Crabby Mama

The other day, we ate dinner at Cody’s Roadhouse. I ordered ribs and Leah asked to have some. She liked it and while she was eating, she asked me if the ribs we eat are like the ribs on people. I said, “Well, no. We don’t eat people’s ribs. These ribs come from a pig.”

She thought about that a minute and said, “We could eat the bad people.” !!!

Today Erin saw a squirrel in the road far ahead. She said, “If we run over that squirrel, it will squish the blood all out and it will be dead, dead, dead.”

These kids sure are bloodthirsty.

Laurie pointed out that living with my mom is like a vacation that never ends. And that is SO true. When you go on vacation, you are usually in tight quarters (check). Naps are all wacky (check). You are on the go all the time (check). But you always have going home to look forward to. You look forward to when you have your space back and everything will go back to normal.

Well, this vacation ain’t going anywhere for the time being. We are in the process of contacting a realtor who specializes in rentals, but we really don’t want to start paying rent yet. Dilemmas, dilemmas. Mike, of course, is all on the side of NOT spending money on two places to live. I am all on the side of GET ME IN MY OWN SPACE!!! I don’t know how much longer I can do this. I need to be able to get settled to feel like we actually live here.

I think that is part of why I was not more emotional when Leah started school. It still doesn’t feel like we live here and Leah is in real school. She could be going to camp or something while we are on vacation. When we are in our own home and relatively unpacked, I hope this now feels like our reality.

It all began on Sunday. Because we were going to miss Erin’s preschool open house on Friday, her teacher volunteered to meet us at the classroom on Sunday to sign all the papers and see the classroom. Erin’s teachers this year are Ms Heidi and Ms Jill. I was really happy to hear that academics are a big part of the curriculum in her classroom. I was also happy to hear that their “Lunch Bunch” is a drop-in thing. Any day I want her to stay until 2 instead of 12, I just have to send in her lunch and the $10 fee and she can stay. So nice if I decided to do a playdate that will run long. Ms Heidi told me that usually if a child has a birthday that week, that family will be responsible for providing the class snacks for the week. And guess what! Erin’s birthday was the only one in August. So I am this week’s snack Mom.

Yesterday we had Leah’s Meet the Teacher at her school. She had gotten her teacher assignment that morning and was assigned a MAN! Mr. Bellamy. I was a little taken aback, especially for kindergarten. But I decided to have an open mind. We arrive at the event and I immediately join the PTA and volunteer to help with the school store. We search around for her classroom and have to walk through another classroom to get to it. There is a very young girl in there, about 18 or so and an old very large black man. My heart sank a bit. He was just so OLD. I began to worry about it being a case of someone waiting to retire. Mr B told us he loves K and had been teaching it since 1972. Holy crap! I left still apprehensive about the school year.

Today was THE day. I am so glad we had 3 people to get everyone ready. It was quite the chore. It had been raining off and on all night. Just before we loaded the car, the monsoon arrived. It was almost blowing the umbrellas inside out. I was SO sad that I wasn’t going to get to walk Leah into her classroom. I took a few pictures of the girls in the house with their new outfits (SO CUTE!) and backpacks. But I have no idea where my card reader is so you do not get to see them yet. We went through the car line and the safety patrol opened the car door. Leah popped out with her lunchbox and darted under the overhang. She maneuvered her way to the door and I couldn’t see her anymore. She didn’t even look back. But she has never been that type. I have to admit I was a little teary pulling away, but I didn’t have time to cry because I had to navigate the monsoon to Erin’s school.

I realized that I forgot Erin’s change of clothes at home, so I run back to get those. Erin’s school has a car line for the mornings too. By the time we get there, the monsoon had abated and it is just drizzling. We pull up and unload all the snacks. Erin’s face is a little concerned as Ms Heidi helps her out of the car, but she doesn’t fuss.

