Mom, are you watching me?

It's a boy!

2012-01-27T18:07:00.000-08:00

I have a little surprise for you. Actually, he's pretty big. Meet Spork, our new son! Don't feel bad that you weren't in the know, we decided to keep it a secret this time and Skype-surprised the grandparents. I will never forget the look on Grammy and Grandpa's faces!

We have been in adoption planning this month with Spork's wonderful birthfamily. In fact, while we were waiting to find out if it would really happen, I mentioned that we loved them so much even if they didn't go forward with the adoption plan, could we still hang out anyway?! But now we are blessed to call them family. Spork is 6 months old, and such a joy! He is a chunk-a-dunk of a baby with soft brown curls, caramel skin, big puppy dog eyes, chubby thighs, and massive paws for hands. Don't you just want to kiss him?!

Spork's laugh is an "Eh-eh-eh," sound like Bert from Sesame Street, or as the Nugget put it, "He sounds like a dolphin when he is happy!" His cry is a very sad almost gasping sound which tears at my heart. He loves his bottles, splashing in the tub, inspecting everyone's fingers, rocking, tickles, kisses, and books. He hates getting out of the tub, any activity involving the changing table or being on his back, and having his nose wiped. He is especially intrigued by Tater and for a brief precious moment this morning, he reached for her hand, and she grabbed his.

It is hard to believe that just a few months ago, I felt I would never fill our nest, but now we are at capacity with the Nugget, Tater, and Spork! I feel pulled in every direction, and I wish I could sprout more arms like an octopus. It was trial by fire this morning as Hubby had to attend a meeting and I had to prepare for a visit from Tater's caseworker on our very first morning as a family of 5! When all 3 children decided to burst into tears at the exact same time, I looked around at my life's greatest blessings and just had to smile before quickly going into triage mode. I wouldn't change a thing. Expect light blog posting, while I figure this out and the kiddos all learn a bit more delayed gratification.

Tater-phant

2012-01-15T06:52:00.000-08:00

Tater makes baby elephant noises. At first, we thought she was congested, but if you listen closely, you can hear her breathing strong and clear. The sounds are, "Just for fun," as the Nugget would say. She toots, trumpets, snorts, and grunts. We'd been debating what sort of lovie to get her, and the Nugget claimed it should be an elephant, of course.

When Tater naps unswaddled, she brings a fist up to her chin or cheek, Glamour-Shots style. When she eats, she stretches her long slender legs straight out. Her hair curls after a bath, but dries straight as a pin.

Tater is a sneezy girl, and she sneezes in threes-es. She sneezes when she wakes and after each burp. She has an uncanny way of turning her head just so, so that her sneeze will go right up your nose.

Tater's grip is improving. She had almost no grasping reflex when she arrived, but now she can seize your finger like a vise. While eating, she likes to hold her bib with one hand and the bottle with the other. Her cry is getting stronger too, although she still sounds like a sad, bleating lamb. She, "Wahs," when she wants to be held, and she, "Lahs," when she's hungry.

The almighty binky is becoming more important to Tater. I have mixed feelings about binkies, but now doctors are recommending that every baby get hooked on them to decrease the risk of SIDS. My personal theory is that binky babies drop the darn thing every 10 minutes, forcing the parent to retrieve it. If no one is sleeping, there is no SIDS risk. Yay? Anecdotally, the Nugget was a binky baby (actually he used it until he was over 3), and once he learned how to retrieve it himself, he slept like a log. So maybe there is light at the end of this tunnel, assuming she stays with us that long. She has also become a big fan of the sleep sack.

Tater is a tummy time champ. She can do upwards of 10 minutes, although she usually falls asleep. She is determined and is starting to hold her head up for a few seconds at a time. She is small but mighty.

Tater makes a little lemon face when she's alert. She purses her lips, "Like a fish!" says the Nugget. She is also starting to bless us with her little gummy smiles, and not just when she's pooping. Of course, she smiles the most for that big brother. She tends to pair the smile with furrowed brows, which makes for a very comical effect.

We continue to pray that she lands in the best forever home for her, even if it's not ours. Loving every minute until then.

