It's a challenge

A fellow mama friend, Jamie, posted this challenge on her own blog for me (and several others). Are we like super geeks or super cool because we blog? Who knows! But anyhow, this blog is almost always about you until some segue like this happens. Sometimes I feel guilty for digressing to non YOU topics. Isn't that nuts? I'm telling you, until you are a mother you never know what it feels like to really never put yourself first anymore. I mean it, NEVER! Not even in a silly little blog (speaking of which, oh lordy do you say the word Silly so cute! You sign it at the same time and it in itself is the picture of silliness!).

See, what did I say, I can't even focus on myself even when it's the task at hand!

Anyhow, here is my challenge....

1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog (done and done)

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs (am I supposed to know 7 bloggers personally? That's just plain nuts! Jamie already tagged my only blogging friends and I know they won't do this again so I shamefully can't complete this rule. I need more nerdy friends like me!
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog (I will not be tagging anyone, so need not complete this rule either. You should know this is very hard for me, because I am a rule person. Yes indeed.).

Well, since this blog is for you my dear and when you are 14 reading through this I want to make sure these are things about me that I actually want you to know (tattoo? what tattoo? Heehee...speaking of which you saw mine the other day and said "Boo boo" and kissed it better. Awwwww) so I need to formulate my 7 random facts strategically.

1. I wear my watch on my right hand even though I am a righty. I am not sure when I started doing that, but I think it was some time in high school when I was trying to be different. I started wearing two watches, one on each hand (I was so cool, eh?). Eventually I took one off cause it was so silly and I guess I took the wrong one off and now it's the one I use.

2. I slept with a stuffed animal until the day you were born, and now he is sitting in your toy box. I knew I had to break the habit one day! Pathetic, eh (I am referring to friends with this question, not to you, who should never refer to your mum as pathetic!). His name is Strother, he is a dog, and I hope you still have him when you are old enough to read this.

3. I've been a vegetarian now for 20 years. Started at 14. Strange, because I am only 29 now ;-) Somehow the math works in my head. Haha.

4. I've won several 45's (that would be pr-MP3, pre-CD, pre-cassette tape, and even, sadly, pre 8-track, ask me about this when you are listening to music through your ears connected to some implanted micro chip) for my hula hooping skills. When living in Israel my sister and I entered lots of hula hoop contests and won several. I don't know why, but it was a big deal. We hula hooped every single day if I remember right. I used to be able to do it for literally hours. Hence all the prizes. I think some of those records are still in Nana's basement.

5. I set my alarm clock to odd numbers only. Well, except for 5s. Like I would never do 4:45 or 4:15. But I would do 4:47 in a heartbeat.

6. I have no fear of things that are out of my control. And I seek those moments. I am the first to bungee jump, paraglide, or whatever, I have no fear of that. But the little stuff, that's what gets me. It makes me nervous and agitated and makes me feel like I would rather jump out of a plane. Strange, I know. I am completely calm under big pressure (including your birth) but can barely deal with hiccups in travel plans or other minuscule things.

7. I used to speak four languages. It's dwindling every year and soon enough it will sadly only be English. Well, the spell-checked version! I used to be fairly fluent in English, French, Hebrew and Yiddish. I even had a few words of Swahili under my belt. Don't use much of any of it anymore and I suspect you won't know any of those other languages either. Kind of sad. We'll have to work on that, and also learn a few new ones together.

Well, there you have it, 7 random facts about me (or Moi in French, Ani in Hebrew, and I want to say Ich in Yiddish but that's actually 'I am'. See, I told you it's dwindling).

Tomorrow perhaps I will post seven random facts about you. After all, it's all about you.......

It must be a felony somewhere....

To put rocks in a mailbox! There are so many USPS laws, aren't there?!! Wait, maybe writing about putting rocks in a mailbox is illegal?? But that's been your number one all time favorite thing to do these days. The weather's been cool so we stroll around the hood and you always insist we walk to the mailbox, where you proceed to open and close the parcel box about a hundred times. You announce "open....close!" over and over in the funniest, cheekiest little voice! So funny! Then you collect little rocks (the small ones you call 'baby rock') and put them in, take them out, then put them in again. This could last anywhere from 15 minute to 45! Pretty hilarious. You get such a kick out of it, I love it.

Our neighbors Dave and Rob came to see your busy bee ways and found it so cute. You showed off a ton for them and started jumping off the curb into my arms repeatedly. I must admit I was worried about a broken skull but we all survived the acrobatics! It's a shame the weather is turning hot again...we won't be able to visit the mailbox when it's 100 degrees out :( We'll have to actually try and be entertained by all the ridiculously expensive toys we buy for you instead. What a novel concept!!

Who do you think is having more fun?

We got you an easel for your birthday (yes, we simply couldn't wait to give it to you, so you got it way early!). I kind of thought it would help keep you entertained lots during the mornings or evenings, but it seems Daddy finds it more entertaining than you do! You've used it a few times but you always seem way more into the easel at Belinda's house than your own. Oh well, I guess that's always the case, eh?

