|
firstfish
|
read my profile
sign my guestbook
Name: Meg and Troy
Country: United States
State: Oregon
Interests: trying to pretend like I know how to work the internet, book club, hanging out with Troy and Ains, hanging out with the rest of "The Family(s)" costuming, going to movies in my town with no movie theater anymore, =(
Expertise: costuming unruly actors and an unruly baby (only when she has to get dressed)
Occupation: Artist
Industry: Textiles
Message: message me
Member Since:
11/21/2005
|
|
| I just read this article and wanted to post it on my xanga because if you ever wondered what Ains is like right now this is it every single thing is something she does right now and the things I wonder about her little self. =) Why We Love 2-Year-Olds: An EssayHere's Why We Love Them Despite having what I consider expertise in the area (and being prepared for the worst), I still marvel at the way toddlers are equipped, at such a young age, to develop a mind completely of their own. So I do the only thing I can do: Try to maintain my sense of humor -- and my sanity -- by seeing her behavior in a new light. For instance:
When she takes a running leap and lands on top of me, she is questioning whether she will always be able to lean on me. And because I always want her to know the answer is yes, I tolerate it. When she yells "No!" and points her finger, returning the glare she undoubtedly learned from me, she is asserting herself. I couldn't be more relieved. I hope she will maintain that perseverance right into her teen years, when she can use it on any boy who dares to try to get fresh with her. And into her adult years, when her stubbornness will be called "determination." When she attempts to stick a bobby pin she's found into the light socket, she is exploring her world and trying to discover how things work. Perhaps she'll be an engineer one day. When she draws on the walls with a purple crayon, she is expressing her creativity. I try to think of her as an artist in training. And even more important, she is learning the value of leaving her mark on the world. When she breaks my favorite lamp and flashes her award-winning smile just as I am coming toward her, she is practicing her people skills. Perhaps she'll be a great politician (though I hope she'd be the rare kind who maintains integrity). When she tries to stuff the kitten into her brother's lunchbox, she is experimenting with spatial concepts. When she wrestles with her brother over a toy, calling "Mine!" loud enough to be heard down the street, she is being bold and going for what she wants. I just hope that in the future, if she doesn't get her way, her solution won't be to bite in retaliation. When she climbs our chain-link fence with bare feet, she is proving that no challenge is too difficult for her to meet. And when I discover her playing in the yard of the neighbors who live behind us, she is reaching beyond her own little world, refusing to be provincial. When she lies on top of her 7-month-old sister, crushing the baby with enthusiastic hugs and kisses, she is unabashedly wearing her heart on her sleeve. When she insists I read The Little Engine That Could to her again, for the seventh time in a row, she is teaching me patience. When she dumps macaroni all over the kitchen floor, stops to acknowledge my "No!" by turning briefly to look at me, and then goes right back to what she was doing, she is showing her ability to follow through with a task. When she gets tickled over something I take for granted -- the toast popping up from the toaster when it's browned, for instance -- she is blessing me unaware. How many times have I longed to see the world through the eyes of a child once again? Thanks to her, I can. When I catch her trying to eat the cat's food, she is proving that she will not be a picky eater -- and that she has survival skills, which may come in handy later in life (especially if she ends up on some reality TV show). When she gleefully rips off her dry diaper, throws it in the sink, and races for the toilet, then refuses to sit on it, she is exercising her prerogative to change her mind. When I call her name and she immediately breaks into a sprint in the other direction, she is listening to her own inner voice and refusing to be a conformist. When she suddenly decides to throw a tantrum in the middle of a restaurant, she is teaching me humility. And that leftovers reheated later at home usually taste just as good as food served fresh. When she steps into my enormous shoes, which swallow her tiny feet, and clumsily tries to walk in them, she makes me reflect upon my great responsibility to provide a good role model for her to follow. And when she stands on the kitchen table with no pants on, refusing to even put on a diaper, and dances... well, I can only think the worst about that. So I try not to read too much into it, because I am choosing to remain positive.
