The Kidlet Chronicles

What blog?

I think I know why I'm completely forgetting to blog every day - well, at least this is my current excuse: I'm addicted to Scrabble and Text Twirl on Facebook.  There ya have it.  So I sit down at the computer at night after putting the kidlet to bed and watching a movie/tv and immediately head for my games and play until I can no longer see straight.

In fact, that's where I was right before coming here.  And now I'm tired but forcing myself to blog.

The kidlet continues to amaze me, what with her vocabulary, her memory, her laughter at the simplest things, the way she loves to be tickled until she can hardly breathe, her bad knock-knock jokes, the songs she makes up out of the blue that make no sense whatsoever.  She's a lot of fun.  Demanding at times, still with the occasional tantrum where she hits/pinches/bites (when will that END) but I'm a lot calmer and she tends to calm down a lot quicker than she used to.  Progress not perfection.

Today she said something and I said "mamma mia!" in response.  Immediately, she said "here I go again, my my, how can I resist you?".  I swear I haven't listened to ABBA that much but she's a sponge, I tell you.  I can't wait until we can harmonize.

We had her friend Isaac over on Thursday for a few hours, where the kids played and us Moms, for the first time ever, actually got to chat without having to calm anyone down (other than a few minute crying jag by the kidlet after Isaac pretended to drink all her potion) or take things away or oversee everything they were doing.  It was great!  And they had so much fun.  Much different than last time when the kidlet was telling them to leave after only a couple hours.  This time, she didn't want them to go and they didn't want to go.  It was sweet.  We must see them more often.

Friday was gymnastics day, where I started to feel a little guilty because I'm so busy talking to the other Mom that I've become friends with that I hardly even pay the kidlet any attention.  I mean, I'm watching but I'm not really watching, you know?  I like to look at people when I'm talking to them so I'm not looking at her all that often.  I do know that she's getting better at listening and doing better at the activities.  I'm still debating whether to keep her in for the summer or try something new.  Swimming is a given, but something else - a sport? Dance? Hmmmm... something to think about.  So many things - how to choose?

I've also been busy planning my 20 year grad reunion.  Holy cow, I can't believe it's been that long.  I missed the 10 year so I'm looking forward to seeing everyone after all these years.  And I've managed to find about half our grads - a good start.  A high school friend and I have been researching venues and I went to look at one on Friday that I think we're going to book.  Now there's just coming up with a cost that will cover us if not enough people show (although a poll I sent out showed that quite a few were interested - like 50), then sending out invites, collecting payment, organizing the actual event (name tags, music, etc).  I'm not quite sure where I'm going to find the time but I kinda got the ball rolling and have to keep doing so at this point.  It will be in August, so I have some time.

Other than that, I'm looking at joining a yoga class soon, as soon as we figure out what's going on with Dean and whatever project he's going to be sent to, plus I found a chiropractor online that I'm interested in seeing (my back has been bothering me on and off - nothing a little Advil can't take care of, but I can't keep taking it daily).  I need to start doing some things for me - like getting out and DOING things that make me feel good.  I've put it off long enough, methinks.  Even though I'm pretty much a homebody and I love hanging out at home, it's good for me to get some fresh air and fresh conversation.

And that's it in a nutshell!  Gotta work tomorrow so time for bed.  Nighty night.

The Wiggles

Yesterday, we met with a friend and her two kids and went to see The Wiggles live and in person.  Other than being so cramped that I had to twist my legs sideways to sit comfortably, we had good seats a few rows up from the side of the stage.

It was more entertaining that I thought it would be.  They were laughing at themselves on stage every so often and it looked like they were having a lot of fun.  The kidlet, though 'too tired' to stand up and dance, did all the motions and sang all the songs while kneeling on her seat.  She got so excited I couldn't stop watching her; her wide eyes, shouting when prompted, waving back when they waved in our direction.  And when she laughed?  Almost brought tears to my eyes.  Then again, I think that had something to do with PMS... regardless, even Dean and I were laughing at their antics.  My only complaint?  It was too short.  Just over an hour, no intermission. 

