We don't know where the tooth is, but we sure know where it's NOT!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Letter to Violet
Dearest Violet,
Welcome to the world, littlest. I am your Auntie Jenn and I will forever love and adore you. It is my solemn promise that as long as I am around you will always have cute hair accessories and red shoes. Because a girl needs those things, no matter what she does in life. And your life? Is going to be awesome. How do I know? Because I was there at the beginning, and I can tell about these things.
You were born on a perfect day, not too sunny, not too cloudy. A lovely warm breezy day, the kind that makes people want to move to California. The room you were born in had a view of Newport Harbor and the ocean beyond, and we watched the sailboats go by in between contractions. I wondered what adventures the people on those boats were having, what adventures you would have in your life.......
Your birth was one of the most memorable, magical, peaceful experiences I have ever had. Your mother and father were generous enough to let me be in the room with them for this moment of moments, and for that I will be forever grateful. I love your parents like they were my own family; in a way they are. They are the family I chose, and thus are more dear to me in some ways than my birth family. You are a part of that family now too, and I will always be yours to lean on and turn to when you need an ear or a hug or the face of someone who loves you no matter what. I am so glad your mother and father are who they are and that they are your parents. They are good people, as I am sure you will come to know. You also have a very sweet and gentle older brother who is probably going to be one of your very best friends. Be nice to him; he will be your biggest ally.
But back to the day you were born. Your mother was so calm and happy, it was hard to believe she was in labor. Birthing a child is a huge undertaking, something akin to running a marathon. It taxes a woman mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as well as physically. For most women it is the most intense physical experience they will ever have. I can't imagine a more emotional experience either. All to say that giving birth is a momentous event, one that can easily become overwhelming.
Your mother was awe-inspiring. I have never seen her so strong and purposeful, so intensely beautiful in her concentration and determination. As your father held her hand and encouraged her she gave herself over to the process of labor and brought you into this world. What a moment! Suddenly there you were, pinking up right before our eyes, letting out that first delicious cry. We gobbled up every detail: your perfect fingernails, your long toes (monkey toes!), your surprisingly blond hair, your rosy mouth and delicate nose. You were perfect. You are perfect. You are you and from the moment your were born you have been loved. Always remember that. You are loved. The love you receive from us will not be perfect, as none of us are perfect. But we will love you the best way we know how. And we will love you forever.
I will love you forever.
Always,
Auntie Jenn
Welcome to the world, littlest. I am your Auntie Jenn and I will forever love and adore you. It is my solemn promise that as long as I am around you will always have cute hair accessories and red shoes. Because a girl needs those things, no matter what she does in life. And your life? Is going to be awesome. How do I know? Because I was there at the beginning, and I can tell about these things.
You were born on a perfect day, not too sunny, not too cloudy. A lovely warm breezy day, the kind that makes people want to move to California. The room you were born in had a view of Newport Harbor and the ocean beyond, and we watched the sailboats go by in between contractions. I wondered what adventures the people on those boats were having, what adventures you would have in your life.......
Your birth was one of the most memorable, magical, peaceful experiences I have ever had. Your mother and father were generous enough to let me be in the room with them for this moment of moments, and for that I will be forever grateful. I love your parents like they were my own family; in a way they are. They are the family I chose, and thus are more dear to me in some ways than my birth family. You are a part of that family now too, and I will always be yours to lean on and turn to when you need an ear or a hug or the face of someone who loves you no matter what. I am so glad your mother and father are who they are and that they are your parents. They are good people, as I am sure you will come to know. You also have a very sweet and gentle older brother who is probably going to be one of your very best friends. Be nice to him; he will be your biggest ally.
But back to the day you were born. Your mother was so calm and happy, it was hard to believe she was in labor. Birthing a child is a huge undertaking, something akin to running a marathon. It taxes a woman mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as well as physically. For most women it is the most intense physical experience they will ever have. I can't imagine a more emotional experience either. All to say that giving birth is a momentous event, one that can easily become overwhelming.
