Kids Say the Darndest Things

Just some cute things Brandon has said over the last few weeks

(while watching Batman a/k/a "Batman and Rob-nan" on TV)
"Why does Batman have girl panties?"

(while carrying around and pumping a ball inflator)
"It sounds like seltzer."

Last night:
Brandon: Mom how was your day?
Me: LONG
Brandon: Is that because you didn't see me and you missed me so much?

In the car, while hubby and I were talking
"DAD! DAD! DAD!!! STOP IGNORING YOUR KIDS!"

After a fight with his brother that involved a plastic dog -- apparently Jake was calling the dog by the wrong name
(In tears) "Jake is confusing my dog!"

Mumbling something about Christmas and getting lots of presents - I'll admit I didn't hear the beginning-
Me: You know, our family celebrates Chanukah, so we really don't get presents for Christmas.
Brandon: I'm not TALKING about CHANUKAH. I'm TALKING about CHRISTMAS.
Me: I know, but I want you to know, you already got your presents because of Chanukah.
Brandon: I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT CHANUKAH, OK?

My favorite of recent weeeks was the reaction to the Chanukah presents... whether a toy or a hat and gloves, his reaction was the same:
"THIS IS THE BEST PRESENT EVER!!!"
Ahh to be three years old!

Eskomix

A few weeks ago I taught B about Eskimo kisses. He can't quite say it; instead he says, "Gimmie Es-ko-mix."

I don't think I am ever going to correct him.

By the way, that link taught me something new about Eskimo kisses, which are not exactly what I always thought.

Something completely different

Today I'm writing about a different kind of clutter - what Flylady calls "Body Clutter" - ie, the excess weight we are carrying around on our bodies.


I am 5 feet tall. Though some calculations recommend my weight be as low as 108, I feel and look happy when I am about 125. (I am curvy, particularly on top, and solidly built). In my 20s I fluctuated through the 120s... started rising after my second child was born. When she was about 2 1/2 (summer 2005), we took a vacation and the photos shocked me... I had really put on weight. I tipped the scales at about 144, higher than I'd ever seen when not pregnant. It finally got me moving.

I did a modified version of the Weight Watchers POINTS program using some old materials a friend had given me and some free websites for calculations (in other words, I didn't officially sign up or pay for WW). I had started this many times, but finally got serious. Over the next few months, I managed to get down to 128, where I looked and felt great. That was early 2006.

About 6 months later, I got pregnant. Maintained a pretty healthy weight. I nursed, which kept the pounds off. And as he grew and I nursed less and less, the pounds piled on again. And now, summer of 2009, I am right back where I was four years ago, at 144 pounds (and baby is just over 2 years old).

I made a few false starts already this summer, but I am starting yet again. I have had my morning coffee with a tablespoon of half and half. I am staring at a biscotti I brought from home, knowing it's 4 points and wondering if I should eat it (I'm not feeling hungry but it looks goooooood). For lunch I packed tuna (2 points, no mayo) with lettuce (no points) and 1/8 teaspoon of almonds (2 points for that little bit!!) We are probably eating dinner on the go tonight which already piles on the points, so perhaps I should skip the biscotti afterall.

By the way, looking at the two photos here (one from 2005 and one from 2006), I realize I don't look all that different. You might say the same if I posted one from today. In fact, these days people are constantly telling me I look great and asking me if I LOST weight. (It may be because I am trying to focus on my posture, and also because I finally traded in the nursing bras for some well-fitting, super-supportive models.) But I know myself. I know when my pants refuse to button at the waist and my skirts are too clingy and I know when I just feel fat. Fifteen pounds on a frame my size makes a big difference.

By the way - I FINALLY got the keys to my storage unit!!! I can't wait to start moving stuff in!

Of course I almost moved myself in there last night after freaking out and screaming at the 2 year old for dumping water all over the bathroom floor. I don't know what set me off but I had a full-on freak out. Instead of locking myself up, though, I took a walk. To Dunkin Donuts. And had a big iced mocha latte (with skim milk and no whipped cream). And a Boston Kreme donut. Soooo... we will do better today. Right?

Just a Cute Story

The big kids are going to day camp this summer. Not every week, but five (maybe six) weeks out of the nine. (By the way, a nine-week summer seems somewhat unusual on the NYC Public Schools calendar. I think it's usually eight, but I'm not complaining.)

