Parenthood. It's like a full-time job, especially if you stay at home with the kids. Except it really isn't. If you work full-time, you get paid. Parenthood isn't a paid position, at least not monetarily. And most full-time jobs are 40 hours per week. Not parenthood. How many hours are in a week? That's how many hours you're working. But you do get a break at night. Well, maybe. It depends on how well your child sleeps, if said child is sick, teething, injured, or any number of other things. We'll call night duty being on call. You might get called in, you might not. But there are date nights! Yes! Well, that's nothing like a "real" job either. You have to pay someone else to take your shift and you're still on call. As for the job description...well, it includes everything. Changing diapers, feeding, bathing, comforting, cleaning up, laundry, teaching them, well, everything. Also, there's no expense account. You pay for everything too. Really, parenthood is nothing like a job, it's a lifestyle. It's like a tattoo on your face: you have to be fully committed.
Note: This is all tongue-in-cheek, meant to entertain. It's the running monologue in my head while I change the umpteenth dirty diaper that has leaked this week. I dearly love my kids and would do anything for them but let's be honest, it's nothing like a job. ;)
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Stories from the Ewwww file
Lately I've had a series of gross-out parenting moments. Vomit, poop, etc. Here are a few of the more comical ones...
- Steve was holding upside down, like he does all the time. She usually giggles. This time she threw up and it ran down (up?) her face into her hair. Ick.
- Last night Nora woke up about midnight, right as I was about to go to bed (it's like she *knows*). I laid her on my lap and went to change her diaper. Just as I pulled the diaper off, she peed. All over herself. All over me. All over the fresh diaper. Luckily it missed the chair. Sigh. We both needed complete outfit changes.
- Today I noticed a puddle of water on the coffee table. The girls had only had milk to drink so I asked where the water came from. Mia told me it was from the french fry, a plastic toy. I was completely confused until I realized Nora likes to suck on those...yup, that french fry sucked in all that spit and one of the girls squeezed it out onto the table. Funny but so gross.
- Steve was holding upside down, like he does all the time. She usually giggles. This time she threw up and it ran down (up?) her face into her hair. Ick.
- Last night Nora woke up about midnight, right as I was about to go to bed (it's like she *knows*). I laid her on my lap and went to change her diaper. Just as I pulled the diaper off, she peed. All over herself. All over me. All over the fresh diaper. Luckily it missed the chair. Sigh. We both needed complete outfit changes.
- Today I noticed a puddle of water on the coffee table. The girls had only had milk to drink so I asked where the water came from. Mia told me it was from the french fry, a plastic toy. I was completely confused until I realized Nora likes to suck on those...yup, that french fry sucked in all that spit and one of the girls squeezed it out onto the table. Funny but so gross.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Making memories
It's an odd thing being a parent to little kids. Sometimes getting them to eat requires bargaining and creative presentation. You're frequently congratulated on going potty. They insist that they need help finding a toy two feet away from them, but they're figured out how to escape into the backyard (teamwork. Serious. I watched them.). A Tum makes an infected ear feel better (Steve is picking up the meds on his way home). You know the cartoons on TV better than the current songs on the radio. You monitor other people's intake and output *ahem* and adjust the intake accordingly. It's full of weirdness.
It's also wonderful. Christmas, the first snow, splashing in the water at a beach, stars, sledding, little trinkets, silly little games. These things that fall under the radar of adults are wonders in the eyes of little kids. Having kids (or spending time with kids) can give everything a fresh perspective. Last night I took Ella to MedPlus (an after-hours clinic) because I suspected she had an ear infection. It's rare that one of our girls gets alone time with one of us, so this trip to the doctor was a treat for Ella. She even loved the waiting room. She counted chairs and looked at a magazine and breathed, "I love this place Mommy." LOL. She did well with the doctor, who diagnosed an ear infection. The nurses asked me if she goes to school yet. When I said no, they said she doesn't need to. She got a dinosaur sticker (she picked it over a butterfly, balloons, and a flower) and said she was going to scare Amelia with it. Goofy kid.
The girls have come to expect that if they do well during a doctor appointment, they get a treat from Tim Horton's afterward. Since it was so cold, I decided we'd go inside last night. Ella picked chocolate milk and a donut with tons of sprinkles. I had coffee and a blueberry bagel. Ella picked the table we sat at and as we sat there, she started dancing to the music and swinging her feet. I took a picture and sent it to Steve, who was having popcorn with Mia while they watched Chicken Little. It struck me how much she was enjoying this. I remembered the time Dad took me to Big Boy for dessert one night after dinner. Just me. It stuck in my memory as a special time. Like the time I got to go with him on a trip to Grandpa and Grandma's house (he had a meeting nearby). I got to sit in the front seat and we had cheese popcorn. Memories like those are important.
We needed to go to Target after that to buy a baby shower gift for a friend and more baby wipes for us. Ella helped me pick the card, the toy, and the bib. At the end of the trip we went to the dollar bins and I let her pick out a plush flower with a bendable stem. We picked one for Mia, and one for Nora. She wanted me to have one too, so we picked the last color (blue) for Daddy just to complete the collection. Having Ella with me made the trip fun and memorable. The world is a nicer, more exciting place through her eyes. I love my girls and all they teach me.