When it was time to leave, I had to use the washroom, so I left the kidlet with Dean at the top of the stairs and raced across the hall to beat the crowds.  When I came out, there was a sea of people and I walked to where I thought I left them, but I couldn't see them anywhere.  I hesitated, took a few more steps, looked this way and that, then thought maybe they had headed out to get away from everyone.  I went outside.  Nope.  Back inside.  It was probably a good five minutes, if not longer, that I wandered around aimlessly.  I finally went back to the top of the stairs again and there they were, right where I left them.  The kidlet was hysterical and Dean couldn't figure out why.  She ran up to me and clung to me and would not let go.  After several minutes, I finally calmed her down enough to tell me what was wrong:

"You came out of the bathroom and you looked at us then you turned and walked awaaaayyyy!!" she cried.  Ooops.  Must have looked right through them.  Poor kidlet.  It took almost until we had gotten back to the truck before she would let me put her down again. 

This weekend, I adjusted the kidlet's car seat to the booster seat option.  The shoulder straps were below her shoulders (supposed to be at or above), she's an inch or so over the recommended height but three pounds less than the recommended weight, but I went ahead and took off the base, the five-point-harness, the tether & LATCH system, the whole shebang (as per the instructions).  And now it feels weird to see her there with just the shoulder/lap belt.  I mean, it fits her fine, but it doesn't feel like enough.  Did I jump the gun?  She looks way more comfortable, what with no digging straps here and there.  But why no tether or LATCH with the booster seat option?  Couldn't it help that much more having it clipped into the back and the seat itself like it was before, or is it a safety thing having only the seatbelt?  Help?

Finally got around to renting Juno tonight, so off to watch!

Bits and bites

The kidlet woke up the morning after my last post with a full-blown congested cold but no more fever or bellyache, so all was well.  Since then, it's been getting better daily and now she just gets the occasional sniffles.  Yay!  Immune system managing to keep up for once!

Me, I started taking the preventative dosage of Cold FX the very next day after both her and Dean were sick and I've so far (knock on wood) managed to fend it off.

So Saturday night, the kidlet and I were well enough to hang out at my brother's place for the evening playing video games.  We started with Rock Band because the kidlet LOVES playing the drums (takes after her Daddy).  I tried but I am SO not coordinated enough to use the foot pedal AND drum at the same time, so eventually my brother's fiance took over the foot pedal part while I held the kidlet's hands to drum and you know, we didn't do too badly.  It's a lot of fun.  Now if only he could have found the mic so I could have done me some singing... but then I never would have left.

He also showed me Wii Olympics.  I tried various activities and sucked at them all - couldn't seem to move fast enough. For four days afterwards, I was unable to unhook my bra strap without pain shooting through my triceps.  I'm thinking I'll have to build up a bit of muscle before I try THAT one again.

We had pizza for dinner and made sundaes for dessert.  My brother sure knows how to make a good sundae:  Breyer's Double Churned vanilla ice cream and a million different toppings (barn animal candies, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips, candy sprinkles. Skor bar crumbles (drool), chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, strawberry sauce, fresh strawberries and bananas).  I couldn't breathe afterwards but it was SO worth it.  And I'm now seeing why he's finally getting some meat on his bones after all these years of being a stick figure.

Sunday was shopping/errands/laundry day, not much to report.  Monday was spent in the office.  Yesterday is a blur.  Oh wait - we rented Sweeny Todd.  Interesting.  Never knew Johnny Depp could sing.  Swoon.  I mean, not swoon over his Sweeny Todd character because ew, but swoon over the man himself.  Ahem.  Where was I?

Today I finalized the kidlet's daycare arrangements and she starts going three days a week in July.  She's totally excited about it so I'm hoping she doesn't think it's like Disneyland or something.  But every day she sees the daycare lady pick up some of the kids from her class and she wants to go with them.  So that's a good sign, right?  She'll do fine, right?  Have fun?  Not cry because I'm not there and the others aren't familiar with her quirks? 

No, it will be good for her. Much better than watching movies and playing on the computer all the livelong day while I slave away working, cleaning, cooking, etc.  And I'll still have four full days with her.  So yay!  Yay. 

Eep.

Sick kidlet

The kidlet awoke this morning with an owie tummy and a 100 degree fever, so she pretty much laid on the couch in the fetal position all day long, moaning and groaning and whining.  Needless to say, we didn't go to gymnastics.  She drank a lot but she wasn't too interested in eating much.  All day long she complained about her tummy but it seemed to come and go in waves so I'm assuming it was probably gas related to some kind of virus she's picked up.  Dean had a fever last night and he was feeling rather crampy all day too (yet he still went into work - crazy, I tell you).  I didn't panic, I played it by ear and will continue to do so.

