I saw Mr. Holston today! Hooray!

I turned our house into a Jack O'Lantern. Poof!

I found a brown smear in Andrew's undies. Yuck! (Okay, now I'm just going with the interjections because it's fun.)

Liliana got adjusted by Dr. Wallace and now SHE IS SO HAPPY! Seriously, we got home and it was like he'd given her laughing gas. She stood up at the head of the bed to look out the window and for some reason looking out the window was HILARIOUS. And then looking down at me: HILARIOUS!! And then she crawled down the hall: EVEN MORE HILARIOUS!!! It makes me laugh just to think about it. It's like suddenly she felt better . . . well, okay, that's not a good simile because she DID feel better, it's just, you know, I get adjusted too and it feels GREAT but she was just giddy.

Andrei worked really, really late.

Hm. That's about it. I bought a really, really big butternut squash. As big as my head, at least.

Fascinating, I know.

Really Good Day

Today was a Really Good Day. Strangely, because it kind of went all wrong. But it was one of those magical days when I remembered why I wanted to be a mom when I grew up. What? I wanted that? What the heck is wrong with me?

By the way, Andrew is now saying, "What the?" about everything. I HATE this. When questioned about why he says this, he answered, "Because Aiden does!" Which is pretty much the answer to everything. Thanks, Aiden's parents. Although, apparently Aiden had no part in today's mysterious incident wherein Joey poked Mish and Andrew had to sit down at a table and do work he doesn't like because he was watching. (???) In the second rehashing, Mish was lying down on his belly while Andrew was fixing his back (???) and Joey poked him with something sharp. I may never know what really happened.

Anywho, the day started pretty great, although late. I woke up wedged between two children (excuse me, not just any children, but the two most wonderful children the universe has ever seen, surely the evolutionary pinnacle of the countless milennia of creation), as usual, which is pretty much like waking up in heaven, knowing you have to leave and being physically unable to move (without waking children, of course). Very strange sensation.

Did I mention both my children have a dimple in ONLY their left cheeks? Strange, but even stranger that they share the trait.

We discovered that we had woken up 15 minutes before school starts, and subsequently rushed around. In the rain. And then I came home and put my PJs back on and put the baby to sleep for her nap, which was easy. Teething over? I hope so.

Because then something magical happened. I had two hours to myself.

Wow.

So, all in all a nice day. But it doesn't end there!

After I picked up my darling child, he threw a huge tantrum (???) and then we went to the jet museum. But we decided to go visit Daddy at work beforehand, although it would be iffy because he didn't have a phone and is starting a new job, so I didn't know what would be going on at the women's barracks where he works.

Well, we got there and we would have gone in but there were 2 or 3 HUNDRED sailors milling about directly in front of the door. No, seriously, that might even be an understatement. According to Andrew it was 69 30 2o (not sure what mathematical system that goes with). So we sat in the car across the street waiting for them to clear and wondering what was going on ("What the?") While we were discussing our options ("Let's go down to the beach and look for hermit crabs while we wait," "NO! That's boring for me!" "WHAT? You're four! You don't get to say that for another 10 years! And maybe not then!" Ok, that's not what I said, but I was seriously annoyed at the prospect that one day I'll lose those simple pleasures.) some guy stood up in the middle of the crowd on something tall, and started to talk. We were too far away to hear what he was saying, but IT WAS DADDY!

Speaking of simple pleasures, the excitement over recognizing Daddy from 200 yards away was pretty much the best thing ever. It was the best show we've seen all week (not diminished by the fact that it's Tuesday).

And then we had pizza and I had a bath with the baby and went to bed. The end.

Television

I am tired of TV. Really, REALLY tired.

And I think lots of people are. Especially after Balloon Boy.

I'm tired of 24-hour news. YES, please show me the millions of amazing people around the world struggling, making change, succeeding, making brilliant ideas reality. But with 24 hours a day, it's the same drivel over and over.

I'm tired of things my kids see and hear that I don't want to explain to them. Or to anyone.