It's also wonderful. Christmas, the first snow, splashing in the water at a beach, stars, sledding, little trinkets, silly little games. These things that fall under the radar of adults are wonders in the eyes of little kids. Having kids (or spending time with kids) can give everything a fresh perspective. Last night I took Ella to MedPlus (an after-hours clinic) because I suspected she had an ear infection. It's rare that one of our girls gets alone time with one of us, so this trip to the doctor was a treat for Ella. She even loved the waiting room. She counted chairs and looked at a magazine and breathed, "I love this place Mommy." LOL. She did well with the doctor, who diagnosed an ear infection. The nurses asked me if she goes to school yet. When I said no, they said she doesn't need to. She got a dinosaur sticker (she picked it over a butterfly, balloons, and a flower) and said she was going to scare Amelia with it. Goofy kid.
The girls have come to expect that if they do well during a doctor appointment, they get a treat from Tim Horton's afterward. Since it was so cold, I decided we'd go inside last night. Ella picked chocolate milk and a donut with tons of sprinkles. I had coffee and a blueberry bagel. Ella picked the table we sat at and as we sat there, she started dancing to the music and swinging her feet. I took a picture and sent it to Steve, who was having popcorn with Mia while they watched Chicken Little. It struck me how much she was enjoying this. I remembered the time Dad took me to Big Boy for dessert one night after dinner. Just me. It stuck in my memory as a special time. Like the time I got to go with him on a trip to Grandpa and Grandma's house (he had a meeting nearby). I got to sit in the front seat and we had cheese popcorn. Memories like those are important.
We needed to go to Target after that to buy a baby shower gift for a friend and more baby wipes for us. Ella helped me pick the card, the toy, and the bib. At the end of the trip we went to the dollar bins and I let her pick out a plush flower with a bendable stem. We picked one for Mia, and one for Nora. She wanted me to have one too, so we picked the last color (blue) for Daddy just to complete the collection. Having Ella with me made the trip fun and memorable. The world is a nicer, more exciting place through her eyes. I love my girls and all they teach me.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Fly-by post
Just a quick update:
- Nora got tooth number 2! She now has her two front bottom teeth.
- We're getting Nora on a more regular sleeping schedule. I'm loving the added free time (well, time with two hands instead of one while I hold Nora) and extra sleep.
- I'm starting week two of the TurboFire/Chalean Extreme hybrid. I'm sore! But I know I'll get great results that will make it all worth it.
- We had an interesting morning trying to make it out of the house for church yesterday. Nora had a blowout diaper that required a bath. As we were about to walk out the door, Mia took a drink of her milk and dumped it all over herself, the coffee table, and the floor (the lid wasn't on tight). She needed a complete outfit change. We were late to church, but we made it. I'm convinced that I needed to hear that sermon and forces were working to keep us away. I came away excited about my ministry (I think God wants us to take care of our bodies as much as our mind and spirit but church doesn't usually address that). I think God uses our struggles and hurts to minister to others currently going through the same things.
- Ella has been accident-free! Mia is up next for PTing.
- The girls all play together. Kind of. Ella and Mia play together and Nora sits nearby and gnaws on a toy. Sometimes they all giggle at each other and dance. I love it.
- Steve is doing awesome at work.
- Small group started again. So far I like the book and it's so nice to have some kid-free, adult time. Apparently I'm big on self-improvement this year. :)
- We're starting to get rid of things. So if you're about my height (5'4") and between a 12 and 16, I may have some clothes for you. Most of it I'll give away, but there are a few items that I'm asking a little money for since they were rarely worn and rather pricey (two pant suits with jackets, size 13 pants, size medium jacket. I paid about $200 and have worn them less than 10 times in 5 years. I'm asking $50). We also have some baby items we're ready to give up (a bouncer right now). Let me know if you need something like that or know someone who does.
- We're also looking for new (to us) living room furniture. A couch, a loveseat, a recliner. Please let us know if you know of someone getting new furniture.
I think that covers it for news from our house. I hope you're all doing well and 2011 is off to a good start!
- Nora got tooth number 2! She now has her two front bottom teeth.
- We're getting Nora on a more regular sleeping schedule. I'm loving the added free time (well, time with two hands instead of one while I hold Nora) and extra sleep.
- I'm starting week two of the TurboFire/Chalean Extreme hybrid. I'm sore! But I know I'll get great results that will make it all worth it.
- We had an interesting morning trying to make it out of the house for church yesterday. Nora had a blowout diaper that required a bath. As we were about to walk out the door, Mia took a drink of her milk and dumped it all over herself, the coffee table, and the floor (the lid wasn't on tight). She needed a complete outfit change. We were late to church, but we made it. I'm convinced that I needed to hear that sermon and forces were working to keep us away. I came away excited about my ministry (I think God wants us to take care of our bodies as much as our mind and spirit but church doesn't usually address that). I think God uses our struggles and hurts to minister to others currently going through the same things.
- Ella has been accident-free! Mia is up next for PTing.
- The girls all play together. Kind of. Ella and Mia play together and Nora sits nearby and gnaws on a toy. Sometimes they all giggle at each other and dance. I love it.
- Steve is doing awesome at work.
- Small group started again. So far I like the book and it's so nice to have some kid-free, adult time. Apparently I'm big on self-improvement this year. :)
- We're starting to get rid of things. So if you're about my height (5'4") and between a 12 and 16, I may have some clothes for you. Most of it I'll give away, but there are a few items that I'm asking a little money for since they were rarely worn and rather pricey (two pant suits with jackets, size 13 pants, size medium jacket. I paid about $200 and have worn them less than 10 times in 5 years. I'm asking $50). We also have some baby items we're ready to give up (a bouncer right now). Let me know if you need something like that or know someone who does.
- We're also looking for new (to us) living room furniture. A couch, a loveseat, a recliner. Please let us know if you know of someone getting new furniture.
I think that covers it for news from our house. I hope you're all doing well and 2011 is off to a good start!
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