Fun

We've all heard "Babies don't come with a manual." I heard that a ton before I was a mom. "All children are different. What works for one child may not work for another. There's no instruction booklet telling you how to raise a child." Yes, we've all heard that before. After nearly three years being a mom and seeing my girls and being around many, many other children, I do believe that children are given a manual. There seems to be a few tricks of the trade that all children seem to know about. Here are a few tricks that my children have perfected:
*Side Note* This is purely for your entertainment value at my children's expense...I love them from head to toe, but this week a few of these tricks kept presenting themselves, and I couldn't help but smile, and make note of them...mostly because I wanted to see if it was just my children, or all children. Let me know!

- How is that all children know the "Let me get you to stop cooking in the kitchen" trick? It seems that every time I stand in my kitchen to start on dinner, Gwen wedges herself between me and the cupboards, and pushes on my legs for me to hold her. Gabs did the same exact thing. She'd get into position and push her head on my legs while looking up at me with a look of neglect and tears in her eyes until I'd stop and pick her up. At which point she would be quite satisfied with herself and dinner would be put off again.

- Oh, then there's the wrestling move while changing diapers. This one requires a lot of skill, but it seems all babies have it. I don't know how these little things twist their torsos with so much force, but I can never seem to get a diaper changed without fighting the ever so strong wrestling move of my Gwen.

- And on that note, I've never come across a baby who hasn't done this...produce a stinky diaper milli-seconds after getting a clean one! I know it's ridiculous, but more than having to fight the wrestling move again, I'm more upset that money just got thrown out the window. That was a perfectly good diaper, ready to last hours that I had to throw away after mere seconds on a clean bum!

- Then there are toddlers. They have a knack for timing. My sweet sweet Gabs picks the perfect time, every time to need the restroom when we're out and about. If we're clear in the back at the shoes, she desperately needs the restroom which happens to be at the front of the store. And if we're checking out, she so so badly has to use the restroom, and oh, lucky us, it's in the rear of the store!

- It seems that the car is a magical reminder that they have clips and bows in their hair, and socks on their feet. Because we go all morning with perfect hair and warm feet, but once in that car, the bows come tearing out and socks are thrown onto the floor, at which point I can no longer fix because I'm driving and we're late.

-There's always the horrible, outrageous request to put a coat on too. How dare we, as mothers, ask such an awful thing of our children. I have yet to meet a child who is excited about wearing a coat. If you have that child, please don't tell me, I'd rather believe there are none!

- I also think children are taught that clean floors and swept carpet need to be spilled on immediately after being clean. It never fails that I get a plate full of rice on the floor after vacuuming.

- The last one that made an appearance at my house a couple times this week, happens to be my favorite. Gabs has become a master at this, and I see Gwen learning very quickly. It's like they have a sixth sense. They know that when moms on the phone, all bets are off, and that it is now the perfect time to get away with anything. My friend called the other day and as I walked from one end of the house to the other, in and out of rooms to try and converse without too much noise, I found myself witnessing the chaos unravel. Gwen was hitting, hitting, hitting the toilet paper roll, delightfully watching it puddle up on the floor, while Gabriella frantically took it to make "paths" with it all over my room-asking me which path I'd like to take. Nice. Then I notice a sucker in her mouth. Hadn't I been telling her all morning that it wasn't time for a treat yet? Somehow, she knew that if she asked while I was on the phone, I'd be so preoccupied with trying to listen and keep her as quite as possible, I'd march right over to that cookie jar and pull the biggest, pinkest sucker right out. Crazy.

Writing these, I just have to smile. Being a mom is so fun! What a gift it is to me to be a mom. I'm reminding myself all too often to not take life too seriously. To enjoy these gifted little children. There's just too much to be thankful for. This is fun, life is fun, being a mom is so fun.

There's Something Wrong Here

I thank you all again for suggestions of things the girls and I can do to keep those sometimes long days a little more enjoyable! Gabs and I have had our first date night, where we ate popcorn, drank fruit punch and watched a late night movie when she should have been in bed. She invited a friend over for a play date. We've had early morning walks with friends. We've worked on birthday and Christmas projects. And we enjoyed a weekend with Joe, free of working, but of course, not free of some serious football watching! We had a great time being with friends and being together.

I must say, for probably being a little on the bored side and being a little home bound, the girls have been behaving so well. They have been a delight in fact. Which has made the last month a little more bearable! So with all your great suggestions and ideas, I did what any good mother would do (sarcasm intended) -I decided that we needed to treat ourselves to some guilty pleasures. I went on the hunt for a new skirt-I failed miserably by the way- and took the girls to Big Lots for a new toy. I know, I know, I've seen the Oprah's where mothers spoil their children because they are trying to make up for being away, or not being emotionally available for their children. But, in all honesty, I just wanted to reward them for being good kids! That's not too bad right? So, if you have a Big Lots near you, and you don't frequent it very often, you should! There are some serious treasures to be discovered there. I love a bargain, and Big Lots is over flowing with them.

