Like Pulling Teeth

The tooth that came out of Jillian's mouth today was "like pulling teeth!" I TELL YA! Literally and figuratively. I now know and truly understand the origin of this cliche because my, oh my...She wouldn't let anyone touch the tooth as it dangled from a single strand of gum. Once, she was convinced to part with her little ivory, I pulled quickly so she couldn't change her mind. Sadly, this one was a bleeder. More blood than I am comfortable seeing come from my own child. Jillian cried - a lot. For some reason this time she felt like she was losing a part of herself that she would never get back. So she mourned and grieved and fell out all over herself about a tooth. She asked if the Tooth Fairy could leave her tooth behind (I guess she thought she was going to construct a shrine for this little ole tooth of hers.) So she and Daddy wrote a note requesting that Jillian's tooth remain with her "for always." Then her tooth and note were placed her little bag. And, just like Jillian, she was fine. She got it all out and was ready for the tooth fairy to come because this time she was convinced that the tooth fairy was going to bring her a new Barbie.

~

"Bye little tooth. I will miss you."

Toothless?

~ Well, I am not sure if one missing tooth qualifies for the description of being toothless, but for all dramatic purposes (we are talking about Jillian, after all) that wiggly tooth of hers finally got the yank. And, better yet, she has declared herself as becoming toothless (the one next to it is loose, too.) A big shout out goes to Poppy. He bought Jillian this Tooth Fairy bag when they were here a few months ago. How did he know, our Tooth Fairy days were coming so soon?

~

"Can I call Poppy?"

Sleepy Heads

Today is Megan and Bailey's last day in Ohio and I couldn't, just couldn't, resist this photo op. Waking up this morning and seeing the boys like this conjured so many, many memories. Meggie and I have several pictures of the boys like this from over the years. Maybe in a few days I will dig some out of my photo boxes and post a few comparisons.

PreK Eve

Jillian starts preschool tomorrow. I remember what the first day of school was always like for me - laying out the perfect outfit, having everything ready, lying awake for hours. I was always, always, always super-dee-duper excited. However, I didn't want my own anxieties to transfer to her, but I did ask several times the today if she was ready. The last time (and there is a reason it was the last) I asked, this conversation followed.

Me: Jilli, are you ready for school tomorrow?

J: I'm not going to school. I only want to go to PRRREEEEeee-school.

Me: It is PRRRREEEEeeee-school. (yes, I mocked her)

J: Well, I'm not going.

Me: Jilli, why do you not want to go to preschool?

J: Because, I just don't want to go.

Me: Jilli, you will have fun. You will make new friends. You will play new games and sing new songs.

J: So! (Holy wow, where did that attitude come from? Oh, yeah - me. Shucks!)

Me: I am sure you will change your mind in the morning when it is time to go.

J: We'll just see about that!!! (as she marched upstairs)

You're Invited

A little while ago, I was reading an article about parenting in the August Ensign titled Love, Limits, and Latitude. I knew as I read that the impression from this article would be, will be lifelong. I was really inspired, encouraged, and validated by these simple words. I want to read this article every morning before I get going so I can start the day in the right frame of mind. Seriously, it made everything seem so clear. I consider myself a pretty savvy parent. I parent with love and authority, I praise with gratitude and esteem, and I discipline with clarity and diligence. But oh the times they are a changing. As Brendan and Jillian grow, their demand for discipline increases, and Mark and I have began to notice differences in our parenting. I come from a long line of yellin' and hollerin', so I constantly battle the vociferous urge to bark and squall commands. Mark on the other hand, comes from the ideology that you do what you are told, when you are told - no questions asked. If only it worked that way all the time, right? I have noticed over my last 11 years as a parent that my children are more responsive when I invite them to do something, instead of commanding them to do it. I was sharing the article and its teachings with Mark today and relating all my newly discovered answers to all the parenting questions we have had lately hoping to reach a middle ground. A middle ground may be within reach, each day adds a new piece to the puzzle. However, what we did get today was some immediate super-spectacular comic relief. Actually, it hurt too much for Mark to laugh, but I was laughing my tail off anyway.

The cause for such laughter...Mark and I were still not feeling well one day last week (he had pneumonia, I have shingles.) It was the first day we managed the whole day without help. The kids were finally bathed and in bed, Mark and I were ready to crash, and the Bigs were constantly getting out of bed. Brendan already achieved three times up post tuck in, Jillian was inching towards a fourth (we could here the springs of her bed squeaking yet again), and Mark had enough. Enough, I tell ya. So from his roost on the couch, he yells upstairs, "Jillian, I invite you to go to bed!" Read the article, you will understand and it will make you laugh even harder.

