P loves her dad. Actually, that is an understatement. She absolutely adores him. He is her favorite. I know this, because she told me :) She also demonstrates it in various ways. For example:
When Chris leaves, Popeye opens the window and shouts after him, "Dad! I love you! Be safe! Don't get eaten by a dragon and die because I don't want you to be dead! Don't be dangerous! You're the best dad! I love youuuuuuuu!"
When I leave Popeye shouts, "Mom! Can I earn iPad time?"
*~*~*~*
Recently, Chris taught our FHE lesson. It was on cleanliness and order (it was supposed to be on family but when I came home to a disaster 3 days in a row we decided to change the lesson plan). He and Popeye had this conversation:
P: Will the Spirit be really mad at us if we are not clean?
Husband: No, the Spirit won't get mad, but we usually can't feel the Spirit if we don't clean our messes and our house is disorderly.
P: The Spirit won't be here when we're messy?
Husband: He might visit but He won't stay.
P: Can't you tell him to just come back in 5 minutes?
~*~*~*~*~
Juju: Popeye tooted!
Popeye: (Death glare) Lying makes you fat, Juj.
While I appreciate her effort to discourage fibbing, I think she was misguided. I also think that she misunderstood the term "big, fat liar."
*~*~*~*~*
Me: Pops, do you want to help me make dinner?
P: Oooo what's for dinner?
Me: I'm making your favorite food!
P: WE'RE HAVING CAKE FOR DINNER!?!
Me: ...No.
P: Well, that's too bad.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013
Answers to Pregnancy-Related Questions I've Been Asked.
Here are answers to some of the questions I've been getting (even the rude questions)!
How are you feeling? Great! Thank you for asking!
Any heart/lung problems like last time? No, thankfully. We are about halfway through and I have not fainted once-a drastic improvement from the last pregnancy! We are definitely counting our blessings.
Any weird cravings? Not weird, but I may have cried twice because I wanted Cookies on Demand cookies :)
How much weight have you gained so far? Hahaha! You're sweet. Probably more than the recommended amount.
When are you due? November 11th. It is funny because that is my dad's birthday. My brother and his wife are expecting their first baby this summer on my mom's birthday! Kind of cool!
Are you disappointed that it is another girl? What? No! Who would be sad to welcome a perfectly healthy baby girl into their life? Besides, we feel like we have a really good thing going with girls :)
Are you going to try for a boy? What does that even mean? How would one go about trying for that?
Have you picked a hospital? We are actually planning a home birth and we are really excited about it!
Are you crazy? Probably, but it is totally unrelated to wanting a home birth :)
Are you going to be just like your mom? I realize this could be your way of commenting on the number of kids my mom has/the number of kids I'll have. I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you meant it like, "Are you going to be like your mom and raise happy, kind, successful, productive children?" To that, I say, "Absolutely!"
Have you picked a name? We have some ideas but I don't think we will settle on one until we actually meet our baby.
Why did you wait until now to tell everyone? It seemed unfair to steal Kim and Kanye's pregnancy thunder. Now that I don't have to worry about that.....
How many kids do you want? I don't know. It is a personal decision we make prayerfully. Do I want more kids? Yes, I would like more kids. I don't know how many.
Are your girls excited? They are SO excited. Juj talks to my belly multiple times a day and Popeye asks me regularly when I'm "gonna push that baby out of that belly." She said she'll share her room :)
How are you feeling? Great! Thank you for asking!
Any heart/lung problems like last time? No, thankfully. We are about halfway through and I have not fainted once-a drastic improvement from the last pregnancy! We are definitely counting our blessings.
Any weird cravings? Not weird, but I may have cried twice because I wanted Cookies on Demand cookies :)
How much weight have you gained so far? Hahaha! You're sweet. Probably more than the recommended amount.
When are you due? November 11th. It is funny because that is my dad's birthday. My brother and his wife are expecting their first baby this summer on my mom's birthday! Kind of cool!
Are you disappointed that it is another girl? What? No! Who would be sad to welcome a perfectly healthy baby girl into their life? Besides, we feel like we have a really good thing going with girls :)
Are you going to try for a boy? What does that even mean? How would one go about trying for that?
