Play Dates
June 28, 2008 at 8:15 pm | In Caityisms, Daddy-O | Leave a CommentFriday night was Girl’s Night Out. I was out with two female friends and we had a great time. We talked about pretty much everything from babies to husbands. Since it was supposed to be my second night out in one week (ooohhhhh), Alex was feeling a little neglected. Since I was going out with his friend’s wife, I told him I’d arrange a play date for him and have his friend over.
So Friday night, Greg and Candace came by with their 11 month old baby Parker and Candace’s sister Carlee was there too. We left the three boys to fend for themselves and to watch the girls.
It’s kind of funny having a play date for adults.
Today Greg and Parker came by again and this time it was a Kids’ Play Date. It was pretty funny watching Caity any time I picked up or paid attention to, Parker. She was less than impressed as I am HER Mommy, not his! Any time Parker tried to play with a toy, Caity would have none of it. She either bonked him on the head or stole the toy away. Eventually they worked things out and everyone had a good time. They were very sweet together.
And now as I write this, Caity is sitting on the floor, playing with Alex’s socks. So much for my Wunderkid …
Go Away!
June 28, 2008 at 8:05 am | In Caityisms | Leave a CommentThe conversation this morning …
Her: “Mavvy come! Mavvy” Mavvy is our male cat. Charlie is his sister. All animals are Mavvy – according to Cait.
Her: “Owwww!” She walked into the TV.
Her: “Go ‘way!” Caity’s new favourite saying.
Her: “Go!” Another favourite.
Me: “Caity, no.” pinch, pinch – she doesn’t like Mom saying no, so she pinches me.
Me: “Caity, NO!” bite, bite – when pinching doesn’t work.
At least it’s almost nap time….
They’re So Much Alike…
June 27, 2008 at 6:18 pm | In All Things Doodle, Caityisms, Sisters, Toeses and Noses | 1 Comment
This is Lexy when she was about 2 years old. This is a picture of her running from me, simply because she could. She knew that I couldn’t catch her (as a result of a bad setting of a badly broken ankle). At this age, it didn’t matter where we were. If I wasn’t hanging on to her hand for dear life, off she went. This was particularly thrilling when she darted out into traffic… shortly after that, we put Lexy on a leash. Despite the curious and sometimes obnoxious looks from other adults, there she remained, at the end of my leash. I told the odd person who was rude enough to make a snippy comment about my tethered kid that it was either putting her on a leash or having her made into a hood ornament … that usually shut them up. I can be subtle when I have to be.
And then there’s Caity… and as much as I would love to have her as a free-range baby, she shows all the promises of being exactly like her big sister. She’s at the age where she’s fiercely independent – or about as independent as a 16-month old can be. ‘No’ is her favourite word and I’m beginning to regret teaching it to her …
I can hardly wait until she begins to run for real. I’m sure it will involve a leash for her too.
But ya gotta love those chubby legs!
She Swims Like a Rock …
June 27, 2008 at 2:27 pm | In All Things Doodle | Leave a CommentTags: Swimming Lessons
Since Summer is officially here and school is out, I enrolled Lexy in some swimming lessons at our local Community Centre. Lexy last took lessons when she was three and I was pregnant with Caity. It was much easier then going after daycare, straight to the pool and then home for dinner. Lexy loved it, although she was a little scared in the water. For the introductory lessons, Mom (or Dad) goes in the warm water with the youngling and we dance and jump around while we hold them. It’s a good confidence builder, but man you won’t catch me in a bathing suit this year.
Now that Caity’s here and we have a crazy schedule, I had to book the appointments for Sunday mornings. This way, Alex can stay home with Caity and I can take Lexy to the pool. She’s all ready with her new swimsuit, cover-up and swim shoes. She looks so grown up sometimes and yet she’s not quite five. What I was hoping to do was to sign Caity up for the toddler class – that way Alex would watch over Lexy and I’d be in the baby pool with Cait. We’re not sure if Alex is changing work locations yet again – which affects our weekends – so I’ll have to wait until August.
If Lexy does well with this set of classes and actually listens to the instructor, then I’ll enroll her in the next level. This way she’ll have two sets of swimming lessons this summer and less fear of a pool. It would be cute thought to see Caity paddling along in the baby pool too. I guess we’ll wait and see.
From Squeaking Toddler to Barking Seal…
June 24, 2008 at 3:48 pm | In Caityisms, Toeses and Noses | 1 CommentPoor Cait’s got a cold. I presume she caught it from her cousin, Logan, when she was playing with him on Father’s Day. She had a fever off-and-on the whole weekend and yesterday she started to sound like a seal. Any time she would cough or just cry, you could hear the rattle in her little chest. She’s pretty miserable. She has decided she dislikes the Doctor even more now when he tried to look in her mouth, it would have been easier to give her a needle for all she was carrying on. I also weighed her and found out she’s a healthy 29lbs! I don’t think Lexy reached that weight until well after her second birthday…
It was bad enough that the Doctor had the nerve to look in her ears, but at her throat as well! Sheesh, such indignities should never be thrust upon a youngling. Caity, with all her ladylike grace, screamed bloody murder: “Noooooo!!” and kept trying to slap my hand away. So between the two of us - me holding down the screaming, wriggling, toddler, he trying to put the tongue depressor in her mouth – we almost got a look at her sore throat. We were all sweating by the end of it.
