Category Archives: Scorch

Jan10

The Simple Things

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I’ve shared a time or two how I’m basically the Un-Martha Stewart.  So today when I went out and got matching bedding (including quilt, shams & a bedskirt) for the Hubs & I’s room- that was a Big Deal. We haven’t had matching bedding in about 3 years due to a certain 4 year old who shall remain nameless.

On normal days, I get out of work at 5, cook dinner, we eat at 6 and we start bedtimes around 7. But today the Hubs had to go back to work, so we ate at 5 which left the kids and I a long stretch of time to fill before bed.  The kids are still young enough that they can be tricked into thinking that doing chores is fun, so I suggested we make up my bed with the new bedding.

You would have thought I had shown them a magical toy that pooped out rainbows and unicorns- they were that excited!

We rolled around on the new bedding, wrestling and tickling and flying up on my feet for over an hour!  The kids did relay races from the kitchen to my bedroom as I made up the bed, we covered each other up with the new quilt, we bopped each other with pillows and they dived bombed me trying to knock me over. At one point, the Bean jumped on me and her mouth hit my head. I asked her if she was OK and she said she was fine and kept playing. It wasn’t until she stopped for a second that we saw the blood coming out of her mouth.  Trooper that she is, she’s says “I having too much fun to stop- keep going!”  And we most likely would have had not Scorch freaked out over the sight of blood and insisted that we clean his sister up before we started playing again. I don’t think he’s going to grow up to be a doctor.

Who knew new bedding could be so much fun? Here’s hoping a new set a dish towels tomorrow is just as amusing!

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Baby Lala had a quick head scan today and the brain bleeds are the same size as they were last week. That’s really good news and we’re hoping that the next scan shows them going away! 🙂

Jan6

Love Thursday: Favorites

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Scorch has started to play the copying game- you know, the one where he repeats back everything I say. When it starts to get annoying, I purposely say things to make him laugh – things that may or may not involve potty words not typically allowed in our house. Or I say things that I know he won’t want to repeat- like “Mommy thinks Bean is the best kiddo in the whole wide world.”

This morning when I was teasing him about how Beaner is the greatest and Scorch has stinky toes, he said to me “Mommy I know you’re just joking because I’m your favorite, right?”

I gave him the pat parental answer of how they were both my favorite and how I love them both the same and all was right in the world again. But it got me thinking- do I have a favorite kid? I think I do.

Scorch is my favorite kid because he’s typically the calm in the eye of Hurrican Bean. He’s my favorite because he corrects me when I pronounce a dinosaur’s name wrong. He’s my favorite when he’s fresh out of the bath and all squirmy and giggly when we’re putting on his eczema cream. He’s my favorite at night when we’re curled up in his bed reading a funny book. He’s my favorite when he goes up to other kids at the playground- kids he doesn’t know- to see if they want to play without a second thought. He’s my favorite when he comes up just asking for a random hug during the middle of the day. He’s my favorite because he’s my first born- the first baby I held and bathed and nursed and rocked to sleep. He’s my favorite because no matter how old he gets, I can still see that baby underneath.

But Beaner’s also my favorite. She’s my favorite because of her munchable cheeks that I frequently kiss. She’s my favorite for her sassy “I do it myself” personality. She’s my favorite because she insists she does not need your help until she tries things a few times herself and then comes right up and asks  to”help please!”  She’s my favorite because she always remembers her manners and always reminds Scorch of his.  She’s my favorite because she sleeps through the night.  She’s my favorite because she’s still laughing a day later about how the dog at playgroup tooted so loudly it scared her.  She’s my favorite because she’s my baby and she still fits so perfectly in my lap when we read a night.

Yup, clearly they are my favorite!

Jan5

Dragon Lady

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I consider myself a pretty even keel person. Generally happy and easy going, willing to roll with what ever life throws at me.  I try to keep my home a happy one even if that means reminding myself over and over that my kids are still little and to cut them some slack.  And most of the time, that works.

Except between 5 and 6 am.  During those hours, I’m less mommy and more Dragon Lady.

The Bean sleeps through the night unless she’s sick- 12 to 13 beautiful, restful hours of sleep.  Scorch? Not so much. He’s up at least once, sometimes twice, a night.  He needs a drink or to use the bathroom or just to tell me about a dream/nightmare he’s had.  Most of the time I do fine with this- help him to the bathroom, get him the drink and smile and nod.  Then he goes right back to bed and all is well with the world.

