Storybook Land 2009

The pre-nursery and nursery school classes at Will's school take a trip to Storybook Land every spring.  Will had a great time last year (first photo) and he's been looking forward to this trip (second photo, same kids) for the last twelve months.  

This year, some of his favorite moments included riding on the big yellow bus, running through the Alice in Wonderland Tunnel, peering into all of the Storybook houses and riding the train.  From the enormous selection of souvenirs in the gift shop, he selected a squishy octopus (which has absolutely nothing to do with the trip).  And some of my favorite moments included watching Will participate in all of the above activities. 

Will conquered some fears, mainly due to peer pressure, and he rode the Tilt-a-Whirl and Roller Coaster.  As the ride operator buckled us in, he listened intently as I assured him.  He clenched my arm and buried his head in the side of my chest.  As each ride came to a stop he smiled and he danced off the ride yelling, "I was brave... I was brave... I was braaaaave..."  This was a favorite moment.

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As we were riding the balloons with Ryan, we had some interesting conversation...

Me:  Whoa.  What planet do you want to go to, guys?

Will:  Earth!

Ryan:  Atlantic City!

Me:  This ride makes my belly feel funny!

Will:  This ride makes my penis feel funny!

Ryan:  Me too!

Another favorite moment.

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But above all, I enjoyed the bus ride home.  It was sunny and quiet, as most of the kids were exhausted and parents were chatting quietly.  The bus windows were partially opened, letting in a warm breeze.  In a nostalgic, sort of comforting way, the bus bumped, rocked and swayed along the parkway.  Will played with his stretchy octopus and we talked about the day.  He leaned against me and I watched as he slowly drifted off to sleep, eventually falling into my lap.  I brushed his hair with my fingers and memorized the feel of his hand in mine.  All the while, I was thinking about how much he had changed in the last twelve months and how quickly he's growing up.  A little bittersweet, but above all, my most favorite moment.

(You wouldn't believe how difficult it was to get this photo.)

Solo Skater

Last week, Will had his first solo skating lesson-- no more "Parent & Me" classes!

Getting dressed in the lobby went as usual-- with Will jumping around and unable to sit still while Bill tried his best to get the equipment on without losing his mind.  (Thankfully, my job is to supervise Liam during this time.)

As we walked into the rink (about 2 minutes after the above pics were taken), Will began complaining that he was 'too tired' and that 'his belly hurt' (which is slightly hilarious considering the above photos).  Bill helped him onto the ice and about 5 seconds later he had his first wipe-out... taking down an innocent 6 year-old on the way.  As the instructors helped Will to his feet, I could see that anxiety was getting the better of him.

However, unlike the 'socially retarded ass wipe' we met earlier in the week, his skating instructor was kind, patient and encouraging.  Within 10 minutes time, he was skating faster and more skillfully than he had ever skated with Bill or me.  

There are only two students in the class.  

Fortunately, Will has always done well with older women.

At the end of the lesson, Bill and I were waiting to congratulate him on a great job.  Will, however, was more concerned with our usual Sunday morning post-skating ritual...

... french fries and hot chocolate.

Incidentally, the best french fries are almost always found in ice rinks and bowling alleys.  We're teaching this kid the important things in life, for sure.

When the Going Gets Tough...

Will has been taking swimming lessons since he was 9 months old.  I had wanted to take a Mommy & Me class when he was a baby and we continued each season afterwards.  Last session, he was a 'Blue Fish' and the class focused on practicing basic skills like kicking, paddling, going underwater, etc.  The kids dove for rings, kicked across half the pool and swam through hula hoops.  At the end of the last session, his instructor recommended that I move him up to the next level-- 'Sea Lion'.

Today was our first Sea Lion class.  We arrived at the pool and I accompanied Will to the steps to introduce him to his teacher.  Without smiling, she instructed him to get in the pool and told me that the parents were to stand behind the gate.  There were two other kids in his class-- both of them were about five years old-- and they seemed to tower over Will.  I watched as he swam (with flotation devices) the length of the pool, back and forth, over and over again.  She had them doing various exercises-- putting their heads in the water, swimming on their backs, paddling their arms, etc.  I was amazed at how well Will was doing, but I could tell he was struggling and half-way through, I could tell he was exhausted.  His teacher wasn't mean, but not exactly nice either.  She was down-to-business, working these kids like they were future olympians.  

During the second half of the class, she had the kids jumping into the water, surfacing and then swimming the width of the pool.  Will was following her instructions and keeping up okay, but he started looking more and more uncomfortable.  He swallowed water a few times, was coughing, and I thought he might give up and come over to me.  But ultimately, he made it through.