After he was done and was writing out her script for some anitbiotics, she kept glaring at me like “how could you?!?”
I know, I know, this goes in the books under ‘bad Mommy’.
The Independent Toddler
June 22, 2008 at 4:02 pm | In Toeses and Noses | Leave a Comment
Is this right Mom?
Caity tries to dress herself now. Mind you, she’s already dressed when she tries – and she usually puts them on the wrong body part (i.e., socks on the head), but at least she’s trying.
I was sitting here looking at my email and Caity sat on the couch beside me. Somehow she got a hold of her new jammies from the Disney Store that I bought her yesterday ($9.99 on sale!) and decided she should wear them again. She’s already wearing her pink capris and tshirt, but she tries to put the jammie shorts on top of her capris. She actually got both legs in the proper way in the jammie, but she couldn’t figure out what to do with it next, so off it came in a fit.
At least she tried …
At Least She Sings With a Joyous Heart …
June 20, 2008 at 4:02 pm | In Caityisms | Leave a CommentTags: iPod, singing, toddlers
My BFF, whom I’ve known for 32 years (which is odd when you consider we’re only 29) had a wonderful Grandpa. He was a wonderful influence and a real gentleman. He was the kind of man who would tip his hat to a lady. They just don’t make them like that anymore. He was born in Scotland and emigrated (if I remember this correctly) in the early part of the last century. His bride, Mabel was the love of his life. I think you get the picture. I even ‘adopted’ him because I didn’t have a Grandpa of my own. When my friend Diz and I were little, we used to torture entertain her Grandpa and Mother with our little skits. We’d come up with something that we were incredibly proud of – we’d sing our hearts out and you’d never see him cringe. Despite the fact that we were horribly out of tune, he would politely applaud and his only comment was that we sang with joyous hearts. I’ve never forgotten that. It still makes me smile to hear it said today.
I have an iPod Touch, one of the ridiculously expensive wonderful Christmas presents from my Husband. I’ve been known to play it for the girls on the way to school and daycare and we sing and clap and “dance” in the car (you know, couch dancing?).
One of Lexy’s favourite songs is “Big Girls Don’t Cry” by Fergie. She knows all the words and I’m glad that she’s still too young to understand the meaning. Lexy always sings along, top of her lungs. I watch her from the rearview mirror and smile.
This morning, Lexy asked me to play the song. I obliged and just as it started with Fergie singing the opening “la la la la la la” don’t you think I hear from the backseat .. “lalalLALAlalalalaLALA!” Lexy and I look at each other and start laughing. Caity was singing too!
We’re cracking up. I look at Caity, she stops singing and just looks at me like “what?”. Oh well, at least she sings with a joyous heart 
You Know She’s Tired When …
June 17, 2008 at 8:00 pm | In Caityisms | 2 CommentsSunday after we brought Caity home from Grandma’s – I actually went on a date with my husband! – Alex and I went to see Iron Man (two thumbs up). Caity chatted all the way home. I imagine she was telling me about her adventures with her little cousin, Logan. She didn’t nap all afternoon and it was about 7:30 when we finally got home.
Caity and I have this routine for when she wakes from her post-daycare nap. We sit and cuddle in the rocking chair. Sunday night was no different. She wanted a cuddle and she wanted it now dammit! I got jammies readt for Lexy and Caity and Lexy got dressed and went to bed. I put Caity’s jammies on the table next to the rocking chair and I sat and cuddled her close and we watched TV, cheek-to-cheek. I LOVE those times – when it’s just her and me against the world, everything else melts away.
Anyway, after rocking for a while, Caity sat up, looked over at the table, slid quickly off my lap and toddled over to the table, grabbed the jammies, toddled back over to me and held them up as if to say “OK, bed time”. I chuckled and asked her if she wanted to go to bed. “No.” She nodded. I guess that’s her answer for everything.
We don’t have baby gates. We had them (borrowed) with Lexy and never got around to getting any with Caity. Currently in the space between the kitchen and the Family Room, we have two dining chairs lying on their sides, blocking baby from getting any further.
I took off Caity’s top and put on the top part of her jammies. She gets up and heads towards the “gate” – kind of like, “ok are we ready?” I pulled her back and changed her bum, nibbled on her toes, tickled her tummy and listened to her giggle. Once she was completely dressed, she headed for the “gate” again. I get the hint – bedtime for bonzo.
Finally I get her into bed and say goodnight. She’s asleep before I leave the room. I can hear her softly breathing and I can see her lying there, hugging purple puppy in her chubby little arms, eyes closed, dreaming Tiggerish dreams …
She’s so impossibly sweet. I can’t imagine my life without her. How did I live before I had my kids?