Enjoyment

Jillian was coming down off her birthday high and had one of her crankiest days of all time today! She woke up on the wrong side of the bed and it was downhill from there. Needless to say, I was beyond eager to get her into bed tonight. As she took her bath I was hustling around the house spraying Lysol and trying to get things situated so that once she was in bed, I could just relax. I popped my head in to see if she was ready to get out - but she wasn't. So I started to rush off to continue doing who-knows-what (oh, I know - laundry, I am always doing laundry) when she gestured toward the toilet and hit me with..."Mom! Can't you just sit down and enjoy me?" Well goodness gracious. Who could turn down an offer like that? Especially since I hadn't "enjoyed" her all day long. So I plopped down and she told me about her mermaid and the magical, wish-granting cove under the sea. It was nice just to sit and be with her for a couple of minutes, I wish terribly it were longer, but somethings always comes up. When Brendan is in school, a few times a month Jillian, Karigan, and I have PJ days. Days that are spent in our PJs, doing whatever comes to our minds: dance, color, sing, paint, or sometimes a good cuddle and a book. Some may see this as slothful laziness because the rules are no cleaning, no errands, no phone calls, just the pure simple pleasure of my daughters' company and the fleeting chance to see the world through their eyes. We didn't have any of these days this summer, maybe once, but my memory is fuzzy, so it couldn't have been... And maybe, just maybe, Jillian has been missing these days. Goodness knows my mind has been consumed by more overwhelming matters than it is used too lately, but why is it so hard for me to just "sit down and enjoy" the little ones in my life that mean so much to me? I feel like I'm constantly rushing from one thing to the next and I never just stop and BE with them. My kids will be grown sooner than I might like. I need to "sit down and enjoy" them more. I have to remember tomorrow is not promised to anyone. The past doesn't come back and tomorrow may not come at all. Today is all we have. And so for the rest of my days and especially tomorrow, I will sit down and enjoy my kids. Or at least, I will really, really, REALLY try!

First Steps

Karigan took her first steps today. Three. 3. Steps. Mobility has not at all been on her radar. That is until she discovered the steps leading to the unknown world above the first floor. Now she likes to climb on everything. The stairs, the furniture, the dishwasher - with the latter being her favorite climbing adventure. Maybe I will get a video the next time she decides to perambulate upright. Otherwise, stay tuned for some hysterical dishwasher photos.

All Dressed in White

Jillian has been talking about "getting married" a lot recently. And I was never the type of girl that day dreamed about my wedding day nor did I have every last preconceived detail in place by the time I was ten. (The only twinkling thought I ever had was that I would be married at 23, and I am not sure why 23, but as it turns out, I was only 1 month and 1 day behind schedule.) But since Jillian has recently taken to waltzing around the house, clothed in a puffy dress, a towel draped on her head, carrying my bridesmaid bouquet from Aunt Jennifer's wedding, I thought it would be fun to play into her imagination. So I asked

Jillie, do you want to try on Mommy's wedding dress?

Her face lit with an innocent, serene glow of anticipation (Isn't that how every bride looks!) So we went to the closet and grabbed the massive white envelope enclosing the immense amounts of organza and satin otherwise known as my wedding gown. Little did I realize the memories that would flood out of that bag as it was unzipped. Prior to Mark's and my engagement, I was a bridesmaid for a dear friend of mine. And like every other great bridesmaid, it was off to David's Bridal to provide moral support and encouraging affection during the "choose the perfect dress" marathon. We pushed and heaved through the racks of delicately pieced fabric - a process that challenged the strength of the most toned of all biceps. In the end, my friend found her perfect dress, and by default, I had found my own when-it-is-time-for-me-to-say-I-do dress. You see, I fell in love with this dress - THE dress - I had chosen for my friend. I so wanted her to like it because it was just perfect to me and I wanted it to be perfect on her, but it wasn't. She did not like the way the dress fit her, in fact, she hated it. Then, and I am not sure why this happens, but the single girl in the bunch is always encouraged to try on a wedding gown - as if the poor thing ever needs more of a reminder that her dreamed wedding day is still missing a groom - while all the spoken-for girls chime in and merrily sing together "oh, you look gorgeous, you will find someone soon, we just know it." And since I was the single one in the bunch this time around, not that marriage was even on my radar, I gave in to the fancy and tried on my dress. And oh I was in love. The dress, by itself, was enough for me. I hadn't been in a relationship for a while and had been doing a lot of self work. I had dreams and goals and deadlines and responsibilities and marriage just didn't fit in, but then the pining began. A few weeks later, a future bridesmaid of mine and I were talking about life and fate and destiny, and at that moment I just knew and proudly proclaimed to her that I was finally ready to meet the man that I was supposed to marry. That was on a Saturday and the following Tuesday Mark sent me an email. We had known each other for a couple of years, but had never entertained the idea of dating because at the time there were 900 miles in between us. But about 3 months later, I was back at Davids with my mom and dad, and for the sake of variety, I tried 4 gowns on that day, but left with THE dress. And seeing Jillian (she wouldn't let me take her picture) in my perfect, white dress and satin-trimmed veil today reminded me of how glorious that day was, and just how grateful I am that my parents always emphasized the importance of my marriage not just the first day.