But if he gets up after 5 am for any of those reasons there is a damn good chance he won’t go back to bed. Instead he’ll lay in bed yelling for me every 10 minutes or so asking if it’s time to get up. Never mind that he can tell time, never mind that he knows very well he’s not allowed out of bed until at least 6 am.  And it makes me crazy.

So crazy, in fact, that I turn into a hissing, raging mess.

Go to bed!

Close your eyes right now!

If you yell for me one time, I will take away every one of your dinosaurs for a week!

You, sir, will be NAPPING today because you are up way too early!

You may watch TV, but if you come upstairs before Special Agent Oso is over I will NOT BE HAPPY.

Yes, I’m very proud of that last one. Threatening my kid to watch TV or else so I can get an extra 30 to 60 minutes of sleep.  See, that is why I turn into such a lunatic.  When it’s the middle of the night, I know I can go back to bed and get a good chuck of sleep. But at 5 am I know I’ll be lucky to get another full 60 minutes of sleep- 60 precious minutes that are interrupted too many times to count as sleep at all.

I keep reminding myself that the time will come soon enough when I have to drag Scorch out of bed at 11 am on the weekends, but that is cold comfort in the early morning dark. *yawn*

Jan4

Reentry

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We are now two days back into real life after 12 days off.  12 days where we could sleep in as late as we wanted, where we didn’t have to rush anywhere in the morning, where naps could happen at whatever time they needed to to suit the Bean.

They were a great 12 days.

Day 1 of real life went smoother then I hoped for. Scorch was excited to get back to school and the Bean wasn’t any more difficult then normal.  Last night was super low-key and things rolled along well. This morning was down right pleasant! Smiling kids, enough time in our schedule, clear roads- the Gods were smiling on us.

Then came tonight.

The earlier wake ups and the stricter schedule caught up with both kids and there were meltdowns galore. The best was Beaners absolute freakout out over what piece of bread she wanted with her pasta. No, not that one. Nope, not that one either. Sorry, try again. And so on until we got to the last piece in the loaf and that was the one she wanted. Until it wasn’t and she threw it on the ground.

Then there was Scorch’s uber meltdown because I wouldn’t let him watch an Ironman cartoon. I have never, ever let him watch an Ironman cartoon- why 1) does he think I would let him tonight and 2) is it such a stinking big deal when he’s never seen it before? Obviously he can’t love it nearly as much as he professes to given that he has absolutely no idea what Ironman is about. He just knows the kids in his class like it so it must be cool.

Needless to say, everyone went to bed early tonight. But Beaner didn’t go down without a fight. Instead of singing our typically songs before bed (You are my Sunshine & Twinkle, Twinkle) she insisted I sing a song called “Pee-pee Poopy.”  Where in the world did that come from?? I haven’t a clue, but she was royally pissed off that I wouldn’t oblige her and made sure I, and the whole neighborhood, knew it.

Thankfully everyone is asleep now and I have 10 hours and 50 minutes until the fun starts all over again.

Jan3

Happy 2011!

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Dear Kiddos-

Happy New Year! Yes, I realize it’s 3 days into the new year and I’m late.  As you get older, this will not surprise you at all.

2010 was a good year for us! Our extended family weathered some health scares, but everyone is still here in 2011. Our immediate family had 3 fun bouts with a stomach bug (I blame you, Scorch, and your germy classmates for that) but that was the worst of it.

There were a lot of first this year. Scorch going to school 5 days a week. Our amazing trip to the OBX. Renting a camper for our trip to Lake Ontario. Scorch’s first trip the ER. Bean’s first conversations. T-ball. Your first new baby cousin- Beaner isn’t the youngest any more!  Your first Yankee’s game and show at Madison Square Garden. Looking back on it, we had a lot of fun in 2010!

Moving forward, I have a lot of high hopes for 2011.  There will most likely be a lot of changes this year. One way or another, The Hubs is getting a new job.  One of the job possibilities- the one we’re praying for- will keep us here. The other will love us 350 miles away.  Either way, I’m ready to be out of this limbo.  A move would be really, really hard on all of us- but I have a feeling it would turn out just fine.

You’ll turn 5 this year, Scorch. Do you know what that means? The whole wide world of sports- everything you’ve wanted to play- is now open up to you.  Football, lacrosse, basketball, martial arts and golf.  You have interest in them all, so I have no idea how we’re going to narrow this down.  That’s a good problem to have!  In the fall, you’ll also start kindergarten. KINDERGARTEN!!!! You may be ready for that, but I promise you I won’t be.  I look at you now and I see a boy- not a baby, not even a toddler. A tall, skinny boy with more imagination in one pinkie then I have in my whole body.