When the lesson was over, the teacher gave each student a high-five a sent them to find their parents.  Will came over and I greeted him with a big hug and a warm towel and I told him how proud I was of him.  He began bawling immediately.  I kept praising him and telling him how great he did.  Normally 'sailing though' swim class, he wasn't used to putting forth such an effort.  He also wasn't used to such a cranky-ass no-nonsense teacher.  All of his former teachers have been smiley, happy and encouraging and his previous lessons were more like playing and less like work.  

Driving home, I was reflecting on the lesson and my options.  I could leave Will in this class, return next week (after building him up and encouraging him for the next six days) and finish out the session OR I could transfer him into another class with a different instructor.  While I think he might have more fun in a different class, I honestly believe that his skills will improve so much more quickly in his current class.  I also think an experience like this could help 'toughen him up' a little.  But then again, we signed him up for swimming so that he could become competent in the water and have fun.  His competency would increase with any instructor, is it necessary to push him so hard?

I'm thinking it over.  What do you think?

My Bad

Yesterday evening, as I was weaving through the crowd at the ice arena, I was thinking of all the mistakes that I have made as a parent.  There was the time I brought Will to Great Adventure on a sunny, 95 degree day, while 8 months pregnant.  Then there was the time I fed Will an entire bottle of milk less than a half-hour after Mommy & Me swim class.  There was also the time I was halfway down our street when Will reminded me that I hadn't fastened his seat belt.   Also, the time when I was so frustrated with Will picking his nose that I told him that his brains were going to fall out.  (Each of those stories could have made for some interesting posts.)  However, as I was weaving through the crowd last night, one hand holding onto Will's and the other carrying a plastic bag full of his vomit, I was pretty much thinking that tonight was my biggest screw up to date. .

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A few hours earlier, I was rushing to make dinner.  Bill was upstairs, getting ready to coach his hockey game. Will and I had plans to take Liam to grandma's, so that we could go to the game, just the two of us.  This was the semi-final round for conference hockey and it was a pretty big deal.  In addition to making dinner, I had to get both kids ready, pack Liam's diaper bag, drop Liam off at grandma's and drive to the arena-- hopefully making it there early enough to get two seats.  Will was complaining, on-and-off, that his stomach was bothering him-- but he was still running around and playing as usual.  I had my back to him when he entered the kitchen, announced that he didn't feel so good and then threw up all over the floor and his sock-covered feet.  I drained the pasta, threw a roll of paper towels at the mess and then carried him upstairs to clean him up.  

It was decided that we weren't going to the game.  Then, as Bill and I were eating dinner, Will was running around and back to his old self-- telling us his belly felt better and that he wanted to go to the game.  And the truth of the matter is that I wanted to go to the game.  

So we went to the game.  We were there for 1 1/2 periods before Will got sick.  

I cleaned him up, carried him back to the car and we headed home.  I gave him a bath, put him in his pjs and introduced him to the 'puke bucket'.  We cuddled in my bed (photos above) until Will fell asleep-- but not before the bucket was put to good use a few more times.

Tonight, the good news is that Will is feeling 100% better and Bill won his game and is on to the finals.  Now, I'm just hoping that karma doesn't wack me with this stomach bug as a payback for dragging my poor, sick kid to the game.  

Playing... finally.

As we prepared to bring Liam home from the hospital, we weren't sure how a baby brother would affect Will.  Would he be jealous?  Would he regress?  Would he harm (intentionally or unintentionally) the baby?  We weren't sure.

As usual, all of that worrying was for nothing.  When we brought Liam home, only one thing changed.  After months of trying, Will was potty trained within two weeks.  (He didn't want to wear diapers like the baby.)  And that was it.

He didn't want to help bathe, change or feed Liam.  It would take tons of convincing for him to get close enough to pose with him in a picture.  He went on with things as usual, completely ignoring the new addition to our family.  No jealousy, no hostility, no interest-- whatsoever. 

Here it is, six months later, and the two have definitely warmed up to each other.  They compliment each other naturally-- Will gets to be the center of attention and Liam gets tons of entertainment.  As a matter of fact, Liam's fussiest time of day is when his big brother is napping.

The other day, after finishing breakfast, I went into the kitchen to clean up a little.  Liam and Will were still at the table.  I could overhear Will and I sensed that he was up to something.

"What are you doing to Liam?", I asked.

"Anything....", Will replied.

(He confuses the words 'anything' and 'nothing'.)

"We're just playing, mom."