Your mother was awe-inspiring. I have never seen her so strong and purposeful, so intensely beautiful in her concentration and determination. As your father held her hand and encouraged her she gave herself over to the process of labor and brought you into this world. What a moment! Suddenly there you were, pinking up right before our eyes, letting out that first delicious cry. We gobbled up every detail: your perfect fingernails, your long toes (monkey toes!), your surprisingly blond hair, your rosy mouth and delicate nose. You were perfect. You are perfect. You are you and from the moment your were born you have been loved. Always remember that. You are loved. The love you receive from us will not be perfect, as none of us are perfect. But we will love you the best way we know how. And we will love you forever.
I will love you forever.
Always,
Auntie Jenn
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Really? Must We?
Cathryn, though very much a princess in other ways, refuses to eat with utensils, especially forks. And while I do sympathize with her on occasion (who eats pizza with a knife and fork for God's sake?) most of the time I find myself playing the part of the evil witch:
"Cathryn! We do not eat peas with our hands. Use your fork!"
"But mo-ooommm!"
"Cathryn! Noodles are eaten with forks, NOT fingers!"
"Fine! Yessssssss moooooooommmmmmmm!"
"Cathryn! *That* is exactly why we use a fork to eat macaroni and cheese. So that it DOESN'T get all over our hands, and then in our hair."
"Oh mom!"
And so it goes, meal after meal, night after night. Until tonight. She finally came upon a food that she could not help but eat with her fork........
.........ready?..........
........wait for it...........
ALMONDS. Of course. How did we not see that coming?
(Quick show of hands: How many of you were thinking 'soup'?)
"Cathryn! We do not eat peas with our hands. Use your fork!"
"But mo-ooommm!"
"Cathryn! Noodles are eaten with forks, NOT fingers!"
"Fine! Yessssssss moooooooommmmmmmm!"
"Cathryn! *That* is exactly why we use a fork to eat macaroni and cheese. So that it DOESN'T get all over our hands, and then in our hair."
"Oh mom!"
And so it goes, meal after meal, night after night. Until tonight. She finally came upon a food that she could not help but eat with her fork........
.........ready?..........
........wait for it...........
ALMONDS. Of course. How did we not see that coming?
(Quick show of hands: How many of you were thinking 'soup'?)
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Cast of Charachters
The children are planning a 10-day (!!!) sleep-over, to which they are each inviting 3 friends. Cathryn's friends are Anna, Sadie and Lily. So far so good. Ava's friends are Ma-NA-na, Halatha, and Kreelie. OK; maybe hippie parents? Jack's friends are Knotty (Naughty?), Grotty and Ween.
This is going to be an interesting party.
This is going to be an interesting party.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Our Daughters, Our Selves
I was folding laundry in the bedroom when the dull roar from the living room erupted in crescendo. I walked in to see Ava, papers strewn around her, calmly coloring a picture. Cate towered above her, screaming:
Cate: "Play with me! PLAY WITH ME!!!! PLAY!! WITH!! ME!!!!!!!!"
Ava: "I can't."
Cate: "WHYYYYYYY??????? WHY CAN'T YOU PLAY WITH MEEEEEEE??????"
Ava: "I can't tell you."
Cate: "AAAAAAAIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! MOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!"
My God, I almost peed myself laughing. In so many ways, I identify with Cate in this situation - wanting to control the Universe by sheer force of will, and not understanding why it will not bow to her oh-so-reasonable demands. But, when I related this story to my long-time friend Michelle, describing the way Ava was just !@#$ing with Cate - just calmly sitting there and twisting the knife, pushing the buttons, slowly driving her insane, toying with her just because she COULD - Michelle said "Yeah, that sounds like you".
So there you go. My two girls. My yin and my yang. And let the record show that......yeah, I'm sorry about that one, world. My bad.
The Bogeymom
It is 9:15pm and I am sitting at my computer trying to get a little work done before I go to bed.
squeak padpadpadpadpadpadpadpadpadpad
"Mom?"
"Yes Jack?"
"The sisters are not being quiet! And I can't sleep!"
"You should not be out of bed. Go back to your room. I will come in a bit and talk to the girls."
padpadpadpadpadpadpadpadpadpadpad squeak
"Sisters! Mom is going to come in here in a little bit! And she is going to talk to you in a very bad voice! And then you will be in *very* trouble!"
Apparently he has this all worked out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