Have you picked a hospital? We are actually planning a home birth and we are really excited about it!
Are you crazy? Probably, but it is totally unrelated to wanting a home birth :)
Are you going to be just like your mom? I realize this could be your way of commenting on the number of kids my mom has/the number of kids I'll have. I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you meant it like, "Are you going to be like your mom and raise happy, kind, successful, productive children?" To that, I say, "Absolutely!"
Have you picked a name? We have some ideas but I don't think we will settle on one until we actually meet our baby.
Why did you wait until now to tell everyone? It seemed unfair to steal Kim and Kanye's pregnancy thunder. Now that I don't have to worry about that.....
How many kids do you want? I don't know. It is a personal decision we make prayerfully. Do I want more kids? Yes, I would like more kids. I don't know how many.
Are your girls excited? They are SO excited. Juj talks to my belly multiple times a day and Popeye asks me regularly when I'm "gonna push that baby out of that belly." She said she'll share her room :)
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Girlies
Here is a video of the girls showing how cute they are and how rough Popeye attending preschool is on Juju :)
Things to clarify: Popeye loves teaching Juj how to peel potatoes. Juj tries to help, but she always selects the wrong tool...usually the can opener.
Also, if Juj is wearing mismatched pajamas with her underwear on the outside it is because that's how she likes to dress herself. Always.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Recent Kid Stories
My kids are so different in the ways that they approach life.
Example: Juju is quick to engage in any kind of craft. Once she starts, she puts together something very quickly. Popeye is more reluctant to do anything crafty, but once engaged she takes her time and is very meticulous about every part of her creation. She selects her colors carefully and makes very calculated decisions in color placement.
Today the girls were playing with markers and construction paper. Each of them brought me their creations and were very proud of themselves and excited for me to see it.
Peyton's was very...busy. And very, very colorful. I said, "Tell me about your picture." She explained to me that it was a map. She showed me the shapes and lines that were mountains and she pointed out the bridges and crocodiles. She showed me the route one would take to get from A to B. Prior to her explanation, it looked like clumps of weird shapes and purposeful lines going every which-way. After she explained her thought process, it was kind of impressive and I could see that it was exactly what she said it was.
Juju quickly climbed into my lap next and pressed her picture against my face and with a big smile said, "Ees o you!" I said, "Wow! It's for me!?" I looked at the picture. She used two colors that were scribbled together in the middle. "Tell me about your picture!" She looked confused and a little put out that I couldn't figure it out. She said, "It's blue and red."
Yep, that's all I got out of her. But it was a great picture that is now prominently displayed on the refrigerator. I guess the girls are not all that different, though. There are definitely similarities. They both struggle with color identification. Peyton consistently confuses every color that is not pink. And the two colors that Juju used were purple and orange:)
My girlies are the sweetest, most loving children. Lately, Pops and I have a conversation that is some variation of the following:
Me: Peyton, my girl, you are so beautiful.
Peyton: Thanks, Mom. You are more beautiful, too. (Sweetly smiling)
Me: But what's more important than being beautiful?
Peyton: Being nice!
Me: Yes! What nice things did you do today?
Then she'll tell me about something nice she did. Sometimes she can't think of anything and decides she should go help her sister make her bed :) Often Peyton begins the conversation and asks me what nice things I did. (She stopped having this conversation with her dad because when she asked him what was more important than being pretty, he jokingly told her "being rich." She was not impressed. :) )
Anyway, I have no heart anymore. I have no heart because it melted right out. Seriously. Peyton's sweetness melted my heart clean out of me.
We had just finished eating a cookie in bed while doing our homework. After a period of focused productivity, our conversation proceeded like this.
Peyton: (In the sweetest, more sincere, child-like voice you can imagine) Mom, you are so beautiful.
Me: Thank you, sweet girl.
Peyton: Do you know what is more important than being pretty?
Me: Being nice!
Peyton: Yes! And you are so nice and strong and smart and brave and tough like this (Grunt while pounding her fist once into her open hand).
Then she looked back at me and said, "And that is why you are beautiful."
I know, guys. She is the greatest thing ever. Juju is learning from her sweet example, too, and is getting cuter and sweeter every day! I almost can't handle it.