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So... they're finally "playing"... well, sort of.

Valentine's Day 2009

We made these hearts a few weeks ago, when we were decorating for Valentine's Day.  We all made our own, except for Liam, of course.  I finally realized that 'Liam' is 'mail' spelled backwards.  Should I have noticed that before?  

We started off this morning with a 'treasure hunt' of sorts.  We had bought Will a few gifts and we hid them in the upstairs bathtub.  We hid 10 clues around the house and he followed them, one-by-one, in order to find the 'treasure'.  The first one read... "This is the first of many clues.  Go to where you keep your shoes."  He ran to the coat closet and found another... "You don't need to run very far, the next clue lies in Liam's car."  Will had a great time-- we followed him around the house as he ran from room to room.  I was worried that 10 clues might be too much,  but he could have easily handled twice as many.  

After the treasure hunt, we had breakfast-- chocolate chip pancakes with bananas and scrambled eggs-- and then headed to swimming lessons.  When we arrived home, a package was waiting on the doorstep.  Bill had ordered a Woody doll (from Toy Story) through Ebay.  Although we hadn't planned on using it as a Valentine's gift, we decided to let Will open it.  He was thrilled and the two were inseparable throughout the day.

He even accompanied us to our lunch at a local hibachi restaurant.  The restaurant has a 'wishing fountain', where people can toss coins.  On the way out, I handed Will some change.  Before he threw the coins, Bill reminded him to make a wish.

"I love mom", he said, as he threw the coins into the water.

And that was my favorite Valentine's gift this year.

Be Mine, Valentine.

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Today, Will and I put together Valentines for his classmates.  His party is Friday and that puts us... 1, 2, 3... THREE days ahead of schedule.  This is a new record.

Last year, I was four months pregnant and working full-time.  I had picked up some Valentines on the day before the party, on my way home from work.  Minimal time and energy left me sitting at the dining room table, late that evening, putting them together on my own.  I had wanted Valentine-making to be a special memory for Will and I promised myself that this year would be different.

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We started working as soon as Liam went down for his morning nap.

Will was excited to pick out a special Valentine for each classmate.

His BF, Russell, got the first one.

Will insisted on signing his name and decorating the package just so.

If you haven't figured it out, there's a volcano in the bottom corner and lava everywhere.

And blue hearts... "because Russell is a boy".

After Russell's was finished, Will decided he didn't want to make any more Valentines.

Especially when he learned that he would be writing his name 14 more times.

He streamlined the design process in order to speed things up a bit.

The finished 15, although we might add more stickers tomorrow.

Notice that Natasha has plenty of stickers.

When I asked Will why, he replied, "Because I love her."

Simple and sweet.

Next on the agenda, cookies for the class party... still deciding whether to bake or buy.

The Ice Sculpture

When I saw Will's latest art project, I knew it would be trouble.  As I arrived to pick him up for school, it was sitting in his cubby.  Broken pieces of styrofoam held together by toothpicks-- they were calling it an 'ice sculpture'.  One of my arms was struggling with the 25-pound baby carrier and the other was juggling Will's lunch box, my purse and the book he wanted to borrow from the school library.  Add one ice sculpture to the list as we struggled up the stairs and out into the 18 degree weather.

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After school we were headed to a local pro shop to get Will some hockey equipment.  Will got his first pair of skates and gloves.  (Helmets were out of stock-- just one more thing to add to the weekend to-do list.  Awesome.)

We finally arrived home and I couldn't wait to get inside.  I assessed the situation and made a plan.  I left the car running while I brought in the garbage cans, checked the mail, unlocked the door and carried in the hockey purchases.  I went back outside, opened Will's door, undid the straps of his carseat and instructed him to go inside. 

"Carrrry meeee....", he whined.

I explained that I could not carry him and told him again to go inside.

"Carrrry meeeeee....", he whined again with a greater sense of urgency.  He was slumped against the dirty, salt-covered mini-van with a runny nose and tired eyes-- definitely in need of a nap.

I was tired too-- too tired to repeat myself.  I went around to the other side of the van to unload Liam and the diaper bag, lunch box, purse, book and... ice sculpture.

Will was now crying.

I came around the van and was headed towards the door-- the carrier in my left arm and everything else piled in my right.  Then came a gust of freezing wind, which sent the ice sculpture rolling down the driveway.  So I put everything down, chased down several pieces of styrofoam, then picked everything up and headed towards the door.  It was quiet.  

Had Will stopped crying?

No.

Was he outside?

No.

Why is the door shut?

He didn't.