Husband has to be home around 4:45 to meet the bus when they get off. He generally takes the little one out to the park in late afternoon, then heads back to wait for them on the stoop. The other day, B was not content to play. Instead he grabbed his Dad's hand and led him over to the stoop, anticipating the bus's arrival.

It's sweet things like this that I have to remember when he is biting and hitting and generally trying my (and the big kids') patience.

Apartment update: Had a showing yesterday and having another one today. Still no bites, but supposedly today's lookie-loo is "very interested." The broker also told her we are "very negotiable" though I'm not really sure that is a great thing to say..

When's the Day? Wednesday!

That's the day the realtor is coming to take photos for the listing. YIKES. Given that I will spend a good portion of the upcoming long weekend cleaning and neatening, I'm still worried. My fear is that my toddler will undo everything I've done in the space of time between me leaving for work at 8am and the realtor's arrival at 11am. He's fast like that.

Remember that scene in Poltergeist where the mom pushes all the kitchen chairs neatly under the table, turns away for 2 seconds, and turns back to find THIS?

Yeah. That's what I call Brandon-style.

Ways My 22 Month Old is Like a Puppy

This has nothing to do with moving, selling or clutter, but it's on my mind.

Keep in mind that I love children and I love dogs... would love to have a dog if I had the space, but I don't now. Plus my oldest is allergic, and my middle is afraid of them ever since my sister-in-law's shih-tzu bit her on the ear last spring, and my youngest... well... read on.

Ways My 22-Month Old is Like a Puppy

• If I am reading or working while spread out on the floor, he will come sit on whatever has my attention
• Runs to the refrigerator as soon as it is opened
• Insists on sharing my food
• Will steal any unattended food
• Runs to the door when I come home, blocking my entrance while greeting me
• Runs to the door if he senses I am about to leave
• Doesn't like to be on a leash (I tried out a kiddie-harness at BJ's. He got mad that I wouldn't let him hold the end himself. Did not buy.)
• Likes chasing dogs, squirrels, and balls
• Afraid of the vaccuum
• Makes a mess wherever he goes
• Full of energy
• Climbs on the furniture
• Adorable and cuddly

The Crib Thing

Let me explain that last comment yesterday about the crib.

Our kids are 8 years (J), 5 years (S), and 6 months (B). We have never owned a crib.

When J was born, we had the best intentions. We were living in a one-bedroom apartment, so we didn't have a nursery to furnish. Hubby's grandma had made us a beautiful yellow bassinet and we planned to use that in the beginning, and get a crib a few months down the line.

J slept in the bassinet for a night or two, but he was fussy and would cry. I ended up cuddling with him one night (I believe my excuse was "he's cold,") and he went right to sleep. About two weeks later, I figured out how to nurse him while laying down and dozing off myself, and that was that. He stayed in the bed. We never bothered with the crib because we didn't mind co-sleeping.

When J was 2, we moved to a larger apartment (2 bedrooms) and I got pregnant again soon after. During the pregnancy, we worked on transitioning J from our bed to a toddler bed. Then when he was 2.5 he developed asthma and somehow went back to sleeping in our bed (I wanted to watch him breathe). S was born and we tried the bassinet again, but half-heartedly. Most nights we had both of them in bed with us. When J was 3.5 we got him a big-boy bed and worked on the transition again, since he was ready to start pre-K, was potty trained, and so on. But S stayed with us and the idea of buying a crib went bye-bye again.

So now B came along. The big kids have bunk beds and sleep in them most nights (though little miss S protests a lot). We decided that B would be the one to sleep in the bassinet and even get a crib. Hubby's sister went so far as to buy the crib for us - months ago - and is just waiting for us to give her the ok to have it delivered. B was sleeping in the bassinet most nights - or at least starting out there until the overnight-nursing session. But I go back and forth. I really don't mind having a baby in the bed - it's the toddler and pre-school age when it gets tough. But there is a lot of pressure to have a crib this time around - from hubby as well, as he is tired of sharing. It's just that I'm the one doing the overnight work with the baby, and I'm also the one who has to get up early every day. So why not make it easier on myself?