Example: Juju is quick to engage in any kind of craft. Once she starts, she puts together something very quickly. Popeye is more reluctant to do anything crafty, but once engaged she takes her time and is very meticulous about every part of her creation. She selects her colors carefully and makes very calculated decisions in color placement.
Today the girls were playing with markers and construction paper. Each of them brought me their creations and were very proud of themselves and excited for me to see it.
Peyton's was very...busy. And very, very colorful. I said, "Tell me about your picture." She explained to me that it was a map. She showed me the shapes and lines that were mountains and she pointed out the bridges and crocodiles. She showed me the route one would take to get from A to B. Prior to her explanation, it looked like clumps of weird shapes and purposeful lines going every which-way. After she explained her thought process, it was kind of impressive and I could see that it was exactly what she said it was.
Juju quickly climbed into my lap next and pressed her picture against my face and with a big smile said, "Ees o you!" I said, "Wow! It's for me!?" I looked at the picture. She used two colors that were scribbled together in the middle. "Tell me about your picture!" She looked confused and a little put out that I couldn't figure it out. She said, "It's blue and red."
Yep, that's all I got out of her. But it was a great picture that is now prominently displayed on the refrigerator. I guess the girls are not all that different, though. There are definitely similarities. They both struggle with color identification. Peyton consistently confuses every color that is not pink. And the two colors that Juju used were purple and orange:)
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
My girlies are the sweetest, most loving children. Lately, Pops and I have a conversation that is some variation of the following:
Me: Peyton, my girl, you are so beautiful.
Peyton: Thanks, Mom. You are more beautiful, too. (Sweetly smiling)
Me: But what's more important than being beautiful?
Peyton: Being nice!
Me: Yes! What nice things did you do today?
Then she'll tell me about something nice she did. Sometimes she can't think of anything and decides she should go help her sister make her bed :) Often Peyton begins the conversation and asks me what nice things I did. (She stopped having this conversation with her dad because when she asked him what was more important than being pretty, he jokingly told her "being rich." She was not impressed. :) )
Anyway, I have no heart anymore. I have no heart because it melted right out. Seriously. Peyton's sweetness melted my heart clean out of me.
We had just finished eating a cookie in bed while doing our homework. After a period of focused productivity, our conversation proceeded like this.
Peyton: (In the sweetest, more sincere, child-like voice you can imagine) Mom, you are so beautiful.
Me: Thank you, sweet girl.
Peyton: Do you know what is more important than being pretty?
Me: Being nice!
Peyton: Yes! And you are so nice and strong and smart and brave and tough like this (Grunt while pounding her fist once into her open hand).
Then she looked back at me and said, "And that is why you are beautiful."
I know, guys. She is the greatest thing ever. Juju is learning from her sweet example, too, and is getting cuter and sweeter every day! I almost can't handle it.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Snippets from Conversations with Popeye
I hesitate to share stories sometimes because I think it makes me look like I'm messing up the whole parenting thing. I started this blog because I didn't live close to home and I knew that my mom and a few friends would like updates on our happenings. Now a lot of people read this and all they see are these pieces of less-than-ideal interactions and parenting techniques (heh, techniques. Sounds fancy. Really, I just go with it and try to raise disciplined, productive, kind children without bullying and with yelling as little as possible). Honestly, though, our house is pretty harmonious (when Chris lives in the same state and I'm not juggling a million things). My kids are stellar. These are the conversations I had with my 3-year-old yesterday, though.
P: Where's Dad?
Me: At work.
P: To get money?
Me: Yep!
P: Why? (Suspicious/accusatory tone) Did you use his last monies?
~*~*~*~*~*~
P: Mom, you broke your promise.
Me: I did? I'm sorry. What promise?
P: The big one.
Me: The bi-
P: (Interrupting) It was really easy.
Me: Easy? What wa-
P: (Interrupting. Again) You have one more chance.
Me: One more chance for wh-
P: (Deadly serious, looking me right in the eyes) Or you're fired.
Me: .........
*~*~*~*~*
Me: Okay, Pops! Time to sit at the table and eat lunch.
P: No! I don't want that! It's not my favorite!
Me: Come on. You like this stuff. Sit at the table, please.