Advil seemed to help with the fever but nothing helped with the tummy except her warmed-up bedbug and lots and lots and LOTS of cuddles.  We did try to play with her train set for a bit at her request but she wasn't keen on sitting up for long and got tired again rather quickly.  And once the morning's dose of Advil wore off, her fever was back and at 102.  I gave her a cool bath to try and get it down but ended up giving her more Advil, after which she promptly fell asleep at 6:30.  And she's still asleep.

We had plans to go for dinner tonight with family but we ended up cancelling mid-day (obviously - Dean is still a bit feverish and I didn't like the idea of leaving the kidlet as sick as she was). 

In non-illness related news, I've got the kidlet a spot in a neighbourhood daycare for three days a week come Fall, if not sooner in the summer.  I was initially going to put her in the daycare at work for three days a week, but thought I'd check out the local one as well.  The lady lives two blocks down and has been doing the daycare thing so long that she's now looking after kids of kids she used to babysit way back when.  She has another lady that works with her and they take the kids to and from preschool (and Kindergarten) so I can keep the kidlet in her current preschool.   It's going to end up costing me a little more than taking her to the downtown one because I'm paying for daycare AND the preschool, but at least I won't have to schlep her downtown with me (I'd have to drive so I'd have to factor in parking costs too); she'll be socializing with local kids; and three of the kids in her morning class next Fall will be at the daycare in September as well so at least she'll have familiar faces.  And three days a week will be perfect for me.  Thursdays when she's in school, I can have those three hours ALL TO MYSELF (because I'll be doing most of my hours in the office), then Fridays will be our activity day (gymnastics, swimming, whatever).  I'll probably still do a couple hours work on Thursdays and Fridays but it will be on an as-needed basis.  So I am stoked!  And trying not to second-guess my decision! 

The daycare itself is great - it's the woman's entire basement filled with toys and activities, plus there's a little garden out back.  Not quite the playground they have at the daycare downtown but here, there's a playground two blocks away that I'm sure they take them to in the summer.

At any rate, Boss Man is excited about seeing my face more often and I'm excited about not trying to juggle work and the kidlet (my hours are getting so long here that she's been watching a lot of movies), and the kidlet seems excited about playing with all the toys.  So we'll see how it goes!

Hopefully the kidlet feels better tomorrow as we have plans to visit my brother for dinner tomorrow night.  Poor kidlet....

Making potions

Reciting ingredients from one of her internet games (Boowa and Kwala):

Mamma Mia

Had a very busy weekend, the first weekend in quite some time where I had things to do each day.  Friday morning I took the kidlet to Mom's bright and early so I could go to the dentist, where I endured minimal scraping, only a couple jolts from the hygienist hitting a sensitive spot, and as I was grooving to "Come on Eileen' that was playing on the overhead speaker, found out that my hygienist only knew that song because of hearing it on the radio at work.  Ha!  I felt mildly... old.  But only for a second before I started tapping away again. 

Afterwards, I visited with my folks for a bit before dragging the kidlet off to gymnastics, then headed home to work.

Saturday was cleaning day and Saturday night, me, Mom, my sister-in-law, my best friend and four other good friends all got together to go see Mamma Mia downtown.  Five of us went for dinner, where we waited 45 minutes for a table (good thing we went super early - nobody would take reservations because there was a hockey game that night), then had a great dinner, great conversation, an awesome and flirty gay waiter who probably cleaned up on tips from our table alone, then we met the others afterwards for the play.

The play was great.  It was funny and the musical numbers, aside from some of the lyrics being difficult to hear at times, were well done.  It was SO hard not to sing along, as displayed by the group sitting behind us who insisted on breathily singing (and badly at that) every. single. song.  They also laughed louder than anyone else and were giggling/talking/laughing throughout the whole thing, and I'm pretty sure there was alcohol involved.  So yes, it was a little distracting but what can ya do?  My one evil glare was completely ignored.  At the end, we were all up and dancing and singing to Waterloo (one of my faves), and we left the place with huge grins on our faces.

Mom drove a group of us in her van, making sure that we were clear that she needed to be told EXACTLY where to go and then she'd be fine.  So I suppose it didn't help when we didn't realize until almost the last minute that at one point, we were in a left turn lane and needed to be two lanes over to the right.  Cue four of us twisting our heads around, telling her it's okay to go, her asking if it's okay to go, us reassuring her that it was okay to go, her tentatively going, almost hitting a curb, panicking that she was driving into neighbouring cars (they were one lane over) and finally, we were safe.  But heck, doesn't everyone in Vancouver drive like that?  We weren't honked at (there weren't that many cars out, thank goodness) so all was good.  Poor Mom.