So two drop-offs complete. I take Addie home to nap at 9:30 and start to sort out the house. 20 minutes to 12 we are off again to do pick-ups. It is drizzling again. We wait about 10 minutes in line for Erin. Ms Heidi told me that Erin “needs to work on her listening skills.” Ha ha. Don’t I know it. She had some trouble sitting in circle time. But to be fair, there is a whole classroom full of new things to explore. I am sure as time passes, she will be more about doing what they ask.

I stop and get a smoothie for lunch and get the kids home to nap. Addie cries for a LONG time before passing out and Erin never falls asleep even though I was again the Nap Nazi. Got some more stuff put away before leaving at 2:30 to pick up Leah (dismissal is 2:50).

We are in Leah’s car line for 25 minutes. She bounces in all excited and immediately picks up her Leapster. After barely answering my questions, she says to me, “Mom, can I play my game now?” I feel like I still haven’t gotten that much out of her about what went on today. But she likes Mr B and made friends with a girl named Maggie and wants to buy her lunch tomorrow. SO I guess it was a good day.

I am kinda frustrated with Leah’s school’s, or maybe it is the teacher’s, lack of communication. I wanted to send in milk money today but NOWHERE could I find the price of milk or how to send in money for lunch. Also Leah told me that her teacher said the kids could bring in towels or blankets for naptime, which I have heard none of. I know that the official Open House is next Tuesday night and Mr B said he would go over all curriculum stuff then. BUT there are things I need to know sooner. Just annoyed is all.

So Day one in the books. Hope we get used to the schedule soon. All I know is there is a lot of running around being done right now.

Let me tell you, I don’t now if I am capable of being a boy mom. Ever since Addie started crawling, he has been hell on wheels. You cannot leave him for ONE second or he will be pulling something down on his head, banging his head on something, eating something, or destroying something. While doing all of these things, he is shouting at the top of his lungs. He wants attention ALL the time and is almost never content to be contained anymore. Of course the move has been rough nap-wise, and when he is tired multiply all above statements by 1000. I am exhausted and he is not even 1 yet!!!

There is a light at the end of the tunnel. When Addie is 1 and walking, he can started attending Erin’s school in their Mom’s Morning Out program. It is 9:15-11:45 and it is basically drop-in. So I can do it as often or as little as I like and it is only $10 a day!! I will get to volunteer in Leah’s classroom!! I can go on Erin’s field trips!! Is it November yet???

I was able to successfully get the girls enrolled in school yesterday. When I got up I:

1) ran to Leah’s school to get a UserID and password for the online registration system
2) hauled all three to the dr for Leah’s physical
3) went to my mom’s work to get two papers notarized
4) went back to Leah’s school to turn in all papers and get her class assignment (more about that in another post)
5) got back to the house to fix and eat a quick lunch
6) took all 3 school supply shopping at Target
7) got Erin and Addie to nap while I straightened mom’s house
went to the mall for dinner and back to school shopping
9) got all 3 to bed
10) went to the grocery with Mom to get a few things for lunches and Erin’s school snacks

It was a long day.

Today will better, except for the normal 4 daily dropoffs/pickups.

We made it to FL!! The packing was hellacious. We had to leave half a room behind because we underestimated the amount of space we needed. We left a giant pile of trash in the garage and a giant pile for Goodwill in the house. But what are ya gonna do? It is what it is. Made it on the road about 8:30 Friday night (and we thought we would be ready by Thursday night, ha ha).

Got two hours down the road and stopped in Columbia for the night. We had the cats with us so we had to sneak them up the stairs into the room. Adam did pretty well in the transition to the room until Mike and my mom made a commotion with the brushing of the teeth and the taking out of contacts. Then he was wide awake and fussing to be out of bed for like an hour. Not cool.

Got on the road in the morning at 8:30. Made it to Jax by like 1:30. Made it home at 6:30pm. All in all 12 hours with trailers and a BILLION potty stops. I could NEVER have made this drive without Mom. I cannot imagine having to take all three in every time one had to go potty. And we couldn’t stop for long to play or anything because of the cats. Even though Mike had to drive alone the whole time, he was SO lucky to not to have all that business going on.

