Zoë and Noah were in a wedding this past weekend and I have to just say they were quite possibly and probably the cutest ring bearer and flower girl in the whole world. Zoë love an audience and loves to dance and sing and entertain. She was in her element. As she twirled around, I saw her on her wedding day. A true vision.
Zoë
A True Parenting Conversation
Bill: Zoë pooped on the potty by herself today.
Me: Really?
Bill: Yeah she was hiding and I suggested she go on the potty and and she just kept yelling at me “don’t bother me.”
Me: So then she came to get you?
Bill: She walked out naked from the bathroom and I asked her where her pull-up was and she said she threw it away and went on the potty.
Me: Good.
Bill: I didn’t actually see her do it though. (a bit hesitant and skeptical maybe)
Me: Did you look in the trash can to see if her pull-up was full of crap?
Bill: Yeah and it wasn’t. I guess it could have fallen out somewhere on the floor when she took her pull-up off. I didn’t really look around.
So, there could be a random pile of crap somewhere in the house. I do highly doubt it, as Zoë is really good about telling on herself. Looks like we might be getting closer to the whole no more pull-up thing.
The Rules–Two-Year-Old Style
Zoë is fascinated and completed concerned with rules. She is always asking to make sure something is okay, “Mom can I talk with gum in my mouth?” I say “yes.” Then immediately she must ask the same question of her dad and sometimes Noah if it appears he might be an authority on the activity in question. Zoë certainly has a very white and black view of the world of rules and how they operate. Here are a few of her favorites that I am finding I must abide by or experience the wrath of the two-year-old.
1. You can’t kiss food in your mouth
2. You can’t talk with food in your mouth (often said with food in her mouth)
3. You can’t put that in your mouth–said when I hold my keys, hair tie, phone, etc in my mouth.
4. Don’t snap when you drive, it’s dangerous
5. You can’t eat when you drive, it’s dangerous
6. You can’t leave your shoes in the living room
7. You can’t do that, this or the other thing
But my all time favorite two-year-old rule is…
You can’t talk to me when i’m pooping (often said in ALL CAPS).
How I Long For A Simpler Time
Not like back before computers and iPhones or iPads, just back to when I wasn’t being pulled in 8 different directions. Every. Single. Day. While I keep telling myself it’s going to get better, I think about something else to freak me out–like next year I’m going to have to pay tuition for two kids at our chosen private school. Do you know the kinds of vacations we could have if we weren’t making two mortgage payments a month (one mortgage one tuition)? I know it’s worth it but I question it completely especially as the end of school nears and I’ll have to start paying my student loans which are about the same as what we owe on our house. We maybe making a change next year, I don’t know. I’d hate to because I fully believe that the school Noah is at is the right place–Maybe I’ll just have to get another job or stop going to Starbucks.
I’m a little panicked because my comprehensive exams start on Monday. I have 3 questions to answer with two weeks for each question. This is scary as it is the last step prior to me getting to start my dissertation. I’m so ready to be done with school and ready to get out there and work hard for my family and myself, but this is daunting. The next few months are going to be tough as I have to submit my dissertation proposal by December 1 if I am going to begin collecting data for my dissertation in January. I know this bores all of you and I’m sorry for that–bur right now this is my reality. I am up to my eyes in Social Cognitive Theory, Critical Discourse Analysis, and Self-efficacy formation. Exciting isn’t it.
On a happier note–because it’s apparent I need one. Our family vacation went well. It started off rocky–on our first night in Miami Zoë burned her hand. It was so not my fault. (just realizing this doesn’t sound like a happier note)
The hotel has halogen lights in the ground. These lights happened to be purple–which is Zoë’s favorite color. She was over by my brother (it wasn’t his fault either) and she was looking at the lights. I didn’t think for a second to tell her not to touch the lights as we all assumed they were covered. Then all of a sudden, Zoë is standing behind my chair and it is clear that something is terribly wrong. She is crying but no sound is coming out and she is holding her hand. I immediately thrust her hand in my water class. I knew what happened before I even asked her. It was horrible. I have never heard a child scream so badly in pain for so long (about 3 hours). It was awful. One of the worst moments in my life. But the next day–she woke up as if nothing had happened and her hand never bothered her again. The hotel felt awful and offered medical help–but we knew there was nothing they could do for these ‘minor” burns. To continue the torture of my baby girl, when we were in Nassau, I got her hair braided. She cried for an hour as two women worked quickly on her hair. It looks adorable. She still says “But I didn’t want my hair braided.”
I will be posting here off and on as I navigate my comp exams and write my dissertation proposal. Most likely when I am procrastinating (like I am right now).
Zoëversary
June 28, 2008
June 28, 2008
June 2010
June 2010
Two years ago today, we were sitting in Washington’s Dulles airport waiting for our flight home. Home for you to meet you daddy and your big brother. You smiled at me on occasion but more often than not gave me a look of suspicion as though you didn’t quite trust me yet. You bonded with me and your grandfather–who you still to this day adore. You were thrust into a family who loved you so much. You could roll over and your smile was slowly showing up more often and your looks of skepticism and suspicion quickly subsided.
Today you are a whirlwind of energy, love, opinion, happiness and stubbornness. You love fiercely and you hate to do something wrong. Your quick to tears and quick with kisses and hugs. Your laugh is indescribably awesome and I can’t imagine not having you in our lives. You complete our family and it is clear that you were meant to be part of our family. We love you Bobo and I look forward to loving you for the rest of my life.
Embracing Imperfection 