It Was Not Food Poisoning

Both kids have been sick with colds this last week and coughing like they are going to spew all their insides out. Jason had an extra long week of study and work trying to catch up for a test on Friday. This left me most of the week with the kids all by myself which is normal and fine because he is working/studying hard to provide for our family ... but it wore me out. By Saturday night I too was sick as a dog ... but it was not food poisoning.

I'm not sure how it happened but somehow it got around that I had food poisoning. No, we did not go to church, I really don't like taking the kids when they are sick because I would prefer that germs not be passed around and since Abygail is in nursery now it seems like we are constantly sick. Since I was also sick and it was the one day that Jason was home and could watch the kids he graciously let me sleep in on Sunday (thank you so much!).

Although we are all still sick (Jason seems to have missed the full wrath of this one - lucky duck) we are fine and still kicking. In fact, we even got out this morning to sign up for story time again - this time we were there when the library opened so we are officially in the class instead of 'illegal immigrants'. And I've got some fun cookies ready for Abygail and I to decorate later this afternoon after she wakes up from her nap.Jason and Abygail did some painting, Jason and Jacksons' pumpkins finally got painted. They had so much fun.

Mistakes Of A First Time Mom

I couldn't decide on a good title so I choose 'Mistakes of a first time Mom' because that's what I feel like I do, all day and everyday. Hopefully I will learn from them and actually remember what I've learned the next time the same situation arises.

Photo 1 left to right: Garret the birthday boy, Parker, Ciela and Abygail

Photo 2 left to right: Westin, Parker, Ciela and Abygail

The Zoo with Friends:

Thursday we went to the Zoo. We invited everyone we could think of to come and meet us there so that it would be fun for the kids and the grown ups could socialize. It was really fun to see so many people come...and it was nice to see so many familiar faces at the zoo, there were at least 10 parents plus their kids. I think the kids really enjoyed it and it's always fun to see the animals. I really enjoyed it to because I have really been craving adult interaction lately. Jackson wanted to go a bit faster than everyone else so we had to split off from the group for a little bit. Then he wanted to be fed so we headed to the play ground. Normally I don't stop at the play ground because it's so busy I'm scared that my child will wind up missing, but this time it wasn't very busy so it was a great shady place to sit. Abygail didn't discover the slides until the very end and then she didn't want to go...but being the first time mom that I am I forced her to get back in the stroller and continue on when the other kids/parents were ready to go. This started a screaming fit that got us lots of looks ('I've so been there' and 'O, that's so funny' - you know the nice kind of looks not the 'your a horrible parent' kind of looks). In retrospect I realize now that I should have stayed and let her play - the zoo was really for her, who cares about my socialization needs or wants, I should be making sure she is having fun and remembers the zoo fondly. In situations where it can't hurt to stay longer...than just do it, the kid will remember the fun time rather than a mommy that makes her stop playing. O well, I make lots of mistakes. Impatience is my biggest.

Story Time with Miss Lucy:
Today we went to story time and I'm so glad we did! We should have gone so much sooner.
Miss Lucy is the Librarian that directs it and she is so good. Abygail got to sing and dance. They talked about colors and body parts. It was a lot of fun. Abygail seemed to be very out going though, since we were in a closed room I decided to let her do her own thing. Most of the time she was paying attention and participating...but she also walked around, tried to open the door, tried to take another kids food (why are you feeding your kid at story time?) Handed several books to another mom and asked her to read.. and the list goes on. I'm not sure if this is because we haven't taught her manners very well or if she is a confident and secure child or just a free spirit. I will try to believe it's that she is a confident and secure child. Oh, I should mention, we were at the library early and got to wait outside until it opened, we saw a huge flock of geese and Abygail wanted to go and play with them. I didn't let her for fear of them getting mean and 'bitting' her. She took it ok, I just distracted her by showing her the beautiful flowers that were planted all around. I really feel like I should be doing more with her...story times, art projects, educational one on one time, singing and dancing, GOING TO THE PARK, and kid/parent stuff like that. I love doing these things with her but I have to remind myself to put forth the effort and remember to do them.