Saturday night we unpacked one trailer and began trying to find a home for all of our stuff. Sunday morning we woke up and went to Dave’s to unload the other trailer and try to organize what needed to be stored there and what had to come to Mom’s. By 3pm we were all done and went swimming with the Wests.

Dinner that night was rough. The kids were ALL overwhelmed and tired. We fed them at the Wests and dragged them home kicking and screaming. After they were in bed, we went back over for a great dinner cooked by Rhi’s mom and some WINE. I came home relaxed and ready to tackle today.

Today’s goals are to get Leah enrolled in school, attend her open house, and shop for school supplies and a new first day of school outfit. Then TOMORROW I can actually start organizing my mom’s house to fit us.

Addie at 9 months:

weight 24lbs 6oz=91st percentile
height 29 inches=67th percentile
head circ 45cm=34th percentile

Erin was 19lbs 15oz (90%) and 26.5 in tall (10%) at her 9 month visit and Leah was 19.5 lbs.

Erin at 3 yrs:

weight 33lbs=72nd percentile
height 36 1/2 in=35th percentile

Leah was 30lbs 6oz and 36 1/4in tall at her 3 yr old visit. Dr said I could prob go back to giving her whole milk when we switch Addie at 1 yr.

I can’t say that I can’t believe Erin is 3 because in my head she has been 3 for a LONG time. Almost ever since she was 2. So I guess I will say I can’t believe she is ONLY 3. With a big sister, Erin already thinks of herself as 5. So I will just say I can’t believe it has only been 3 yrs since she was born. It feels as if she has been in our lives forever.

The Strawberry Shortcake party went fairly well. I teased all my friends that my parties are the only ones where they come to work instead of relax. I always take on too much for one person to keep organized and together. I need a party planning partner (ladies, you know who I am talking to). Anyway, the kids all had fun and all of the games went well, so that is all I can ask. I took not a photo so thank goodness for my friend Kelly. Now I have some memories to scrapbook one day when I again have all my scrapbooking stuff set up.

Here is an update on getting to know the 3 yr old Erin:

1. What’s your middle name? Audrey

2. What food will you eat every time? mac n cheese, pizza, most fruit

3. Describe a usual lunch for you? peanut butter & jelly, banana, apple juice

4. What’s your favorite drink? totally apple juice

5. What are your very favorite songs? anything Leah sings

6. Who are your favorite fictional characters? Rainbow Fairies

7. What is your favorite TV show? Angelina Ballerina, Wubbzy

8. What is your favorite movie? Tinkerbell

9. What/who are your favorite stuffed animals? piggy from If you give a pig a pancake

10. What are your favorite electronic toys? Tag Reader

11. What are your favorite non-electronic toys? dress up clothes

12. What are your favorite books? I Like Colors, Carry Me Please, Rainbow Fairies

13. When’s your naptime? Around 1pm for about 1.5 hrs

14. When’s your bedtime? 7:30-8pm

15. What’s your bedtime routine? jammies, brush teeth, 2 books, potty, climb into bed and we chat for one song

16. Besides the obvious, what’s in your bed at night? piggy

17. When is your happiest time of the day? first thing in the morning

18. What can make you laugh 100% of the time? your sister

19. What makes you mad 100% of the time? not allowing you to do everything yourself

20. What do you do to make others laugh? make funny faces

21. What do you do that drives your Mommy crazy? whining

22. If you talk, what word(s) do you say incorrectly every time (but it’s so cute that you can just go on saying it that way for a while)? smoovie (smoothie)

23. If you talk, what are your favorite words or phrases? “Are you serious?”

24. What physical feat have you just accomplished? Learning how to briefly go underwater

25. Who are some friends you play with often? Cally, Clara, Alyssa, Matty, Mila

This is what Adam has eaten today:

1 small pancake
banana chunks
sweet potato chunks
blueberries cut into quarters
some of those chicken sticks peeled and cut into bites
yogurt mixed with a little peach and squash puree (a new thing Yo-Baby does)
black beans
canned carrots cut up
3-8 oz bottles of formula (so far)

He wants almost nothing to do with baby food so I am really attempting to find his things he will eat so that he sleeps well at night.