I was sitting in the doctor's office (actually standing, bouncing the baby) a few weeks ago, in a very small waiting room, with a very loud, very large TV on the wall, and a four-year-old to entertain, while the other half-dozen people in the room were staring (at the TV, not at me) in a manner that suggested drool was imminent. What was playing? Fox News. What were they talking about? The abduction and rape of Elizabeth Smart. Or someone else. I was trying not to pay attention. BUT MY FOUR YEAR OLD WAS PAYING ATTENTION. They are always paying attention, people.

Oh, yeah, and there was a sign taped below the TV: "Please do not change the channel. Everyone likes the news." I'm not kidding. Notice the admonishment is to avoid changing the channel. Turning it off is not even in the realm of possibility.

I am really, really, really tired of having to think about things I don't like to think about. Rape. Murder. Finance reform. Whether I should be shaving my legs more. The newest horror movie. If people really will buy that crap just because they advertise it. (perhaps the most disturbing?)

You may be thinking, well, darn, just get rid of your TV! Well, wouldn't I love to! In fact, we didn't get a digital converter last year when our hard-earned tax dollars went to pay for them, and we for darn sure don't pay anyone to stream that stuff into our home. Which means, when you turn on my TV, you get snow. Somehow we subsist on Hulu and Netflix. The problem is everyone else!

I'm living in a world full of people whose lives consist primarily of what's happening on TV. Somehow, I can't get away. You know, I don't know you, lady in the waiting room, but maybe if the TV weren't obscuring coherent thought, I could. I actually like to talk to people I meet.

Which is why I want this in my Christmas stocking, Santa. It's a remote with only one button. The important one.

Although, I won't use it at the new Indian restaurant where all they play on their flat-screen is Bollywood. Now THAT is an appropriate use of the medium.

You know when you're sick and you blow your nose and a whole bunch of stuff comes out, sort of on its own? Well, when you're 8 months old, it just comes out when you least expect it and it really freaks you out. You know, in case you were wondering.

Montessori Environment #3

Andrew's room! This is his dresser:

It's a little messy, but that's basically what it looks like most of the time. The bottom drawer is undies, socks, and swim trunks, middle drawer is shirts and shorts, and the top drawer is pajamas. I added the little metal shelf on the left because it was impossible due to the shape of his closet to rig a low rod, and I needed a place to hang his cool-weather clothes. We'll see how that goes; they haven't been used yet.

His desk, with a globe, a Leap Pad, a CD player, a tape player, a DVD player that is supposed to be tucked away in the desk drawer (ahem.), and a piggy bank.

Bedside table. I was on the hunt for a new one because all he had was one of those crates and it was too small to hold his lamp, nightlight, and a cup of water. But then I realized we had another one of those crates in the closet, so I dug it out, dumped out all of Andrei's stuff that was in it (sorry, honey), and voila! A new bedside table! The little green box there holds magneatos which are huge hit with everyone in the family. Thanks, Nana and Papi!

And just because this is my favorite picture.

Wow, have the kids really let me get all this done this morning? Amazing!

There are still some things I'd like to fit in, chiefly a clock/calendar area, with an analog clock, a little table with some kind of clock activity, a wall calendar, and stickers and pencils for Andrew to use the calendar. Right now he just has one I print from iCal and tape to the desk, and I have to fish out the stickers and such for him. Andrew does go to a great Montessori school, so there are not a lot of activities for him at home outside of toys and practical items.

Also, I'd like to add a washing table, although I just can't see how that's feasible with the kids at their stages of development. It would be good for Andrew to have an easy way to get a sponge to clean up spills, and for Liliana to wash her hands, but it just seems like something they'll be ready for next year, not this year. Andrew does really well with a stepstool at the bathroom sink, where he has waschloths and a toothbrush and toothpaste.

Thank you for wading through all this! I'll post updates as they happen, if they do. :)

Montessori Environment #2

So, this is the bathroom. Isn't it just a slice of life? Liliana's bath seat is sitting in the tub, draining, her diapers are hanging from a drying rack from the curtain rod (see them there above the toilet?), and otherwise it's in pretty reasonable condition.

In the corner there is her dressing shelf. I was a little perplexed about what to do for that, and this has been a really good solution. It's actually a little square wall shelf. On top is a toothbrush that I found for $3 and LOVE, and a comb that she LOVES. On the bottom are stacking cups that were a big hit with baby Andrew. And of course, her potty. We are NOT ECing, because I tried it with Andrew, got pee in the face and then decided it was nuts, but she sits on it first thing in the morning and Andrei has gotten pretty good at noticing when she's about to poop and putting her on the potty. So, maybe we are ECing, which wouldn't be too unlikely since I often end up loving things that I previously swore were just insane (Yoga. Green smoothies. Parenthood. The list goes on.).


