Here I Am!

I've been a bad blogger this week!!

What you've missed is Cecelia's preschool program (picture above) and a fairly low key weekend. We did some more housework (yippee) and took pictures for our Christmas cards. I will post some of the unchosen pictures when I get them (they said up to 10 business days). We managed to get at least one good family picture and one pretty good kid picture - which is really all that I'd hoped for.
Let me tell you one thing about dressing 3 young ladies for Christmas pictures. It is a nightmare!!
Cecelia is crying over her tights (yes, she is still doing that). Then she is crying over her hair. I'm sorry, but sometimes I really don't care if you "don't like the way it feels" you are wearing pig tails. Period. I managed to get Delaney's hair all tied up in a cute ponytail on the top of her head. A little hairspray and we're off......only to get there and have both girls with crazy hair because Laney pulled hers out completely and Cecelia tugged at hers so much it turned in to a rat's nest. Ug!!
Laila cooperated, of course, until it was picture time. Then, she decided she was tired and hungry.
Like I told the photographer - get one of all of us looking at the camera and we're good. She did. Thank God.

I don't know about you, but I'm really looking forward to the long weekend.

Things we'll be dealing with over the holiday in regards to our children:

Delaney: Realizing she's 2, telling us she's "ang'y" (angry, no "r"), not eating...anything, tantruming....loudly, and then occasionally cracking us up.

Cecelia: Sitting on her throne with a constant stream of requests (this is getting REAL old), asking for a snack, then gum, then to watch her show, then another snack, then a movie, then something to drink, then for more gum....it.never.ends.

Laila: Rolling over - both ways!! Smiling, cooing, crying, pooping, eating, playing, looking adorable. Man they're awesome before they learn how to talk.

That's about it.
Have a good week!

Belly Laugh

Our baby girl had her first belly laugh last night!!

I have to get this on video!

Cecelia was singing "Whoop there it is!" and I was bouncing Laila to the beat. She was just giggling away!
I love it!

Our Weekend

I promise to post some pictures this week - we've had enough of my boring pictureless posts!

We did have a really nice weekend. Friday night we had Amy and Brad over for pizza night. They hadn't seen Miss Laila B since she was born. And, of course, the older girls were beside themselves with excitement over having company. I think Cecelia drew Amy about 50 pictures while they were here.

Saturday opened up for us so we took advantage of the morning to clean the house and rake up the 100,000,000 leaves in the front yard. Once again, I love the feeling of a job accomplished.
Saturday night we had plans as well, which was nice because it got the kids out of the house to burn some energy.

We did some grocery shopping (NEVER will I go again with the entire family) and rented some movies.
All in all a nice, peaceful and enjoyable weekend.

One thing I did notice, though, over the last week or so is parents who seem to be afraid of their children. Parents who are afraid of their children being "mad at them."
I am, by no means, any judge of perfect parenting but it really drives me nuts when I see parents begging their children to do things - like putting their coats on to leave, for example. I am so cut and dry maybe I could take some tips from these parents. You know, the ones who say "okay, let's put our coat on" (10 times in a row) then "if you put your coat on you get a sucker" (10 times in a row) then "honey, pleeeease put your coat on for mommy".

Hear me on this: You are a parent. You are in charge. Their little brains are not developed enough to think for themselves entirely. And trust me on this: Kids like stucture and routine. No, they do not like mean mommies, but they appreciate firm ones.
Try this next time: When it's time to go give your child the instruction: "Put your coat on, please." If that doesn't work, do the old "If you don't put your coat on I will do it for you." Then follows (immediately) the putting on of the coat.
You should also know that nobody is going to fault you if your child has a tantrum over the ordeal. We are proud of you for sticking to your guns, getting your kids' coat on, and heading out the door.

I truly believe that the more we instill in our children at a young age, the more we'll like them as adults. Once they turn 18, people, your job is done and you have to deal with your own creation.

** Update to original post: Just to reassure you that I am fully aware that my family is a work in progress: As I was vacuuming at 7:20 this morning Cecelia marched down the stairs and said "Why didn't you give me my breakfast before coming down here to vacuum?!?" Yeah, work in progress is right....

T.G.I.F

"Happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you." – Nathaniel Hawthorne

It's the end of another week. We made it. All of us.
Take time to enjoy the weekend - and each other.

A.J.

Not a Bad Idea?

I'm not usually very hardcore (not that I'm a bleeding heart either, I guess) but I thought this was kind of a good idea.

Taken from an email:

THE JOB - URINE TEST

Like a lot of folks in this state, I have a job.I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck, I am required to pass a random urine test with which I have no problem.
What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test.
Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them?
Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their butt, doing drugs, while I work. . . .
Can you imagine how much money the state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check?
I guess we could title that program, 'Urine orYou're Out'.

Quick Preschool Update

Thank you to all of you that took the time to help a Mom out with your comments and suggestions - they validated my feelings.

I did speak with the director who then spoke with the teacher who then spoke with me!
Basically, the teacher said that they do not have group time-outs very often but she does have them lay on their backs for a minute before transitioning from the climber room in to the regular classroom. This is the same thing she does for time-outs so the kids are easily confused. She said that this classroom is particularly wild because of 13 very physical boys (who apparently are out of control). Also, she said that she threatens group time-outs more than she actually uses them.

When I spoke with the director afterwords I told her that I am still uncomfortable with the group time-outs for this age group. She said she did go over some different strategies with the teacher so I'm hoping that the group "punishment" stays at a minimum if at all.

Lastly, before hanging up with the director she told me a "story" about her own daughter's experience in kindergarten and how she was told by that teacher not to be an overreacting parent. Hmm....wonder if there was an underlying message there for me!

Thanks everyone!

Bittersweet

I pulled Laila's bassinet out of my bedroom today.
Every transition is so bittersweet with children. On the one hand you are so sad to move on, but on the other hand there is something fun and exciting and new to look forward to.
I can't believe my baby is sleeping (quite well thankyouverymuch) in her own room in her own crib. I will hear her wake up during the night and coo at her mobile before she cries to be fed. In the morning I will peek in and see her rolling around, sticking her feet in the air, taking in her bedroom.
My heart is full.

It got me to thinking about those very first moments when your child is born. I will never forget the birth of my girls and how exciting and scary and special they all were.

I wonder, what is your favorite memory of those first moments with your child(ren)?

I would love to hear.