Growing Tater

2012-01-08T15:04:00.000-08:00

Tater turned one month old last week, and her personality is developing. She is still a very calm baby, with periods of slight fussiness. But like any little lady, she's got opinions. Here are some of them.

1. Being upright is better than being sideways.
2. Being held is better than being set down. And being held with eye contact is the best. Are you looking at me?
3. Fleece pajamas are better than cotton.
4. Lotion is the devil
5. That Nugget is entertaining.

When she wakes at night for a diaper change and feed, the second I unswaddle her, she paddles furiously with her arms and legs, as if she's swimming. The backstroke continues, usually accompanied by wailing, while I fasten her bib, and ends with her hands locking down on her bottle. Speaking of hands, she is trying to retrieve her own binky when it falls out, too.

Tater continues to be very petite, but her joints are starting to show delicious little creases, and her cheeks are round and kissable. Today, when I held her on my lap, she thrust her feet down and straightened her legs to stand. She is starting to notice lights and fans. Her doll-like size continues to draw a crowd wherever we go. Last night, strangers 2 tables away at a restaurant yelled, "How old is that cute baby?" The Nugget is always eager to show off his baby. "Do you want to see my baby?"

Pearls from the Nugget

2012-01-04T12:37:00.000-08:00

Recent one-liners:
"Now you're laughin'."
"I'm starving right now."
"Oh, man!" His tone has just the right tinge of disappointment to it. But he doesn't always use it in context, which makes it all the more entertaining.

Me: (tucking Nugget in bed for the night) Oh, you are all snug.
Nugget: And warm and comfy-cozy.

The nonsensical knock, knock jokes are here. Thanks to Dawa for the inspiration. I love them.
Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Nugget.
Nugget who?
Nugget Table.

The Nugget bestowed Tater with a great sign of affection tonight. I let him pick out her washcloth when I give her a bath, and he said, "Tater can borrow my Henry washcloth." Henry was a boy in the Nugget's class, but he recently moved away. As a parting gift, he gave each classmate a washcloth rolled up into a cute cupcake shape topped with a play cherry. The Nugget has been glued to his Henry-washcloth since, so it was a big deal for him to loan it to Tater. He has such a big heart, and we are so proud of him.

The Nugget received 2 dog lovies for Christmas, and he named them both Charlie, after Grandma and Papa's Maltese.

He also received a new puppy memory game. His favorite cards have little Yorkies in yellow mugs. The mugs have hearts on them. So when he flips them over, he declares, "Dog in a love cup!" Sometimes he gets dogs that, "Are not my favorites." If he gets a match of an unfavored dog, he will generously give his opponent the cards, "You can have those puppies, because they are not my favorites."

Me: I think we're all feeling tired tonight.
Nugget: Not me! I am feeling playful!

More words deemed to be hilarious:

-Soda

-Whippet - "a little dog with a funny nose"

Baby, It's Cold Outside

2012-01-04T11:55:00.000-08:00

Some things I've learned about tiny winter babies:

1. Put on the socks and booties first, then the pants, so the pants will hold on the footwear. And the best pants for this are the leggings that taper at the ankle.

2. Forget the individual mittens, but the flip-over mitts on NB onesies work. So does a fluffy blanket tucked into the car seat.

3. Layers are great, because the docs will stress the importance of keeping a tiny baby warm but not overheated. So 2 onesies, a light cardigan, and a jacket > a snowsuit when you are running errands.

4. Hats for preemies are kind of problematic. Save those stretchy ones from the hospital, because they may the only ones that fit for awhile. I ordered a custom hat from my friend and Etsy artist, Naptime Creations by Sarah, and it's perfect.

Product Reviews

1. The smallest diaper covers are Bummis Super Brite NB, which will work as soon as baby hits 5 pounds. Carter's makes some great well-priced preemie clothes, but they are hard to find. You can order them online though, check consignment shops, Walmart stocks some, or you can do what I did and beg friends who had preemies to loan you some! Gymboree also has some nice tiny stuff in stores, usually on sale, but it's labeled "up to 5 pounds" instead of preemie.