And the family bedroom, where Liliana and I are occasionally joined by other members of the family, but usually not for an entire night. This is sort of a combination of the family bed and the Montessori floor bed, and in fact, today Liliana climbed down all by herself! It's a bit too high for her, but we're doing the best we can with it. You can see her sleeping there wrapped up in her sling. Also in there is a changing table (not in the picture), a meditation cushion (folded up in purple, a bookshelf, a nursing rocker, and a row of toys along the wall (you can see one misplaced by the bed, that's our favorite toy of all). And, of course, the dog.

Bookshelf, somewhat messy. Bottom shelf for blankets, second shelf for Liliana's board books, third shelf with a dish rack on it for Andrew's books, and a Mommy shelf on top.

Next is Andrew's room!

Montessori Environment #1

So, it's time for a post about how I'm making the house into a Montessori environment. It's far from ideal, but I'm working on it. We are so grateful to have a playroom in this house, and here it is:

There's a train table, a treehouse, a costume rack, a ridiculously oversized chair, a pirate ship, and shelves full mostly of cars, trucks, and books about cars and trucks. Also some blocks, puzzles, and plants.


And Liliana's shelf behind the couch, with some of her favorite toys on it. Yes, we have many, many more toys for her, but they come out in rotation. To the left of the shelf is a basket of playsilks, and to the right a bucket of megablocks. She still thinks books are for eating, so we just have one out. By the way, Dad, Liliana, and I made this shelf, which basically means that I planned it, Dad built it, and Liliana mostly nursed and stayed in the sling.

This is the snack shelf in the kitchen, with a little blue trash can next to it for used dish towels and rags, and a kid-sized broom (although Andrew uses the dustpan on the bottom shelf, he has yet to show any interest in sweeping). Also on the shelf are a blanket for Liliana, Andrew's new napkins he made himself (with help from Mommy), a bowl of fruit, rags for wiping up, lunchboxes, and snacks:

He also has a little cutting board, a kid-safe knife, a measuring cup with green tape at the 1/2-cup mark (for mac n cheese which he does almost by himself), and tissues. I don't know if you can tell, but those Klip It snack boxes are AWESOME.

This is the snack cabinet, where his silverware drawer is - one of the first things I ever made for him to do things himself. Can you see the little labels on the drawers? There are pictures I drew of a fork, knife, and spoon, along with the words for each, and he uses it every day to get his own silverware and to put it away. On top of that is a pair of kid-safe scissors which he uses to open cereal boxes, mac n cheese, bags of tortilla chips, the highly-coveted protein bars on the rare occasion he gets one, etc. Also, plates, cups, bowls, and a tupperware box of (also highly-coveted) straws. He can't open that Tupperware, so I'm looking for something he can open to hold them.

And here are the kids' tables. That's a chair I made for Andrew, a table I found at a consignment sale, and a little breakfast-in-bed table that I sit Liliana in front of. It's kind of like a weaning table, but I've forgone the hassle of a chair at this age. We'll get to that later, but I am just not able to give her the attention she would need to sit in a chair at this age. On her table are a couple of popular toys. She also has a high chair, for meals with the family. Not pictured are her adorable tiny glasses, which are actually shot glasses I found that match our adult glasses exactly. Daddy is less excited about the tiny glasses and prefers for her to have a sippy, but hopefully she (and he) will grow into them.

And this is the snack shelf in the fridge (with beer and olive oil in the back . . .). I've just noticed that the snack shelf consists entirely of dairy - Mini Babybel cheeses, string cheese, yogurt, and, yes, cheese cubes. I promise there was some fruit in there, but it's all been eaten, a mere 3 days after I went to the grocery store. I guess I'll stick in some carrots today.

That's the kitchen! The rest will have to wait for another post. It's pretty neat, too! My favorite part is her potty area. I know you're on pins and needles, especially since there are now THREE of you who read this blog! Thank you, Lauren!