Anyhow, your birthday party this year is art themed, so it will come in perfectly. I would love for you to get the art bug one day but I promise I won't push it. And Dad promises not to push golf on you! We are thrilled with whatever you choose to do, promise! Unless of course you decide to do something silly, like not like art or golf. Just kidding! Anything you do will be supported. I know how huge it was in my life to have my parents support to become an artist, and for Daddy to become a professional golfer. So the world is your oyster babe (hmm, maybe don't become an oyster farmer ;-) and feel free to do anything you want with our support.

What's a girl to do on a windy day?

Except take over the aisles of Walmart with a great big piling game! Sometimes it surprises me how much I've become 'That' person. The one I said I would never become! You know the one; the one who I used to look at in stores and their kids are going crazy everywhere (you yesterday), or at the library and their kids are throwing a tantrum (you two days ago), and think "now why are they letting their kids do that?" It turns out there's always a good reason! Taking things off store shelves is FUN! And we always clean up! And throwing tantrums? Well, the only way to stop one is to let it happen, and ignore it!

Anyhow, all that aside we had a fun time at Walmart yesterday. Dad and I hunkered down while you spent about 20 minutes taking paint trays off the shelves and making a row of piles, and then pretending to paint with rollers. We actually got a great kick out of it and had a lot of fun! The guy who worked the hardware department didn't mind us at all...though you did mind him! Each time he tried to smile at you or talk to you you freaked out and came running to my arms crying! You still have some stranger anxiety I think.

Anyhow, it was pretty fun and a good thing to know that you enjoy doing. When the temps hit 120 we may be hitting that aisle yet again :)

Did I mention your penchant for shoes and handbags?

Along with the Bala-Bala dress comes your desire to look through my heels and evening bags! Where does this come from!!? It's so nuts to me. Sometimes you shock me with the stuff you know. Here's a few amazing examples from this week.

We have a book about animals and their homes. You've never taken to it much so we've only looked at it a few times. Yesterday you pulled it out and looked at the picture of a beehive (without bees in it) and I asked you who lived there and you said "bees!" We turned the page to a bird and I asked you where it lives and you said "nest!" Hello? How do you know this!!?


Then today we were at the library and we were just wandering along the aisles. You pulled out 6 The Wiggles DVDs and yelled "wiiwii!!" while wiggling from side to side! We don't have a Wiggles video nor do we watch the show! You do have a CD of them and somehow managed to recognize all the characters on the DVD covers. Just plain strange!


Oh, and the other day you were playing with my calculator. I asked you if you knew what it was called. Yup, you said "Calacata" Huh? I mean, you are just finally figuring out how to link two words like 'more' and 'please' together to form a question, but you know calculator?!! Amazing!


Oh, and best of all, you have this great little sense of humour! We had gotten back from Mia's birthday party and we were chatting and I kept saying "mummy loves Finley!" and I asked you "Finley loves...who?" and you looked at me and said "Mia!" and I said "what!?" and you looked at me again with a big grin and said "Nooooooo.............mummy!!!" haha, it was the best freaking joke ever!! I loved it! Like you were totally trying to trick me. Hilarious babe. It's the little things, I tell ya!

Bala-Bala

Which in Finley speak is "Ballerina" (as well as 'blanket,' but it was ballerina in this context).

You found this dress in the closet the other day. You got it for your first birthday and have never worn it! It's beautiful, but not really your (my??) style and how often do our playdates require this type of dress!?

Anyhow, you found it, and it's all you wanted to wear. You wore it two days in a row! Luckily we had a birthday party to go to so you wore it to that. Much more fitting than the night before when you wore it while playing in your playroom, not wearing a diaper with it, and snacking on peaches and bunnies while watching elmo!!

But you repeatedly checked yourself out in the mirror and beamed. I need to get you some more Bala-Bala dresses it seems!! Why not...you only get to be a little princess once!

All Wrapped Up

Where do the days go? How could it be 6 days since I've last blogged about you? You do so many wonderful things every day, and time slips by me and I don't get a chance to document it! What a shame.

This week was a lot of fun. A big part of that was having Sam and Mark visit us from Jackson Hole. You also spent a lot of time with Daddy this week on his days off, while I went running errands and doing my own thing. I think that was really important, because you've been so clingy with me and refusing to go to anyone but me, including Daddy :(, so after you guys spent a lot of time together you seemed to be more content than before when I wasn't around or available.


I'm sure there will be a day when I'll be begging you to want me more, and come to me to talk, and one day I will want to hear "Mummy, up!" and yearn for the day when that was all you said. I better soak it in now rather than think of it as a habit I need to break...


Anyhow, the best thing about spending time with Daddy is you two do some silly things together, including this photo, which shows how he wrapped you all up like a present! Dad's are so cool!!

Happy Mother's Day

Today is my second official Mother's day. They get better each year :) We had brunch with Daddy, Bubbe and Zaydie and you were really awesome. I'm really proud to be your mother, you are such a terrific little kid. You make me smile so much, and I could just squeeze you to little bits sometimes I am so overcome with love. All the grandma's and grandpa's at the club wanted to take you home with them. It was pretty funny. But you weren't really in the mood to make new friends and kept to yourself and were pretty shy and not so generous with smiles for strangers today. That's ok, one day I'll be encouraging that behaviour!!