Why is the door locked?

He did!

It was so fricking cold.  The keys were stuffed inside the diaper bag and my hands were full.  I was trying to knock with my elbows... trying to stay calm... trying to see the humor in this... thinking, "oh, in a few hours you'll be laughing at this".  About twenty seconds went by.  Then I was kicking the door, biting my tongue and trying to stay calm.  About twenty more seconds went by.  No sign of Will.  I put Liam down and dropped everything else.  I was seething.  I jammed my hand into the diaper bag, fished out the keys, and unlocked the door.  Will was inside, safe and warm, sitting at his train table in his coat and hat-- grinning at me from ear to ear.  While outside, a small part of me thought that this might be a mistake on his part, that he locked the door by accident-- but that look of self-satisfaction on his face sent that 'small part' of me packing.

Needless to say he was undressed and in bed for nap in record time.

And then I went back outside for the ice sculpture.

The Defamation of Daddy

Mondays through Thursdays are generally pretty hectic around here.  This week, for example:

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Monday:  Bill works late and gets home at 5 pm.  I leave for tutoring at 5:05 pm.

Tuesday:  Bill works, then has hockey until 7:45 pm.  I leave for tutoring at 8:00 pm.

Wednesday:  Bill works, has a dept meeting and gets home at 4:45 pm.  I leave for tutoring at 5:30 pm.

Thursday:  Bill works, then has hockey practice until 6:15 pm.  I leave for tutoring at 6:30 pm.

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Bill teaches full-time and then coaches ice hockey.  I tutor Sundays - Thursdays and lately I've been booking about 8 - 10 appointments each week.  I usually get home around 10 pm during the week.   

On most afternoons, I try to make dinner and/or bathe the kids before I leave.  However, Bill juggles the bedtime routines on his own.  Both kids are usually sleeping when I get home and only Liam is awake when Bill leaves for work the next morning.

Last week, Liam had a particularly fussy night and I got home just as Bill was tucking Will in for the night.  I went upstairs to say goodnight and I had asked Will what he did that night.  He played Transformers and trains, wrestled with Daddy, watched "WowWowWubbzy", etc.  I asked him if Daddy helped him brush his teeth.  His eyes opened wide as he realized that he forgot and he answered, "Daddy didn't brush my teeth."

Trying to be funny, I used my "mom voice" and turned to Bill, who was standing in the doorway.  "Daddy... you didn't brush Will's teeth?  You didn't brush Will's teeth?!"  

Will thought that this was hilarious and quickly added, "...and now I'm going to get cavities, mom!"

So we brushed and I told Will that if mommy or daddy ever forgot, that it was his job to remind us.  

This week, Will has this new routine that we go through every morning.  When Will wakes up, he puts his arms around my neck and spills the imaginary beans on his dad.

"Mommy, Daddy didn't brush my teeth..."

"He didn't?"

"And he didn't give me dinner..."

"No?"

"And he didn't play with me or help me go potty..."

"Really?"

"And he didn't read to me or tuck me in..."

"What?"

It goes on and on like this until Will runs out of ideas.  Then I get him to confess that Daddy actually DID do all of these things and that he was "just kidding" (which is Will's excuse for a lot of the trouble he gets into lately).

Part of me thinks I should have this big discussion about telling the truth, but another part of me thinks it's so cute.  My poor, tired husband's take on the cuteness of this issue?  Not-so-much.  

Catching Up with Six Things

Last Monday, my resolutions kicked in.  I started Weight Watchers and greatly reduced my coffee intake.  I kept the television and computer off for most of the day and spent more time playing with the kids.  Instead of falling asleep on the couch in the evenings, I started going to bed at a decent hour.  And the result?  A more patient and well-rested mom with happier kids who is down a few pounds and suffering from a slight headache due to sugar withdrawal.  Also, a blog that hasn't been updated in about a week.

For a quick update, here are six things I would've written about over the last six days, if I would have had the time and energy.  

1: Playdate at Chrissy's house. Will and I both met some new friends at a fun playdate. Chrissy made the most incredible sandwiches (chicken salad with apples on raisin bread... who knew?). Considering it was his first time meeting a lot of new kids, Will played pretty well. Proud mommy-moments included watching Will share, be polite and be kind to babies. Not-so-proud mommy-moments included watching Will make guns out of Legos, jumping off the ottoman and trying to pull the Thomas tent as it was full of other little kids.