Beaner- you’ll turn 3 this year!  You’ll also start school full time in the fall- a wonderful Pre-K program that we eased Scorch into bit by bit.  But you, sweetpea, you don’t need to be eased into anything. You’ll be jumping in with both feet come September and I have a feeling you’ll love every stinking minute of it.  You’re also going to start gymnastics as we try to figure out what you like to do. Right now it’s simply whatever Scorch does sports-wise, but I have a feeling that will change!

As for me, well- come September I’ll have an empty house for the first time since Scorch was born. Your father and I may have to start having serious discussions on getting you guys a sibling just to make me feel better.

There will be lots of changes this year- some little, some seismic. But all of them- all of them– will be made in the hopes of making your life better.  We love you two so much and would give you the moon if we could. For now though you’ll have to settle for a more stable job for your Dad, maybe a new house and the one thing that will never change no matter what the date- love, and lots of it.

Happy new years, kiddos! Can’t wait to see what’s coming!

Love,

Mommy

Dec15

One of Those Nights

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We try to take the kids out for dinner a few times a month. It’s a nice change of pace, it gives everyone a break from my cooking and it gives us a chance to teach our monsters how to behave in public. Most of the time, dinner out is a great way to spend the evening together without being distracting by the phone, the dishes or the dog.

And then you have nights like tonight.

The kids and I arrived to Friendly’s first- the Hubs was meeting us after working out.  Scorch had had a meltdown in the car on the way over, but had pulled it together before we got inside.  The kids were doing fine- coloring, drinking their milk and generally behaving themselves.  And then the Hubs showed up.

No idea why, but this caused both kids to just lose it.  Both wanted to sit with me.  Scorch, who ended up sitting next to the Hubs for the meal, sobbed the entire time pleading to come sit on my side.  I felt terrible for the Hubs who just wanted a nice dinner with us and I felt badly for Scorch because this is just not how he normally acts so something was out of wack.  In all the craziness, the Bean managed to knock over my soda onto my lap, so I spent 75% of the meal in wet, sticky pants with my shoes stuck to the floor.

Our poor server had no idea what to do and brought us our to-go cartons about 2 minutes into our meal in the hopes, I would imagine, that we’d get the hell out of there before people started complaining.  We took the hint, packed our food up and left before it got worse.

On the way home, I had a long talk with Scorch about how he hurt the The Hubs feeling by not wanting to sit next to him. This prompted round #2348 of sobbing with Scorch saying we didn’t love him anymore.  The best part though was the Bean. During all the sobbing, Beaner was laughing her head off screaming “I love you, Mommy!! and you love me!!”  Scorch was not amused, although I was.

Thank God for bedtime. And the to-go ice cream we got from Friendlys.

Dec14

The Morning Routine

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Every weekday morning is the same scramble to get out of the house on time for school.

“Scorch- eat faster!”

“Dude- white t-shirt goes under your long sleeved shirt.”

“Bean, sit still and let me try to get a comb through your crazy hair.”

The kids do more or less what’s asked of them while running around like wild monkeys. Each morning breakfast is eaten, kids are dressed, hair is combed, teeth are brushed, shoes are slipped on and we, miraculously, make it to school more or less on time.

But now, it’s snowing most days and this seems to add at least 10 minutes on to our morning routine. Boots need to be put on and sneakers packed.  Then there is the daily fight with Beaner on whether or not she needs to wear a hat. Most days, quite frankly, I throw my hands up and let her freeze.  Thank goodness she has figured out how to put her jacket on herself because before she did, that was a 5 minute battle with one of us trying to jam her coat on her all the while she’s shrieking “Me do it myself! No help!!”

And then we go outside. Scorch wants to shovel on the way to the car- which means he’s taking the snow from the yard and tossing it on the driveway. Not helpful.  Beaner wants to walk- but not the car. She wants to walk into the snow- which is all fun and games until she hits a hill in our yard with drifts bigger than her.

Finally both kids are corralled into the car.  I immediately take Beans boots off once she’s buckled in because if I don’t, she’ll eat the snow off the bottom of her boots.  Charming, no?

Once we get to school, it’s boots back on her, hustling into school and then taking boots off and putting sneakers back on Scorch. If I’m lucky, Bean will sit quietly while I do this. If I’m not so lucky, I have mornings like today where she takes her boots and socks off and dances in the hallway barefoot while signing “1-2-3 Jesus Loves me!” as loudly as she can. Thankfully she’s 2 and adorable as all get out even when she’s being a total PITA, so most people think it’s funny.