| | |
| Ok well the momwhich is what I am currently invovled in. This involves doing everything with two small children on either side of you or in some cases one in front nursing and one climbing my head. I think I really should get hazard pay. I have had a crick in my neck for the past week and today I thought oh yeah that is probably why as Ainsley crawled literally up and over my head to get to the other side of the bed while I was nursing Asa. Another case is when I am trying to take a nap and on one side of my head I have a moniter with Ainsley talking herself to sleep and on the other side I have Asa stirring(if it could be called that). In motherhood there is no such thing as personal space because everyone invades it. I remember going to a museum I don't remember exactly where. It may have been the children's museum in Indianapolis. They had an exhibit that showed the distance from a person that people talk from different countries. So for example the person from China may be talking 1 foot away from you while a person from Sweden may talk 4 feet away from you and that would be in their comfort zone. They should have the distance a child would be from it's mother when talking which is a maximum of, oh say, 4 inches from your face. I would sometimes like to have my own space but we moved Asa into his room yesterday and I do, as crazy as it may seem, miss having him close to me. So maybe being a momwhich is not as bad as it sometimes seems. That being said, I do not miss tripping over the pack and play. In other news I am coming to Illinois people so I hope some of you can make it to see me. I am bringing the babies but not Troy unfortunately. I will be there April 22-May 6 so that is two weeks for you to make an appearance. Ok well I hope all if well with you all and that I hear from you soon. Here are some pictures in parting. This is the kids in their Easter finest.    love meg | | |
| He is risen indeed. Remember when everyone used to do that. I miss that. meg | | |
| Yes that is what everyone in my house is doing right now except for me because I want to be able to sleep tonight so I took a mini nap and when Asa wanted to get up and eat then I just stayed up since he went to bed finally. So that is not a typo in the title by the way that is waht Ains says for sleeping. That is usually followed by her best impression of what someone sounds like when they are sleeping which is approx. ha su ha su ha su. She really is a kick in the pants right now I don't think people can fully appriciate the life of a toddler until you live with them 24/7. It is really busy. She is sick with a bad cold right now and yet she still finds time to run all over the house, unclean the entire house in the 1/2 hour it takes me to feed Asa, she feeds babies and colors and "plays with play doh (which grosses her out so she just likes to play with the containers). Truly amazing. She says a million words as well and does not hesitate to try anything that her parents say. I have never been more concious of the words that I use on a daily basis than I am now. Crap is something that is almost gone from my vocalb now thanks to the big baby. I have called the Peds office and my Drs. office at least once a week so far since I have been home. Our latest has been Ainsley's cold and the fact that Asa and I have thrush. Troy had to work late last night as well which didn't help things. He will be home early today though we hope and mommy is ready for a trip to the grocery store. I am thankful for him in all of his messiness though I will say. I love you honey and I am glad that you are around and that you aren't a sleaze bag. Thanks. Well, I hear Ainsley waking up which si yet another reason that I didn't want to go back to bed. It is harder for me to be almost totally asleep and then have to wake up than it is to be tired buit just stay awake. So while Asa is finally asleep I should go get her so I can spend so mommy Ainsley time. Take it easy everyone and I will try and blog more when I can. meg | | |
|  There ae a lot of things that no one tells you about having two kids and then there are people who have more than two and they think they remember all of this stuff as well.
First off, two is way harder than having one, and listen carefully to this next part, only after you have the two. When you have only one child you think it is hard because it is hard when it is your first. Two becomes hard because now you have two and that is the first time you have two. Peoples heads are floppy and don't stay up when you try to read books to both kids at one time and everyone NEEDS to be sitting on your lap, everyone cries at the same time, and no one sleeps at the same time which means no sleep for the mommy. People who have 3 or more kids don't remember that is is hard to have two at first. I say at first because my only hope for sanity is that is gets a little better as they get older. They think oh wait until you have three and four and they are right but at the moment whatever number of children you have is going to be the hardest. People say oh wasn't it easier with one and so the answer is no not really because then you did everything for the first time so it was trial and error then as well. T oday my hope is that eveyone will be sleeping for at least one hour at the same time this afternoon since this morning has already lost the window of nap time. Ainsley fell asleep on top of her pillow this morning with all of the sheets ripped off the bed and facing the wrong way, legs sticking out of the spindles on the bed with one arm pulled out of the TOP of her shirt. All this 15 mins before Asa finally fell asleep so I went and woke her up so that she will hopefully take a good nap this afternoon. We have watched two episodes of Jack's Big Music Show and one episode of Dora so far and eaten a Dora popsicle and it is only 10:15 here. This is what happens with two kids when they wake up at 5:30. accomplishments for the day include the fact that I did shower before Troy left for work and all three of us are dressed for the day. Hooray!!!! Tomorrow will be a different accomplishment I am sure. Pizza is for lunch and someone is bringing us dinner so that is great. I will see if my pictures work to add a couple more of Asa here. 
| | |
|