P: No. I'm not starving! (Continues playing on the floor with her cards)
Me: P, if you are not going to eat, then you can go to your room and start your nap now.
P: I'm going to pick up my mess first and you can't stop me!
It was clear to me at this point that she was very tired. She really hasn't been this way for quite a while. I didn't appreciate her behavior, but I was trying not to laugh. I'm sure I screamed a lot of things at my mother, but I can guarantee that I never threatened her that I would pick up all of my mess. Ever.
Me: (Noticing the mess is cleaned) Okay, P, are you ready for lunch now?
P: NO! I won't eat lunch with you! You're a bad mom!
Me: I'm sorry you feel that way. You can go to your room and take a nap.
P: See!? Now I'm in trouble and it is your fault, you bad mom!
Me: You are not in trouble, you just need a nap. Can't you feel that you are sleepy? You will be in trouble if you keep being disrespectful, though. Now go to your room, please.
P: I'm not going to my room! You go to your room!
Me: That is it, P! (Briskly walking in her direction, losing patience)
Then Peyton slammed the door. And locked it. And fell asleep.
I wasn't mad by the exchange. I knew she was very, very sleepy. I was a little surprised because she really doesn't behave this way, especially not lately. She has been downright pleasant.
Aside from being surprised, I was also scared. If this is how she is at 3, adolescence is going to hit this home hard. I can handle it, but I worry about my poor husband. He doesn't know what it is like. He has sisters, but they are several years older than he is so I don't think he really got the living-with-a-teenage-girl experience. Poor, poor fellow. I have several years to get a handle on these things. It might take that long to get it under control, especially since Juju likes to copy Popeye's behavior.
You should know, after her nap Peyton came up to me and gave me a hug and said, "I'm sorry I was not nice. I was having a hard time. I still love you. We should snuggle for a minute."
She was so mature about it.
P: Where's Dad?
Me: At work.
P: To get money?
Me: Yep!
P: Why? (Suspicious/accusatory tone) Did you use his last monies?
~*~*~*~*~*~
P: Mom, you broke your promise.
Me: I did? I'm sorry. What promise?
P: The big one.
Me: The bi-
P: (Interrupting) It was really easy.
Me: Easy? What wa-
P: (Interrupting. Again) You have one more chance.
Me: One more chance for wh-
P: (Deadly serious, looking me right in the eyes) Or you're fired.
Me: .........
*~*~*~*~*
Me: Okay, Pops! Time to sit at the table and eat lunch.
P: No! I don't want that! It's not my favorite!
Me: Come on. You like this stuff. Sit at the table, please.
P: No. I'm not starving! (Continues playing on the floor with her cards)
Me: P, if you are not going to eat, then you can go to your room and start your nap now.
P: I'm going to pick up my mess first and you can't stop me!
It was clear to me at this point that she was very tired. She really hasn't been this way for quite a while. I didn't appreciate her behavior, but I was trying not to laugh. I'm sure I screamed a lot of things at my mother, but I can guarantee that I never threatened her that I would pick up all of my mess. Ever.
Me: (Noticing the mess is cleaned) Okay, P, are you ready for lunch now?
P: NO! I won't eat lunch with you! You're a bad mom!
Me: I'm sorry you feel that way. You can go to your room and take a nap.
P: See!? Now I'm in trouble and it is your fault, you bad mom!
Me: You are not in trouble, you just need a nap. Can't you feel that you are sleepy? You will be in trouble if you keep being disrespectful, though. Now go to your room, please.
P: I'm not going to my room! You go to your room!
Me: That is it, P! (Briskly walking in her direction, losing patience)
Then Peyton slammed the door. And locked it. And fell asleep.
I wasn't mad by the exchange. I knew she was very, very sleepy. I was a little surprised because she really doesn't behave this way, especially not lately. She has been downright pleasant.
Aside from being surprised, I was also scared. If this is how she is at 3, adolescence is going to hit this home hard. I can handle it, but I worry about my poor husband. He doesn't know what it is like. He has sisters, but they are several years older than he is so I don't think he really got the living-with-a-teenage-girl experience. Poor, poor fellow. I have several years to get a handle on these things. It might take that long to get it under control, especially since Juju likes to copy Popeye's behavior.
