Jan
31st
2012
We’ve pretty much all experience road rage at some point in our lives, yes? Or if you’re like me, basically every instance in which you’re in or around a vehicle? I’d like to say I’ve been pretty good about keeping my rage in check while the kids are in the car. Then again, I’d also like to say Ryan Gosling is standing on my doorstep with a tiny guitar.
ANYWAY. The following story is a good reason why I should probably censor the rage a bit.
One morning last week, I took Maddie to Starbucks with me. We were just about to turn into the drive-thru when a white car cut across 3 parking lanes and sped in line ahead of us. It was a douche move, I’ll just say that right now. In my frustration, I threw up my hands and made a few unintelligible noises. No cuss words, just angry sounds, growls, etc. Maddie and I both speak in a growling voice on occasion. No idea when that started.
Maddie picked up on the subtle hint that I was unhappy and said, “WHAT DID THEY DO?” I told her the ladies in the white car were being rude and dangerous for cutting in line and almost hitting our car. Oh yeah, and I wanted my coffee like, 3 hours ago and how dare they get in my way!? She immediately joined the fight.
Way harsh, Tai.
In a growly voice, she said, “I don’t like those mean ladies. They drove too fast! GET OUTTA THE WAY, WHITE CAR!!!”
The car moved up in line as she gave them The Most Evil Stare I’ve ever seen. She said, “Thank you, white car!” followed by a nice, cheesy smile.
We moved up behind the car again and this is where things turned quite diabolical.
Growling, “I don’t like that white car, Mommy. They are mean for driving in front of us. I’m going to get No-No to scratch them in THE FACE!” (No-No is my parents’ cat, named by Maddie when all she could say was the word ‘no’.) I’m sure this doesn’t sound as bad (or as hilarious) as it was, but if you guys could hear her little sweet, yet angry voice saying these things, you’d die.
Like any good mommy would do, I told her it’s not very nice to wish cat scratches on the faces of our enemies. Then we proceeded to make silly faces at the driver through their back window. I think we all learned a good lesson.
Categories: Me Being a Mom Personal
Jan
30th
2012
He’s just a happy, gap-toothed fella.
Categories: Me Being a Mom Personal
Jan
23rd
2012
We’ve been in our new house for a week and I’m still having a hard time believing that we own it. I am so in love with this place, you guys.
Our apartment was small, dark, cramped and made us all stabby. Justin and I moved in there when I was pregnant with Maddie (nearly 4 years ago… WHAT.) and we quickly outgrew the tiny space with the accumulation of baby stuff. Then I decided I liked to make random crafty crap all the time, but there was no place to do it OR store all my stuff. Add another baby and all his baby debris, Maddie’s birthday presents, Christmas presents and I swear I’m having heart palpitations just thinking about how awful it was. To be honest, we were all getting stressed out and depressed in there and were in desperate need of AIR and ROOM and LIGHT.
Now we have all of those things and I can’t help but happy dance every time I walk through the front door. :) :) :)
Things are coming together around here, but Maddie’s room is the closest to being done. I haven’t painted the walls an adorable color or created any fancy wall murals or a built in reading nook (thank you Pinterest, for setting the bar extremely high), but at least she’s unpacked and decorated.
Here are a few photos…
Tiny beds make me gigglesnort. It’s like it belongs to a tiny person! Who’s tiny! You know what I mean. And I love that she has reindeer slippers.
What do you guys think I should do in the big space above her bed?
My dear friend Alyssa gave me the print of the little girl and the deer last year for my birthday and I’ve been waiting to find the perfect place for it. The shelf was thrifted and I gave it a new coat of paint. On it, there is a little cross-stitched “M” which is kind of hard to see, a squirrel figurine and a framed page from an old Little Red Riding Hood book. I made the kite to hold her hair bows the other night in – literally – 5 minutes with some cardboard and vintage fabric.
Her nightstand drawers hold her many books (the child LOVES to read) and a few of her favorite things sit on top. OBVIOUSLY, the picture of her daddy and I made the cut. This nightstand was actually mine from when I was a little girl, hence the sticker residue and nail polish drips. It’s getting a makeover soon.
The big green “M” was a gift from my sister in law and the mushroom nightlight is from Target. The manners and other story books were all gifts from her auntie Steph, auntie Anna or my Grammy. I made the deer thingy in the frame, and it’s just a few flocked stickers on a cut up paper bag.
Hey look, a wreath! An owl! Some pinwheels! And gumballs! Speaking of, DON’T EVER PUT A GUMBALL MACHINE IN A 3 YEAR OLD’S ROOM. Bad call on my part. I had to hide her money jar after I found her with 4 pieces of gum in her mouth.
Also, hiiiiii. I’m squinting in the reflection of the Red Riding Hood print. Awk.
Maddie’s dresser has a bunch of random stuff, including boxes that hold her hair bows and clips, a cupcake jar that holds her jewelry, Mary Poppins that used to be mine when I was her age and a rock. I have no idea where she found it or why she insists on keeping it because it looks like a turd.
You guys don’t get to see the other side of the room because it has all her toys and miscellaneous stuff I just threw to the side to take these pictures. Honesty: You’re welcome!
Categories: Me Being a Mom Me Being Crafty Personal
Jan
18th
2012
But to be fair…
She did work pretty hard on that dumb thing. And I was the one who bought the wrong kind of Styrofoam. Sorry, Maddles.
(I love how Jack be creepin’.)
Categories: Me Being a Mom Me Being Crafty Personal
Dec
27th
2011
I took the kids to my mom’s house today and we ended up spending quite a bit of time playing outside. Per your orders, I’ve been making sure Maddie gets a freaking TON of exercise and it has helped with the sleep situation SO MUCH. Thank you for all the awesome suggestions!
When I asked my mom to send me the photos of the kids from earlier, I wasn’t prepared for the copious amount of cheese that awaited me. Maddie was literally saying, “CHEEEEESE!” when this one was taken.
I’m getting all bloaty just looking at them.
When I forwarded the picture of Jack to Justin, I expected him to comment on Jack’s baby gap-toofed smile. Instead he responded with, “hahahahahaha, I see you in the background!” And I was all, “Huh?” And then I noticed my mom caught an action shot of me on Maddie’s big wheel.
I mentioned it on Twitter earlier and I know people probably thought I was lying or just using some sort of metaphor.
Riding on the pink big wheel of happiness, or something. I don’t know. That could be interpreted in many interesting ways, I’m sure.
That big wheel made me use muscles I haven’t used since 1992, which is obviously the last time I rode one of the things. It was fun though, and I’ve never felt so alive! Or old.
Categories: Me Being a Mom Personal
