have opinions that matter, should have a say in solutions, and are valued for the wonderful individuals that they are. And we have truly been living in harmony, most of the time.
When I sat Charlie down and told him what I was feeling, when I explained that I felt like he wasn't listening to me which was why I was yelling and getting mad, he seemed to really understand. He expressed that he hated getting set to his room, and that he didn't like things to be taken away from him. We saw eye to eye in that conversation. I saw him as this little boy growing up, trying to use his words, express his feelings, learning and it felt right. It isn't perfect by any stretch, and everyday I have moments where I feel angry but now that I am more mindful I can wait before I respond, I can overlook small infractions, and I can think to myself...what do my kids need....what do I want them to take away from this situation... . And I think we are all happier for it.
so that is us. growing and learning one day at a time. enjoying dance parties, playing sports, games, and just savoring the moments we spend together...because come this fall a lot of those moments will not be spent together. Afterall we are all growing up I guess
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