2. I finally understand the sling on the baby tub! Also the sponge bear is great for laying on the floor next to the tub, under the hooded towel. So when I'm bathing Tater solo, instead of handing her to Hubby, I can lay her on the towel and wrap her up right away. Glad to finally get my money's worth out of these 2 items!

3. I scored a used Babyhawk from a friend, and while I'll always be partial to the Ergo, the Babyhawk is much easier to use with a tiny baby. No infant insert required, and her head is totally supported without me having to prop her with my hand. When I have to take Tater to a major grocery run and need the cart space, I take off my coat, put her in the Babyhawk, put my coat back on, and I'm set to go.

4. Purchased some muslin swaddle blankets this time around, and the difference is amazing. You can get a snug swaddle that doesn't overheat the baby, and while Tater can sometimes weasel a hand out, she cannot bust out of the thing butterfly-style like she does with the flannel receiving blankets. I got the Summer Infant knockoff because I had a coupon to BRU, making them way cheaper than the Aden and Anais (but A&A is 4" bigger, so if your baby is big, spring for the real thing). Also enjoying the Miracle Blanket, which I purchased at half-price from Babysteals.

5. Very happy with new-ish Johnson's Naturals line of baby toiletries. Tried the Babyganics lotion after I loved the sunscreen so much, but it have a weird hospital-like scent. Will use it up, but never again!

Product Reviews: Cloth-Safe Diaper Creams

2012-01-01T06:18:00.000-08:00

Now that I'm back in babyland again, I thought I'd share a product review of cloth diaper-safe butt creams. Cloth diapers that are made of synthetic materials, such as microfiber, are not compatible with petroleum-based creams. The cream will coat the fabric and cause it to repel wetness. If you use cotton or bamboo diapers exclusively, you can get away with any cream, because it will wash out. Still, there are plenty of cloth-safe creams on the market, so here we go...

Burt's Bees - This was our first cream, and while it works great, it has a very thick consistency and is hard to push out of the tube. The cost is moderate, about $7.49 for 2 oz. ***

Earth's Best - This brand changed their formula maybe 2 years back? I liked the original and dig the flip top cap, but the new formula tends to separate, so you get liquid squirting out with the cream. Too messy for me. Cost good $10 for 4 oz. **

Method - Love this brand, and it even smells good for a diaper cream. Good consistency. The only drawback is that the container is a tall rigid bottle that has to be upright in use, so while it's perfect for the changing table, it's not so great for the diaper bag. Cost low $5.49 for 5.4 oz! ****

Babyganics - I wanted to like this cream, but it didn't seem to help Noodle's diaper rash as much as the others did. Cost moderate $10.99 for 4oz **

Weleda - Love this one! It clears up rashes quickly, is nice and thick. The cost seems high, but you can use less; I can go through 1 tube of this for 3 bottles of Method. My tube is old, and I was going to put the only drawback was a screw-off top, but I see they now carry it in the flip-cap! Cost high $12 for 2.8 oz. ****

Calfornia Baby - Same problem as with Burt's Bees. A very thick formula that is hard to squeeze out of the tube. But works great on rashes and has a pleasant scent. Cost high $11.09 for 2.9 oz. ***

Boudreaux's All-Natural - The original Boudreaux's in the yellow tube, is not safe for cloth. The new green tube is safe, and they also removed the parabens. I am on my first tube of this and love it. Cost moderate $9.99 for 4 oz. ****

Boys are back!

2011-12-30T07:20:00.000-08:00

Tater, Doggie, and I were thrilled to welcome our traveling boys home yesterday morning. Today, they are both sleeping in, and I am grateful that school and work don't start for a few days more so they can recover from their red-eye.

Every time Daddy returns from a trip, Doggie places her snout on his leg and her body over his feet. It looks like a sign of affection, but my hypothesis is that as a herding dog, she is physically trying to bar him from leaving the pack again. The Nugget somehow rallied as soon as they returned home, having slept only 2.5 hours for the night. But at 3:30pm, he basically passed out in his car seat and had to be carried to bed, where he stayed for the afternoon, evening, night, and now part of the morning too!