Here is a video of him doing his growling thing in his high chair:

This is the thrid night in a row that I have been unable to sleep. I DRAG all day, so exhausted, looking so forward to bedtime. Then as soon as I turn out the light… my mind starts racing. It is 3am now and I have seen 11, 12, 1, and 2 on the clock. I think I need sleeping pills from now until the move.

On another note, it feels pretty good to know that the only stuff we are bringing with us to our new life is stuff we really use. Boxes are being sorted that have not been opened since Mike and I got married. We are not allowing “what if we need…” to come into play. Yesterday, when Mike was going through a box of stuff, he found a NAPKIN that had somehow gotten saved. There was no writing or anything on it, just a plain napkin. WTH? That dude is a ridiculous pack rat.

Some other news, Adam has been doing something SO cute lately. I started counting to three and then squeezing him and grunting (his FAVORITE noise to make). So now when I count to three, he will clench his fists and grunt. He looks like the Hulk right before he busts out of his shirt. Sometimes he anticipates three and does his grunt on two. It makes us laugh.

He has also stopped wanting most baby food. He will still eat fruit most of the time and some of the sweeter veggies like sweet potatoes and squash. But no green veggies or mixed dinners. I had to buy canned green beans, peas, and carrots and lots of ripe fruit yesterday just for him! My baby is rapidly leaving babyhood behind. He is constantly pulling to standing on EVERYTHING (has resulted in a few bruises) and has been wanting to be held SO much lately, making it very difficult to pack.

Leah has been a writing and coloring fool lately. She likes to write us notes while she is in quiet time and has me read them when I come get her. Here is one she wrote for a friend (all her spelling and all caps):

Colin and Mila We are goootoomisu
bcuz we are
goin to Floodue
We are eowl
goig to moove
into Floared

How freaking cute is that? I can read most of her notes too because she is a pretty good phonetic speller. Cannot WAIT til she starts school.

On the school topic, I am stressed about that. Pinellas County requires you to have a User ID and password to register your child and you get one by going to a school to get it in person. Obviously I won’t be there until like the day school starts. And I want her enrolled before that so we get all the proper paperwork adn notifications sent to us about the first day of school. Also because we are living with my mom at first, we need to get an Affidavit of Residency notarized stating that we are residing with her. I don’t think they wanna see a NC notary on there, but we can’t get a FL one to witness it until we get there! Hence same aforementioned problem. I am going to call them tomorrow and talk it out, because I know they have encountered this issue many times before. It’s just one more think for me to thing about at 3am.

I guess I should update about Erin now. Except for today (we were out and about from 12-4) she has napped for 1.5-2 hours 3 times! Now I feel guilty, because maybe I wasn’t trying hard enough to get her to nap for all these months (years?). The afternoons after her naps have been wonderful, with a sweet little girl who listens and plays SO nicely with her friends. I love it.

Speaking of playing with friends, I am trying to figure out a way to get these girls into a camp next week (Aug 9-13) so I can pack!! I feel awful about sticking them in front of the TV all day and then they don’t get enough energy out are bouncing off the walls by mid-afternoon. And there are a TON of options for Leah, including some REALLY great full day (8:45-4:45) ones at the Y. BUT Erin not being 3 til the END of that week is really hurting our chances. There aren’t really that many options for 3 yr olds anyway and NONE for 2 yr olds. I plan to call a few places tomorrow to try to sweet talk them into taking her but I don’t know. if none of that works, I am going to call our babysitter and ask her to maybe come a few days for 4 or so hours and just keep the kids occupied. We shall see how it goes.