Well, the toys there are great, so down each and every aisle we went! Gabriella decided on a princess cash register. She was very excited to come home and play "store" with it. Now, I know I said I was going to try and share more non-embarrassing influences I have over my girls, but I'm struggling to see those influences at the moment. So embarrassing it is. Well, Gabs had me be the store clerk and she was buying all sorts of things. Cell phones, sun glasses, Little People, what ever she could find to fit in her purse. The Cash register came with a credit card, coins, and a dollar. She wanted to use the credit card, so I taught her that I say "will that be Credit or Debit" and she would answer "Debit please". Then she would proceed to put in her pin number of 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3. I tried to take cash from her, but she insisted that I put the cash in the register and GIVE it to her. The poor girl thinks that when you buy something you pay with debit and get paid too. I obviously take "Cash Back" a little too often. Joe and I had a good laugh about it, but still can't convince her that she should pay with the money. Apparently she sees me receiving cash, but never spending it. Why is it then that I never have any money? There's definitely something wrong here!

feeling blue

The other night my friend -yeah, you know who you are :), asked me if it made me uncomfortable knowing that people can read my blog. I didn't even know that this friend checked my blog. I said that it didn't because it was more of a record for me about my families happenings than a personal journal about my thoughts. I, however, did become really self-conscious thinking about people that may happen upon my blog or those that blog jump and find me. I pretty much only think about the people on my list are reading this, but I suppose I am wrong. Anyway, after all this time, I am posting something personal to me only, because Gwen's sleeping and Gabriella's playing, and I'm bored and I don't know what else to do.

I hate-and I don't use that term at all (it's a bad word over here)- but I hate my husbands schedule right now. Beware, this post is a pity party post. But, Joe is working at a hospital pretty far right now and I see him, maybe, maybe 2 hours a night, if he comes home. The girls, far less than that because they are usually in bed. I realize I sound pretty pathetic, especially considering I am surrounded by incredibly strong friends whos husbands are deployed. I apologize for my weak attempt at feeling blessed and lucky to have him near by. Right now though, today, I am feeling pretty darn blue. I miss eating dinner as a complete family. I miss those few hours before bed time sitting in our living room talking about our day with the girls playing at our feet. I miss having Joe sing their song at bedtime, I just don't do it right. And lets be honest, I miss having Joe get their jammies every once in awhile, or changing diapers, or washing sippy cups. The girls are missing their daddy to rough house with. They miss getting horsey rides and playing hide-n-go-seek before bed time. Gabs asked him the other night to stay home tomorrow so they could play. It broke Joe's heart. It's breaking my heart, and this is only the beginning. It gets worse next year. I just don't know what to do. My girls just don't know what to do. The walls of our little house are closing in and I am getting cabin fever. I hesitate leaving the house when it's dark with two little girls...so that pretty much rules out doing anything after nap time because then it's 3:30 and yeah, Washington's a real joy in the winter!

So, I need ideas. I have run out of things to do. I feel like we are all climbing the walls. What do you do with your family on sometimes long Sunday afternoons, or when your husbands come home late? Bake, crafts, games, anything. And even if I don't know you and you're reading this, or I do know you, but don't know that you read this, I'll take the ideas because I'm desperate. It will be nice knowing that I'm really not as lonely as I am feeling right now , and frankly, it will be nice to have something to read. And soon I'll post something a whole lot less personal and a lot more fun about my families happenings.

I Gabriella

This is little Gabriella at 18 months old. She learned to say her name this day, well, she learned to say "Gab-e-lala". That's a big name for a little girl to learn. Before she was born we figured we'd call her "Gabby" for short. It never really suited her. We tried it out for a few weeks, but it really wasn't sounding right on our little girl. We call her Gabs and Ella-belle, but mostly it's Gabriella.

Gabriella knows it's "Gabriella" too. Someone called her Gabby one day at the park and she said: "No, I Gabriella". She has corrected me on several occasions. I told her once at dinner, "You're an eating machine." She said, "No, I Gabriella." I told her one morning in the tub when she was lying down getting her hair wet, "You are the little mermaid." "No, I Gabriella." When she got out of bed the other morning without waking up Gwen, I said, "Thanks for being such a quite little church mouse." "I not a mouse, I Gabriella." When I call her "love" or "Sweet pea" she says, "No, I Gabriella"

The list really does go on and on. Almost everyday she informs me of her name once again. She probably thinks I'm one dumb mom forgetting her name all the time. Today she said to me, "Hola Mommy." I said, "Hola Gabriella." To my surprise she said, "No, I Dora." I guess for today there's something better than being my little Gabriella. Don't you just love how literal kids are?

Mornings with Daddy

The reason that I love blogging so much is because of what a horrible journal keeper I am. I think I'll remember something forever, but I know I have already forgotten so many memories about my girls. This is a memory I think I would forget if I didn't document it, and I want to remember everyday moments like these. So, more for my benefit than your reading pleasure I present a Saturday In The Life Of The Chiara's:

Our typical Saturday mornings are hard to come by these days. Joe's schedule is awful and we go days without seeing him. This Saturday we were lucky enough to have him home. If you know Joe, you know that he is a big breakfast guy. He is infamous for making gigantic breakfasts' along with a gigantic mess. Yesterday he recruited the girls for help. Gabriella loves to pull up a chair when I make our weekly pancakes, but I've never enlisted Gwyneth in on the fun. I was off at our Super Saturday, so this was one breakfast and mess he had all to himself. When I got home he showed me pictures of what breakfast making had turned into for the girls. Way to go Joe for grabbing the camera!

Gwen occupied herself by emptying the utensil drawer, and Gabriella occupied herself by making use of a familiar utensil. The tongs. She "straightened" her hair and kept asking Joe "Does my hair look okay? How's the back? Is it a mess?" Questions I shamefully admit I had asked Joe earlier that morning before leaving. Then she would continue working on her hair until it looked "perfect."

What a funny girl! I hope I can one day share a not so embrrassing influence I had over my girls! Oh, and they loved their crepes and bacon and had the mess cleaned up before I got home. Well, most of it.