Except for me. I’m so tired by this point I just want to go back to bed even though I’ve been up only 1 hour and 15 mins so far! Thank goodness we only have 3+ more months of this weather!

 

Dec13

Buddy, The Elf

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Last year, my mother-in-law got us our very own Elf on the Shelf.

And last year, Buddy, our elf, scared the ever loving life out of Scorch.  All it took was moving Buddy one time and Scorch was over it. This elf was freaky and Scorch was scared witless over the fact he “moved” when we were all sleeping.  After two nights in a row of Scorch having nightmares about elves sneaking into his room, Buddy went back to the North Pole for the year.

This year, we brought Buddy out with some trepidation and re-introduced him to the kids.  They love that elf**, but he’s making my life a living hell.

According to the story book that came with Buddy, the Elf moves around each night to a new spot in order to observe the kids from a new place each day.  The problem is I keep forgetting to move him.  There is nothing worse then Scorch waking up and wondering first thing why Buddy didn’t move yet.

I’ve fudged my way through this twice by explaining that since we don’t leave any lights on in our house at night, Buddy couldn’t see where he was going so he opted to wait until we all went to school/work.  Scorch seems to be buying it.  As for me, I’m just lucky Scorch can’t read the big “MOVE THE ELF!!!!!” sign I posted up on the mirror in my room.

**Oddly enough, the Bean loves the elf, but is still convinced Santa’s coming to our house next week for the express purpose of blowing on her belly button. She sobbed about just that while we were in line to see Santa this weekend and didn’t want anything to do with him.

Dec10

Love.

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Love is a funny thing.

The minute I laid eyes on Scorch after he was born, I was in love.  It was like nothing I had ever felt before. I stared at his fat cheeks and his single dimple and his widows peak and that was that. Love in its purest form.

When the Bean was born it wasn’t quite like that.  Labor and, subsequently, delivery came on hard and fast- there was no time for pain meds.  It was the middle of the night, The Hubs was in shock over how quickly things progressed and the variety of swear words I was hurling at everyone. My nurses and doctors were less then helpful. Once Bean was born, she cried for 3 hours straight and nothing- nothing– we did calmed her down.  I remember looking down at her red, angry face wondering what the hell we just got ourselves into. It wasn’t until later that morning- around 5 am- when it was just her and I and she was nursing that the love for her hit me.

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Red sent out new pictures of LaLa last night.  I don’t know this child- I never had the chance to feel her kick in Red’s stomach. I’ve never touched her soft skin or nuzzled her tiny head.  But there it was again. That love.  It’s a different love then I have for my own kids, but still strong. That instant bond of family- the bond that says you belong to us. You’re so wanted. We will fight for you.  I cannot wait to start nibbling on those cheeks of hers when she’s older!

Nov26

Needing Undivided Attention

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The Hubs had to work today, so I was scrambling this morning to figure out what to do with the kids. Typically we hit the local bounce house to work off some energy, but the bounce house is located within the mall and I wasn’t going near there with the kiddos in tow on Black Friday.  Most of the friends and family we usually pester when we’re bored were either traveling or shopping so the day was shaping up to be a long one.

I suggested we go to the local kid’s science museum to Scorch. He quickly countered with our local Earth Museum filled with fossils and all things dinosaur related. I thought about it and while going to a museum like that with a 4 and a 2 year old is a little ambitious since I was flying solo, I was desperate so off we went.

We got there within 5 minutes of it opening and there were only about a half a dozen other families there, all with small children. I breathed a quick sigh of relief and we got on our way. Scorch was, as always, enthralled. When an honest-to-God Paleontologist came up to us and offered to show us what he was working on in the museum’s lab, I thought Scorch’s little head was going to pop off from the excitement. When the good Doctor let Scorch hold a real Triceratops leg bone, it did. He hasn’t stopped talking about it yet!

The Bean, on the other hand, was really great for about the first 30 minutes.  There are some interactive parts of the museum, but it’s more of a look-and-see type of place, which isn’t exactly thrilling to a 2 year old. She was holding her own and acting respectable enough so I turned my back on her for 2 seconds to see something Scorch was trying to show me.

Huge mistake. You’d think I was a rookie at this parenting thing.

When I turned back around, Bean had crawled up into an exhibit that had two model dinosaurs side by side and was holding on to each of them swinging from their necks. “Hey Mama- yook at me!”  are words you never want to hear your toddler yell in a museum. Thank God she didn’t break anything and even bigger thanks that no one saw us.

Next time, I’ll take my changes on the Black Friday crowds.