You should know, after her nap Peyton came up to me and gave me a hug and said, "I'm sorry I was not nice. I was having a hard time. I still love you. We should snuggle for a minute."
She was so mature about it.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Why My Kids Are Awesome
They love to educate others.
Peyton: Mom, if you plant a seed in dirt it can grow into a tree and the tree gets leaves and apples grow and you can pick them! But you wash them in water before you eat them.
Me: Wow, Peyt!
Peyton: Did you know that or was it a surprise?
They are honest.
Me: Isn't this beautiful, Juj?
Juju: No! 'S not byoo-shoo! I don't like it!
They keep me honest.
Peyton: May we please have ice cream?
Me: Sure, but there is only a little left so let's not tell your dad (Wink).
(A few hours later Chris walks in the room after getting home from work)
Peyton: Mom, we have to tell Dad we ate the ice cream.
They remind me to dream big!
Me: What do you want to be when you grow up, Peyton?
Peyton: A princess and a ballerina and a person who rides elephants. And maybe have a beard.
They remind me to make time for relaxation.
Peyton: Mom, I think it is quiet time. Wanna snuggle and watch a movie?
They remind me to be my best self.
Peyton: Mom, do you say "crap" or "shut up" or "stupid" or "can't?"
Me: No.
Peyton: Good. Because we don't say that. Those are bad words.
They remind our neighbors (who I don't know) to be their best selves.
The neighbors were screaming all kind of colorful things in front of the complex. Peyton yelled out the window, "Hey, guys! We don't say shut up! It's a bad word!" Juj supported her with an enthusiastic, "Yeah!"
They know how to brighten my day.
Peyton: Mom, are you being a grumpy ratfink?
Me: Yeah, I suppose I am a little.
Peyton: Okay. I will sit on your lap and snuggle you for a long time and it will make you soooo happy. Wanna read me a book?
When they get tired they don't just get cranky. They get cranky and a little funny.
Reasons exhausted Juju has cried today:
1) She wanted to Skype Unco Annee (Uncle Andy) but nobody answered.
2) She thought she had a stinky armpit. She didn't want to have a stinky armpit.
3) Peyton took the good mac and cheese (their mac and cheese was identical- from the exact same pot).
4) Peyton stole her nose and wouldn't give it back.
5) She doesn't want to wear tennis shoes. She wants pirate shoes.
Peyton: Mom, if you plant a seed in dirt it can grow into a tree and the tree gets leaves and apples grow and you can pick them! But you wash them in water before you eat them.
Me: Wow, Peyt!
Peyton: Did you know that or was it a surprise?
They are honest.
Me: Isn't this beautiful, Juj?
Juju: No! 'S not byoo-shoo! I don't like it!
They keep me honest.
Peyton: May we please have ice cream?
Me: Sure, but there is only a little left so let's not tell your dad (Wink).
(A few hours later Chris walks in the room after getting home from work)
Peyton: Mom, we have to tell Dad we ate the ice cream.
They remind me to dream big!
Me: What do you want to be when you grow up, Peyton?
Peyton: A princess and a ballerina and a person who rides elephants. And maybe have a beard.
They remind me to make time for relaxation.
Peyton: Mom, I think it is quiet time. Wanna snuggle and watch a movie?
They remind me to be my best self.
Peyton: Mom, do you say "crap" or "shut up" or "stupid" or "can't?"
Me: No.
Peyton: Good. Because we don't say that. Those are bad words.
They remind our neighbors (who I don't know) to be their best selves.
The neighbors were screaming all kind of colorful things in front of the complex. Peyton yelled out the window, "Hey, guys! We don't say shut up! It's a bad word!" Juj supported her with an enthusiastic, "Yeah!"
They know how to brighten my day.
Peyton: Mom, are you being a grumpy ratfink?
Me: Yeah, I suppose I am a little.
Peyton: Okay. I will sit on your lap and snuggle you for a long time and it will make you soooo happy. Wanna read me a book?
When they get tired they don't just get cranky. They get cranky and a little funny.
Reasons exhausted Juju has cried today:
1) She wanted to Skype Unco Annee (Uncle Andy) but nobody answered.
2) She thought she had a stinky armpit. She didn't want to have a stinky armpit.