I got home just after 11 and could not wind down.  I surfed for a bit, then laid in bed for over an hour while song after song played through my head (and I am the type where I have to sing the ENTIRE song in my head, not just a portion of it - kinda like South Park's Cartman and Come Sail Away).  So yes, I was up waaay past my bedtime.

This morning, the kidlet had a birthday party to go to that was about twenty minutes away and it started at 10am.  We were running late getting ready for some reason but I got her into the truck and ready to go by 9:30, only to start up the truck and see that the gas light was on.  Grrr.  So I had to stop en route, fill her up ($60, holy crap), then had to go in to get my receipt as there was an error on the self-pay thing.  Then when looking for the place that the party was held (a Family Place drop-in center),l I drove past it and had to turn around.  Still, we got there right at 10am.  Go me!

There was a bouncy castle and ride on toys (I think the place is a daycare during the week) and kitchens and dress-up clothes (the kidlet was a fireman at one point) and tons of toys.  The kids decorated treasure chests (it was sort of a pirate theme), played, ate Mickey Mouse pancakes with fruit, played, ate cupcakes (or in the kidlet's case, licked off the icing), played, then it was time to go. 

As we were already out his way, I told my father-in-law that we'd stop by and visit, so we did for about an hour and a half where the kidlet kept on talking about the mysterious scary creature in Grandpa's birdbath out in the back yard (it was a sun dial).  He was a bit concerned over her intrigue with the 'scary' thing but I explained she's into a spooky, haunted house phase and likes to re-enact the Disneyland one almost every day (watch me! I'm spooky candles!  Look at me now!  I'm a snake door!  "There are no windows and NO. DOORS." and "Do not press down on the safety bar").

Headed home, semi-napped on the couch, then I had to pick up some groceries so I dragged my butt off the couch and out I went again, kidlet in tow because she wanted to come (despite me telling her how fun it would be to stay and play with Daddy while I was gone).

Came home, made dinner, bathed the kidlet who gooped all over herself during dinner, let her run around nekkid for a while, then Dean put her jammies on and she played with him for about a half hour while I stared off into space.  When it was time for bed, she requested that HE go in and lie with her until she fell asleep because she was scared (I'm thinking this haunted house stuff has to stop).  That was, uh, a half hour ago and I'm thinking they're BOTH fast asleep now. 

Ah.... silence... and too pooped to do anything with it!

Blips

The other day I was sitting on the couch rifling through the mail (most of it junk) when the kidlet grabbed a newsletter from a local Realtor and started reading the section about building a birdhouse: "To keep box dry, make roof picked, not flat".  Then she got tired and put it down, refusing to read any further.  And yes, it was supposed to be 'pitched' but close enough.  I can't wait until she can read ME stories!  I mean, stories with more than 3 and 4-letter words in them.

Speaking of being tired, is it normal for a preschooler to have arms that are "too tired" to hold her fork, so tired that she needs you to feed her?  Does it take your kid almost an hour to eat dinner?  She's also started doing this thing when she was to go potty where she runs around panicking that it's coming fast but refuses to go into the bathroom unassisted even though she's been going on her own now for what, a year?  "But I need heeeelp!" she whines.  No, she doesn't get any and eventually she goes herself but there have been a few times she was tempting fate what with all the racing around instead of just going.

Don't ya just love childhood phases?

She also loves to say 'Mama, nobody's/you're not LISTENING to me!', which, wouldn't you know it, is usually true because I'm trying to get her to say whatever she needs to say ("But I have to TELL you something!") quickly or I'm jumping ahead of her to guess what she's going to say (which she always has to repeat in her own words anyways).  I must try to listen more.

I had a work-related dilemma today that tested all the spiritual growth stuff I've been learning lately and I failed miserably.  Ha!  Haha!  I do believe that I was calmer than I would have been a year ago but I still had the sweaty palms and the racing heart and a dozen cyclones of thoughts swirling in my head - all needless, of course.  I was a big ball of 'reacting'.  It was as simple as getting caught up in the moment and forgetting to breathe.  Once I remembered to do that, I was fine and fully prepared to just go with the flow and see what happens.  Let's just hope next time I'm a little quicker on the ball.  I won't be too hard on myself though, as it wasn't so long ago that I would let these things eat at me for days.  An hour ain't so bad.