They had a wonderful trip, and have the pictures to prove it! Tater and I are a wee bit jealous we didn't get in on the fun. Next time, I hope!

Baking with Grandma and the cousins.

Time with little sisters! Meeting Baby Waffle (Poppy's daughter) for the first time.

Catching up with Cupcake (Tum Mum's daughter)

Special train ride to Portland with Grandma and Papa. Papa worked for a railroad and so shares the Nugget's affection for trains. Look at those smiles!

Thankful for good friends who met for the zoo and kids' museum. Proof that distance doesn't dilute friendship.

Had ourselves a merry little Christmas

2011-12-28T06:21:00.000-08:00

Well, it's just me and my girl this year. We rang in Christmas at 1:30am, but thankfully went back to sleep several more times before officially wishing each other a Merry Christmas.

I slurped down my morning coffee and dressed us up for church. Tater was so adorable in her red dress, but I had neglected to try on the size small tights in advance - they hung off her like the saggy baggy elephant. Oops! We went early to land a spot in the bawl room, but needed it not; apparently the big service was Christmas Eve. I have never spent a Christmas here before, so it was a new experience. Tater slept through the whole service, and the homily seemed meant for us, as it was all about focusing on the (Christmas) present and not dwelling on the future. Carpe diem.

The boys Skyped in their gift opening at Grandma and Papa's house, so I did not miss the Nugget's giddy glee. He is the youngest there, so he got to assist everyone in the gift opening. He didn't pay me much attention, but getting to see his smile, hear his giggle, and witness him running in and out of the frame was awesome. Very thankful for technology.

We delivered 2 full bags and some old curtain rods to the Goodwill dropbox, relishing the quiet streets. Home again to watch some holiday concerts and some Netflix, the good (HP, finally!) and the bad (Gnomeo and Juliet). I swaddled her for a nap, and prepared myself a little casserole and brown rice for dinner. A Christmas beer, a salted caramel, and an early bedtime for me. What I thought would be a lonely Christmas turned out into a peaceful one.

Tots

2011-12-21T13:16:00.000-08:00

Tater had her second doctor's appointment yesterday, and she is up to 5 pounds, 7 ounces. So apparently I have good baby-fattening skills. She is starting to become more alert and is attempting social smiles and holding her head up for a millisecond at a time. Her lanugo is mostly gone, as is most of her flakiness off her skin. Her cheeks are starting to plump up into an adorable baby face. She has a little button nose and a little bow-shaped mouth. Her hair curls slightly after a bath. She can track a rattle with her eyes now and is definitely starting to notice the Nugget and his antics with a wide-eyed stare.

Tater Tot has been a joy, and she definitely has us all wrapped around her teeny finger. She finally fits into newborn sized clothing and the most tiny adorable diaper covers. She is most content when being held or worn, and is starting to protest being put down in the bassinet at night. I keep reminding myself that all those night wakings are extra precious time with her, and it's fabulous that she is willing to eat and grow at night. On the flip side, getting 1 hour of sleep at a time is starting to wear on me, so I am looking forward to sleeping whenever she sleeps next week. Her likes and dislikes closely mirror the Nugget's preferences as a newborn. We are all so curious to find out what her personality will be like as she grows. Not sure if we'll be the lucky family who gets to witness it, but we are loving today.

TT likes
Cuddles
Any kind of formula (phew, what a relief!)
Swaddles
Soothie pacifiers

TT dislikes
Baths
Diaper changes
Wardrobe changes
Nuk pacifiers - the slight difference in nipple shape makes her reel with disgust and rage!

One hard thing about fostering Tater is that, unlike Noodle, she doesn't know I'm not her mama. We are bonded to each other much like any other newborn and mother. I know this is setting her up for good bonding and relationships wherever she goes, but the longer she stays, the more I worry how a move is going to affect her. Still, such is life in foster care, and I suppose worry is the most unproductive thing I can do. Better to take that energy and pour it into her while she is here.

I myself had a foster mom between my birth and adoption. I don't remember her, and to be honest, I have very rarely thought of her until now. When I thought about my unknown past, I always thought of my birthmom and not her. But now I wonder how she is, how many other babies she helped, why she got into fostering. I do know that she gave me a precious gift and that my ability to connect with my family was definitely impacted by her loving care. Paying it forward.