3) Peyton took the good mac and cheese (their mac and cheese was identical- from the exact same pot).
4) Peyton stole her nose and wouldn't give it back.
5) She doesn't want to wear tennis shoes. She wants pirate shoes.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Sisters
I love being a mother. I love watching my girls interact with each other. I really love that they insist that the other is their best friend.
Well, they are usually best friends. Almost always. Sometimes it is difficult to have a best friend/sister, though. This is a conversation we had in our home today......
Peyton: Juj! Gimme the iPad! I want Counting Ants!
Juj: No, thank you, Popeye.
Peyton: JUJ! You can't say, "No, Peyton" to me! I really need the iPad!
(Juj continues to ignore Peyton jumping around, begging, and reaching for the iPad.)
Peyton: (Collapsing on the floor) Juju ruins my life!
I seriously don't even know where she got that. Really, where did it come from? I suspect it has something to do with the colorful arguments that can be heard from one of the apartments in our complex. I was also a little worried because I'm pretty sure I was in jr. high before I accused anybody of "ruining my life" (Sorry, Mom).
Me: (Serious mom voice) Peyton, we do not say that about our sister. We love each other. Juj just started playing with that. She got it first and now you have to wait.
Peyton: But she does ruin my life. And I had it first! I got it 3 months ago!
We then had a long talk about how sometimes sisters can make us feel upset, but that doesn't mean that they are ruining our lives. We talked about how Juju brought Peyton a snack today and how good that made Peyton feel. I pointed out that it made Peyton's life happy. She really didn't understand. She acknowledged that Juju made her happy with snacks, but that she ruined her life by not sharing. The girls were invited to go downstairs to the neighbor's apartment but I thought Peyton might be able to benefit more from doing an act of service for her sister. Peyton fought against it for a while but eventually worked really hard to make Juju's bed for her.
Me: Peyton, you just did a really nice thing for your sister. How did that make you feel?
Peyton: Good. Because I like to make beds. And I love Juj. But she did ruin my life, Mom. Really. She really did.
Me: Well, I think that she just made you feel upset. Your life is not ruined because you feel good now! See?
Peyton: Yeah. But no. It is still ruined.... Can I go play with Juju now?
We are going to keep working appropriate ways to express our frustrations. And don't worry. The girls are best friends again.
Well, they are usually best friends. Almost always. Sometimes it is difficult to have a best friend/sister, though. This is a conversation we had in our home today......
Peyton: Juj! Gimme the iPad! I want Counting Ants!
Juj: No, thank you, Popeye.
Peyton: JUJ! You can't say, "No, Peyton" to me! I really need the iPad!
(Juj continues to ignore Peyton jumping around, begging, and reaching for the iPad.)
Peyton: (Collapsing on the floor) Juju ruins my life!
I seriously don't even know where she got that. Really, where did it come from? I suspect it has something to do with the colorful arguments that can be heard from one of the apartments in our complex. I was also a little worried because I'm pretty sure I was in jr. high before I accused anybody of "ruining my life" (Sorry, Mom).
Me: (Serious mom voice) Peyton, we do not say that about our sister. We love each other. Juj just started playing with that. She got it first and now you have to wait.
Peyton: But she does ruin my life. And I had it first! I got it 3 months ago!
We then had a long talk about how sometimes sisters can make us feel upset, but that doesn't mean that they are ruining our lives. We talked about how Juju brought Peyton a snack today and how good that made Peyton feel. I pointed out that it made Peyton's life happy. She really didn't understand. She acknowledged that Juju made her happy with snacks, but that she ruined her life by not sharing. The girls were invited to go downstairs to the neighbor's apartment but I thought Peyton might be able to benefit more from doing an act of service for her sister. Peyton fought against it for a while but eventually worked really hard to make Juju's bed for her.
Me: Peyton, you just did a really nice thing for your sister. How did that make you feel?
Peyton: Good. Because I like to make beds. And I love Juj. But she did ruin my life, Mom. Really. She really did.
Me: Well, I think that she just made you feel upset. Your life is not ruined because you feel good now! See?
Peyton: Yeah. But no. It is still ruined.... Can I go play with Juju now?
We are going to keep working appropriate ways to express our frustrations. And don't worry. The girls are best friends again.
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