2: "Are you kidding me?" Apparently, I say this a lot. I think this is my 'frustration phrase', reserved for times when I'm feeling stressed or irritated. For example, as we're running late for nursery school, when both kids are bundled and loaded into their carseats on a 20 degree morning and Will announces that he has to 'go potty right now'. Or when I've just finished bathing and feeding Liam, and he's finally drifting off to sleep, I hear the distinct sound of a diaper being dirtied. Are you kidding me? Now, it seems Will has adopted this seemingly harmless phrase.

"Will... come sit down for breakfast."

"Mom, are you kidding me?"

"Will... no more television."

"Mom, are you kidding me?"

"Will... time for a nap."

"Mom, are you kidding me?"

This is now his retort for any request he doesn't find pleasurable. He uses this pointedly annoyed tone and usually accompanies the phrase with a loud, deep sigh. Do I do that? Yep. Uh oh... Note to self: Omit 'sucks' and 'crap' from daily vocabulary before it's too late!

3:  Liam's 5-month well visit.  Liam had a well visit last Monday.  He is 26 inches and he weighs 17 pounds 10 ounces.  He got 2 shots and 0 tears-- He was happy and cooperative throughout the entire visit.  I think he likes all the attention.

4:   Twister.  We got Will a few new games for Christmas.  His favorite, by far, is Twister.  When he plays with mom, it's just Twister.  When he plays with dad, it becomes a wrestling match.

5:  Melanee's First Birthday Party.  We went to the party as a family and had a great time.  Bill and I enjoyed great food and conversation.  Will and Brodee made guns out of legos, ran and chased each other, destroyed the ball pit and tortured a poor 16-month old.  Liam discovered shiny, mylar helium balloons.  Like I said, great time.  

6:  Will's First Skating Lesson.  Will and dad had their first 'Parent and Tot' skating lesson.  Will did great.  He's one of the youngest out there and he made lots of improvement in the first week.  I met Bill and the kids at the rink, because I was coming from a tutoring appointment.  Bill got both kids ready and dressed Will in a matching outfit.  The pictures are priceless. 

Playground Haiku

December Sunday.

Warm windy playground partners.

Watch me!  Catch me!  Fun.

One in a Million

Bill and I make a pretty good team.  We have different strengths and experiences, and as a result, we compliment each other.  We disagree, from time to time, on minor issues.  For example:  Is the Simpson's Halloween Special appropriate for a 3-year-old?  Does string cheese and chocolate milk make a nutritious breakfast?  Could the Bumbo double as a bath seat for a 4-month-old in the bathtub?  When trying to leave a toy store in the middle of the day, is it appropriate to try and convince your child that the store is 'closing'?  

Lately, we're trying to come up with creative ways to get Will to comply.  Bedtime has become one such issue.  Up until recently, we would announce 'bedtime' and Will would happily trot up the stairs for a bath, a book and bed.  Then all of a sudden, he began to whine and sulk and protest.  So Bill came up with an idea.  And I admit, there was a lot of eye-rolling and skepticism on my part.  This is what Bill told Will: "Lay down and try to go to sleep.  We'll come up in five minutes.  If you're not sleeping when we check on you, then you can come downstairs and play."  

Who would have thought that this actually works?  But it does.  Will has never called down from upstairs, asking for us to come check on him, and he doesn't complain nearly as much about going to bed.  And it's so simple.  He just falls asleep.  Here I was trying to explain to Will that he needed to get sleep in order to grow and get more energy.  Let me tell you, that just did not fly.  

Bill is a great dad.  He 'races' Will to see who can eat more broccoli first and he hums "Tom's Diner" to Liam when he's fussy.  He already knows how to transform all of the Transformers that Will got for Christmas (this is harder than it sounds) and he takes turns getting up early with the kids on days off.  He is one in a million.

Photographer in the Making

I bring my camera everywhere these days-- walks to school, grocery store, pediatrician, department store, playdate, bagel shop, family outings.  Where we go, it goes-- tossed in the diaper bag, crammed into my purse, stuffed into the front pocket of my ski jacket.  I consciously try not to be annoying or obsessive, but I am always taking pictures and I'm always trying to convince Will to "just hold still for one minute" and "please put your tongue in your mouth".  Lately, in order to get a few shots of Will, I must first make a bargain.  I get to take a few pictures, then Will gets to take a few pictures.  (Why is everything a negotiation these days?  I feel like I'm on some toddler version of 'Let's Make a Deal'.)  In any case, he's actually getting better at taking good photos.  Before long, I might be able to post some everyday shots of Liam and I courtesy of Will.  Here are some of Will's recent shots:

First Attempt

Best Shot (Ninth Attempt)

Self-Portrait