Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Gratitude

It's uplifting to keep things in perspective. While doing some blog creeping I noticed a few fellow bloggers doing a Gratitude Project. I have decided to join in for the next month- until September 30th to list all of the things that I am thankful for.

1. A patient & kind husband.
2. A daughter I adore.
3. A sunny rental home at a killer price.
3. Coming home to find the dishwasher already emptied.
4. Dishwashing machines in general .
5. The couple of hours of peace each day once the kid is safely tucked away in her bed.
6. Health.
7. Nail Polish. It makes my toes so much prettier.
8. Flowers that have grown under my care.
9. Warm summer days walking alone with my daughter to the park.
10. Go Diego, Go. He occasionally helps with childcare when I am ready to pull my hair out by the roots.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

The Lil Recap

I have not been a conscientious blogger this summer. I treat this little blog like Lil's online baby book (because I cannot get myself organized enough to make an actual baby book), and I have neglected to share a few milestones.

1. Tantrums. Oh Yes, tantrums in the 'twos' are so cliche. What can I say? The kid is dramatic. All 32lbs of her will go limp as she throws herself to the stone, cold ground. She will do this maneuver anywhere she does not wish to leave. So this happens at the park, at stores, even in the middle of the street next to our house. People say to just ignore kids when they have tantrums, but I feel like walking away will give her what she wants- to stay where she is at. I usually end up hoisting her writhing little body over my shoulder and pretend not to notice as she hollers at the top of her lungs. I have had old ladies make comments like, 'oh, looks like somebody is tired!' while Lil is screaming bloody murder. Nope, she's not tired. She is two.

2. Words. Lil talks a lot- just not always in clear English. She has her own dialect that I need to decipher for the untrained ear.' Diggle-diggle' means she wants to color. This bizarre little 'gunk-gunk' noise that she makes in the back of her throat means that she is thirsty. But there are real words and phrases too. ' I did it!' being a popular one. ' I here!' is another one that she proclaims whenever we visit a new location. This one was screamed multiple times while on a crowded airplane. Everyone knew she was 'here.'

3. Back to Basics. I really thought we had the whole potty training thing nailed a couple of weeks ago, but apparently my child has lost interest in the whole process. She knows how to go on the toilet, but sometimes Lil would rather be lazy and relieve herself somewhere more convenient such as my bed, the couch or the kitchen. You really want to visit my house now, right?

  Lil & Cousin Anders. More Canada pictures to come soon.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Transition

It's coming. We asked for it and it's coming. I would like to say that our lives are neat and tidy like a little gift all wrapped up in a bright red bow, but for now chaos is going to be the new status quo.

Starting tomorrow, Ben begins his first foray into the world of  full-time work and part-time law school. Which means that I will be a single mom three days a week, a part-time work from home consultant and on a continual search for full-time work in a wrecked economy. Lil will still be her normal, dramatic two-year old self, begging for salty chips and another episode of Go, Diego Go. Our desire is to have this situation be our reality for a limited time. But I suppose that these sort of things are not always up to us.

Pray for rest & a clear mind for Ben. Pray for wisdom, creativity and sanity for me. Pray that Lil will never have the desire to poo on our couch ever again.