Good night baby, sweet dreams.
Happy Daddy’s Day!
June 15, 2008 at 10:58 am | In Daddy-O | 2 CommentsTags: Daddy's Day, family, kids
We should rename today to Daddy’s Day. My theory is that any man can be a Father, but it takes a special man to be a Dad. Happy Daddy’s Day Honey!
I’m very lucky. My parents have been married for almost 50 years. I’ve always had a strong sense of family growing up, albeit sometimes dysfunctional, but a family nonetheless. I’ve been with my husband for almost nine years, and we have two beautiful children together. Even though we did things backwards (had a baby, bought a house, got married), we always knew we were in this together. I hope it always stays that way. My kids have wonderful grandparents and I’m greatful for their influences on them. Yes, they spoil them at times, but that’s what grands do. It’s a different relationship they have with the grand kids than they had with us. They’ve raised their kids, sent them off in the world and now the pressure’s off. It’s time for fun!
I took the girls to my parent’s house yesterday for our Daddy’s Day celebration and as usual they had a blast.
We gave my Dad some pictures of the girls and my Mom made a great dinner, even though it was served at 4:30, it was still a great dinner.
The girls played outside and Lexy wore herself out by running up and down my parents’ hill. They have a beautiful house and we just love it there. Even Caity went for a walk this time – mainly because this is the first time she’s been up there and able to walk. Caity was a late walker, she was fairly lazy and didn’t really start walking until she was 14 months old. Now at 16 months, she think
s she’s invincible and has even started running.
Both girls fell asleep in the car on the ride home. I think Caity made it as far as the highway before succumbing to slumber. Lexy fought it as hard as she could because, after all, she wasn’t tired. About 15 minutes into the trip, she fell asleep. Except for the snoring from the back seat, it was a pretty quiet ride home.
Today was a great Daddy’s Day. I got to sleep in. You see, the night before Mother’s Day last month, Alex went to a stag and needed to sleep in. I figure that since I had to get up with the kids then, he could get up with the kids today! I can also justify it by saying that since it’s Daddy’s Day, he should spend time with his kids
The girls got Alex a card and I thought Caity could give it to him. I gave the card to Caity and said for her to give it to Daddy. She kept looking at the envelope, turning it all around. Alex said “Can I have that?” and Caity’s reply? “No”.
See, even on Daddy’s Day, he can’t get a break …
Well at Least That Won’t Fit up Her Nose…
June 14, 2008 at 9:55 am | In All Things Doodle, Toeses and Noses | 1 CommentTags: kids, Lite Brite, Nose
Remember when I wrote about Alex and Lexy going to his Dad’s for a visit and they came home with the Busy Ball Popper for Caity? Well, they also came home with a Lite Brite for Lexy. Lexy was so excited and wanted to play with it immediately, instantly, right now, the second she got home from Grandpa’s if not sooner! She was told that she could only play with it in her room because of the small pieces. We were afraid that Caity would swallow one. Lexy agreed and pretty much has played with it straight for the past two weeks. She loves it.
I should have known better, she is afterall, my offspring…
When I was a kid, about Lexy’s age I used to put things up my nose. Usually it was the dried beans my mom kept around the house for planting in the garden. I’m sure that many a doctor’s visit was paid, simply because of my curiousity. It used to drive my mother crazy – beans, cheesies, anything that would fit, up it’d go. Thankfully I’ve kicked that habit.
Last night I was in the bathroom and as anyone who has kids or pets knows, you have absolutely no privacy when you’re in the bathroom. Lexy comes barging in and I tell her to get out.
Her: “But Mom I’ve got a Lite-Brite in my nose!”
Me: “What?? Are you serious??”
Her: Tearfully, “Yesssss”
Me: “Lexy! Why’d you put that in your nose?!?”
Her: “I don’t know…”
*Sigh*
So here I am envisioning a trip to the Emergency Room, I grabbed some toilet paper and told her to blow as hard as she could. It didn’t help. I had to get Caity up because it was getting late, so I bring her downstairs, tell Lexy to wait in her room and lie on her bed. I shout for Alex, who by the way, is utilizing his new monitor, to come and watch Caity.
Him: “Why??”
Me: “Because Lexy shoved a Lite-Brite piece up her nose!”
Him: “What???”
He comes tearing upstairs, Caity starts crying because she doesn’t want to be awake at that particular moment in time and there’s too much going on for her liking. I grabbed the flashlight and the tweezers and go back to Lexy’s room. At this point Lexy’s crying, although that’s nothing new. Lexy cries at the drop of a hat – another endearing quality she inherited from me. I go to remove the piece that I can now see inside her nose and she’s worried that it’s going to hurt. I’m able to remove it without too much fuss and all is well.
The Lite-Brite is now in the closet, not to return until Lexy’s 10.
So you see, history does repeat itself … but at least she can’t get the busy ball popper’s balls up her nose …
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