If 15 mins of sleeping in the car doesn't equal a nap than 90 mins of crying must...right?:
She didn't want to take a nap today because she had fallen asleep in the car and unfortunately woken up before I could lay her down once we got inside. So I thought, ok well, we'll just act like you haven't had a nap yet and do everything just like we normally do...well...it didn't work. After an hour and a half I decided that it just wasn't worth trying anymore.

Sweet Kisses:
Abygail has been such a kisser lately. When I buckler her into her car seat she gives me kisses over and over again. It's so sweet and cute and endearing. She also does this when she goes to bed, and when she wakes up. I really should just enjoy those moments instead of rushing around to get places or hurrying her to bed.

Getting Lost and the Library

I took the car this morning so that we could goto the library today. This meant that we all had to get up, shower, dress, eat and ready to walk out the door by 8:30 so that we could take Jason to school (i guess you can call this good practice for the future - when the kids are in school).

Car rides are soooo interesting because we have 2 kids that hate their car seats and hate the car - 1 child that is motion sick and routinely 'decorates' and 'perfumizes' our car, none the less it must be done, but that's off the subject.

The library didn't open until 10 and I wanted to go so that I could get Abygail signed up for story time, it was a bit too early so I decided to go back before we had to pick up Jason (the library is by the school). When we showed up at the Library at 5 they told us that the class had filled up by 11:30 that morning (40 kids), our bad luck, so we got on the waiting list. My disappointment may seem silly but Story Time is a big thing for me, 1) it's something that is scheduled and ensures that we get out of the house, 2) it's important to me that Abygail interact with others her age and have 'special activities' of her own, and 3) I don't have to think of something to do - someone else has done it for me. O well, hopefully someone will drop out and we will get in, we are the second on the list so there is a good chance of this happening.

The library was also having a book sale. I had forgotten my carrying pack for Jackson so I was lugging him around in his car seat and pushing Abygail in the umbrella stroller (which didn't seem to want to roll today). Jackson was getting a little fussy so instead of going into the play room they have or looking at the library books I decided to just go and see what books were for sell and get a few if they had some for kids. They had tons of children's books! Abygail is a book fanatic and started going crazy at the site of all the books. She chanted the words "wead" and "booooook" over and over again in an excited voice that sounds like Cookie Monster (who she also loves and says "goooookieee" every time she sees him or thinks about him). So we looked and bought 5 books. Abygail was so excited.

It really warms my heart that she loves books so much, and makes me think that we've done at least something good as parents. Everyday, several times a day, she throws as many books as she can up in to our lap and says "wead", nod, "book", nod, "wead". Then crawls up in our lap, gets all nice and comfortable and lets us read to her.

So after we bought our books we left because Jackson was done and ready to go. Since it was only 5:45 and Jason didn't finish teaching until 6:20 I decided to get lost. This is something I love doing, especially when we move. I have a pretty good since of direction so it's a fun game for me to get myself lost and then find my way back again. So we got lost, and Jackson screamed himself to sleep and Abygail did not 'blowing chunks'. You may think "why didn't she just take them home and then get back out again when it was time". Well, I'll tell you why...Not only does Abygail love books but she also loves being outside and by the time I finally got her back in the apartment, it would have been time to leave again...and Jackson would have been screaming the whole time anyway because what he really wanted was to be out of his car seat. We did eventually find our way back and just in time to pick up Daddy.

When Jason got to the car Abygail was very excited, Jason let her out and she ran around in the grassy area and then didn't want to get back in the car because she hadn't had an equal amount of 'outside time' to 'car time'. So when we got home she and Daddy stayed outside and ran around, read her new books and played. Jason really loves playing outside with her - I can't wait until we are in a house and have a back yard!

On that note, we have an appointment this Saturday with a real estate agent to start looking! Yea!!!

Well, that's it. No pics today, but here is one showing Abygail's love for books. I'm trying to rest and see if my playing 'opossum' will work - it didn't. She piled up all the books she wanted me to read to her anyway, sleep or no sleep.