It's Bath Time

Tonight, I told Karigan it was time for her bath. Before I knew it, she was up the stairs. A first might I add. She made it all the way to the first landing by herself. - Guess it is time for that baby gate that has been sitting in the mudroom for, oh about, 6 months to finally be installed.

Wanna Sleep Over?

Jillian had her first sleepover last night, and the girls had so much fun. The night before Jillian and I planned the events. She wanted a nail polishing, bracelet making, quesadilla eating, chiminea lighting, marshmallow roasting, boy teasing, movie watching, popcorn munching, pillow fighting night of magic. And boy was it ever. Ellie earned the "ice cream cone" prize for staying up the latest. No, we did not tell them there would be a prize for the night owl of the group -- She came downstairs at 11:30 while Mark was making himself a bowl of ice cream. She batted her eyes a few times and Mark's heart melted - thankfully the ice cream did not. I made her a bed on the sofa, snuggled her in, and then she crashed (hopefully not from the sugar overload.) This morning came early, and since the sleepover was just scheduled on Monday, everyone had places to be today. Ellie did not want to leave, and Jillian did not want her to go. I see the next Anne and Diana (...of Green Gables, that is.) Such sweet, kindred spirits - these girls are!

Wedding Bells with a Curly Headed Boy

Today was spent vegging out on the sofa finally watching all the glorious movies that have been piling up on our DVR. Starting with Camp Rock...afterwards, Jillian declared,

"I'm gonna find myself a curly headed boy, and I'm gonna marry him!"

All I can say is, heaven help us when she's a teenager (if the full-blown-I-like-boys years wait that long) especially with the boy crazy genes she comes from. We. are. in. for. it. Despite her unrequited love for the curly-mop Jonas brother (she and half the girl population under 14), every girl should have a innocent crush on a famous boy heartthrob at least once. So -- I thought I would check into concert tickets for her birthday. They are playing Nationwide Arena on August 23, and da-ta-da, the only tickets left are in the nose bleed section for $60 or some Citibank promotional ticket for $1000 (no, I did not accidentally type an extra zero.) Next stop - Ebay.

Bedtime Story

Brendan volunteered to read Jillian a bedtime story last night. Flawless results, don't ya think? It was fun this morning when they woke up listening to their stories of...he stole the blankets, she kicked me, etc. I do have to say, that is a tiny bed for those two wild sleepers to share.

At the last minute (the way everything is for us) we opted for a small party at home for Karigan's first birthday. Grandma and Grandpa Waishnora and Aunt Jennifer, Josh, and Alyssa came over. Mark and I made dinner for everyone - parmesan crusted chicken, tortellini, and tomato mozzarella salad. After dinner the kids played with bubbles and on the play set in the backyard. Then we opened presents. Karigan received a new dress with tiny pink roses from Grandma and Grandpa, a stuffed Blue and Sprinkles with magnetic hands from the Richters, a chenille purse with a lipstick rattle, quilted money, mirror compact, and heart-shaped keys from Brendan and Jillian, then new apple PJs, a paisley handkerchief print dress, a sippy cup, and a Playskool Walk-n-Ride from Mommy and Daddy. She loved opening the packages, and the big kids liked showing her how. The cake was perhaps, as it normally is on first birthdays, the best part. At first she just pinched the frosted dots off the top of the cake. Once everyone stopped watching, she was down to business. She topped the night off with a bath in the sink and, shortly after, fell asleep in Grandma's arms.

The Pool is Open!

The 'Top Ten List' for opening day at the Waishnora Family Pool

10.) It's hot.

9.) Karigan did not like the cold water.

8.) Flavor*Ice will not change the color of the water.

7.) Pee will.

6.) Do not drink the water.

5.) Telling the mail lady I did not wet myself.

4.) Applying sunscreen to each square inch of three bodies every hour, only to discover I missed under Jillian's eyes each time.

3.) Putting the Aloe Vera gel in the refrigerator.

2.) Sleepy, sleepy, sleepy kids.

1.) Quiet time for Mommy and Daddy.

Yum, sketti!

Karigan fed herself for the first time at dinner tonight.

Can anyone guess what she ate?

Jillians Haircut

The other day Jillian asked me if she could get her hair cut. I shrugged her request off because she has never had her hair cut before and when I always mentioned it, she would cry and say no it will hurt. What child likes to be "cut" anywhere? So now we use the word trim. But this time she wanted her hair cut, and not just a little bit. The next day she asked again. Meme and Poppy were in town and I didn't want to be the bad guy by saying no. So, the most honorable thing to do was to pass the buck. I told Jillian she would have to ask Daddy. She insisted on calling him right then and there. I just knew Mark would veto the idea right away. To my ultimate surprise, he said "sure Jillie, I think it would be great if you got your hair cut." So on to Cookie Cutters we went. She donated her hair to Locks of Love and took great pride in knowing that another little girl somewhere will wear her hair. When her hair was styled and ready to go, she asked "Mommy are you disappointed?" UGH! Fighting back the emotion, I then explained that Mommy isn't disappointed, I will just miss your curls. She proudly declared that her curls will grow back and then she can give another little girl her hair.