These past few weeks your vocabulary is really expanding and you are just starting to string a few words together including "more please" and "mummy up." The latter being your favorite. I think we're going through Stage 2 Separation Anxiety. Ah well, especially on mother's day it feels great to be loved and wanted.

You just went down for nap, which is typically from 1:30-4:30 each afternoon so I think this mama will treat herself to a little rest as well today rather than wasting time on the computer and putzing around the house. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to be your mother. It's a role I cherish and am proud to be forever.

First Haircut

If you can actually call it that! More of a very teensy weensy minor trim. But it's perfect! Your hair is so pretty, but it's in your eyes all day long, or more like in your mouth! When you wake up in the morning your hair hangs flat right to your lips and though you occasionally let me pull it back, it can be a bit trying. I decided that you need a haircut!

Amazingly enough, today on Elmo it was all about hair and haircuts! How perfect was the timing, since we had an appointment for tonight! Serendipitous I tell you! So all day I talked about haircuts and Elmo to prepare you. When Shylee, our favorite hairdresser came over, I told her I had no idea what we should do, but I knew what I didn't want: Suri Cruise's haircut. (hmm, when you are older and you read this I bet Suri Cruise's name will mean nothing to you at all. She is a 'celebrity baby,' which seems to be all the rage right now, to Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Famous movie stars. Consider this your 2008 Entertainment/History lesson of the day! Suri is hugely popular for some reason these days.)

Anyhow, I didn't want bangs, nor did I want to take off any of your length, so Shylee snipped the smallest bit off the frame of your loooong bangs and though it looked like she had done nothing at all, it was EXACTLY right! Long enough to keep in clips but short enough that it just reaches past your eyebrow in the center.

So although it doesn't look any different at all, it was a milestone and now it's documented.

Ladies who Lunch

Dad took this picture nearly two weeks ago, when we went swimming over at Bubby and Zaydie's club when your Aunt Talia and cousin Adi were in town. We had a fairly fun time in the pool (though this was before swim classes began, so there was less stress!) but we had even more fun lounging around and eating lunch! You looked like such a big girl, hanging out in the chair, and from this picture what seems to be just 'shootin' the breeze' with your Mummy.

Speaking of 'shootin the breeze', you've been developing a lot more words and though you aren't really stringing words together to make sentences, I was able to get you to actually combine 'more' and 'please' which was nice. It seems to put your brain in overload when you try to mix two words, and suddenly two monosyllabic words end up having like 5 syllables each! You seem to get jumbled up and almost like you are trying too hard! Perhaps you get that from your mama! Stressing yourself out to the point where you screw things up! Oops, did I just confess one of my weaknesses? Don't use it against me! ;-)

Snuggle Bug

The other day we went to the library for story time. You are really starting to genuinely enjoy it by the way. You are finally able to sit on your own chair throughout story time, and you even get the nerve to stand up and get your own shaker sometimes! I always say...baby steps!

Anyhow, we sat in the park afterwards for some snacks and you kept walking around from tree to tree having a fun little afternoon with some friends. But all of a sudden, I'm not sure what came into you, but you were suddenly snuggle-liscious! You kept running up behind me and hugging me, or putting your head on my shoulder and kissing me, it was seriously wonderful!

You tend to generally not be overly snuggly and huggy (I guess I am not either in general, so perhaps you get that from me). But, I always want to snuggle with you but you usually tell me to go away when I do, so I don't push it :) But on this day you were just a lovey-dovey delight. I caught this picture just as you came in for a snuggle. It's one of my favorite pictures now.

It's May!

Where have I been all of April! We've been keeping super busy. Who knew being a stay at home mother would keep me so busy? I sure didn't. I remember there was a time when I was begging to find things to fill our days, and now we seem to have something going on all the time. We've just added a new activity to our week, swim classes. First one was today...

This swim class is a bit different. It's just you and the instructor, Dylan, in the water, and me hiding in the bushes! Basically I hid the entire class so that you wouldn't see me and want to be with me. Not that it stopped any of your tears or yells for Mama, or Dada, or at one point you kept screaming "EAT!" and "Bye bye" I am not sure she's ever heard a kid yell "Eat" in the middle of swim class! It was so funny (and heart breaking at the same time). You were ready to do anything to get out of that pool! You were dunked at least 20 times and I kid you not, by the end of class you 'swam' like 2 feet on your own. It was incredible! See photos, and note that the photo of the two of us was BEFORE class. After class you looked a little more like you had been through a car wash without a car. :(

You did swallow and gag a bunch of water, and you did cry for most of the thirty minutes, but for some reason, you LOVED it. Tonight at dinner you asked to swim with Dylan more. Yup, I was shocked. You actually liked it! I am so happy, since we are doing this twice a week! I suspect you will cry a ton each class, and be exhausted afterwards. It was a huge workout. But I feel you are getting a vital skill, and most importantly a comfort of being in the water. This summer we are going to have a ton of fun in the pool!

Well, anyhow, again honey, I am sorry I have been slacking so much on your blog. I want so much to keep this up to date so that we can look back at all these memories one day. I'm going to try harder. I love you.