Making Christmas Lemonade

2011-12-17T16:02:00.000-08:00

When we decided to say yes to Tater's placement, we knew there was a strong possibility that she would not be allowed to travel for the holidays. We said yes anyway, and for awhile, things were looking up. The pediatrician cleared her for travel, the case worker thought it seemed doable, and we started to get our hopes up that all 4 of us could be WA-bound. But the judge had some concerns about granting out of state travel to such a tiny baby, so it looks like Tater and I will be home for the holidays while my boys earn some frequent flier miles.

I'm not going to lie, I shed some tears in anticipation of being apart from my Nugget and Hubby over Christmas. I toyed with the idea of canceling and rescheduling the trip, but decided that would only serve my selfish wishes, it wouldn't be in the best interest of Hubby's side of the family, Hubby, Nugget, or Nugget's birthfamily.

Then I remembered that the first Christmas didn't look so fine from the outside either. Christmas, after all, is not about postcard-perfection tied up in a red satin ribbon. It's about sacrifice and love. If Mary could ride a donkey for miles while 9 months pregnant, we can certainly work some Christmas magic here too. It's not about a date on the calendar. It's about making time for each other.

The Nugget was excited to find a note from Santa under our tree yesterday. Santa told the Nugget that our family should get to have a special early celebration before Nugget and Daddy's big trip! The Nugget was instructed to take a nice bath, put on his Christmas jammies, set out a cookie and a carrot, and enjoy a magical early Christmas.

He awoke to find the carrot full of reindeer teeth marks, cookie crumbs on the plate, and plenty of gifts under the tree. Someone's been a very good boy all year. He was especially fascinated with the timer on our camera when we took our annual pajama picture. I tried to find red pjs for Tater yesterday in vain, and of course an hour after we took this one, I found an abundance of them at Target. Oh well! Pink polar bears are festive too. Tater is in the real photo, but as foster kids are not allowed to be pictured on public websites, you'll have to make do with her little T-rex hands.

Tater slept through the whole thing, but the Nugget was happy to open and test out her gifts.

Afterwards, we treated the Nugget to mini golf and air hockey at the local bowling alley, then off to the bookstore for pretzels and "dazzleberry" (pink) lemonade. Home again for more fun with the new toys and to whip up a batch of buckeyes. Daddy picked up pizza for dinner to make it a truly carefree day.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Going Bananas

2011-12-14T06:23:00.000-08:00

The Nugget and his snowman. Clearly he is not familiar with many pipe smokers.

The Nugget recounted how he entertains each of his friends at school.
"O likes it when I laugh, then she laughs, then I laugh, then she laughs..."
"J likes it when I say, (deep voice) 'Banana peeeeel'!"
"M and I go, 'Mek-mek-mek'."

And as a spin-off on the J banana peel joke, he added, "Banana peel dot org."

As the Nugget was giving us the entire banana peel routine while stalling at bedtime, Daddy remarked that he could be a comedian when he grows up. Then, not wanting to box our son in, he said, "Or maybe you could be a physicist." The Nugget cackled and immediately repeated (slowly in a loud silly voice), "Phy-si-cissst....mwahahaha! Banana peel dot org physicist! Banana peel dot org physicist!"

When helping Daddy fold the stroller today, he exclaimed, "Wow! That was magical."

I swear you hit me like a vision

2011-12-13T12:58:00.000-08:00

"Oh, this is how it starts. Lightning strikes the heart." - Colbie Caillat, Brighter than the Sun

This song was playing both times we went to pick up our foster babies. You could call it a mere coincidence and a likely one at that, considering that our local college station plays the same 20 hit songs on a continual loop. Or, you could be cheesy like me and let your eyes well up, because it's a sign.

Tater is a snuggler. She sleeps so contentedly when held. She is awake and alert for only a couple hours total each day, and she gazes at us peacefully with deep brown, jewel-like eyes. She is finally starting to fit into some of her newborn clothes, although she still needs preemie diapers. She cries quietly and rarely, but when she does, it's a sad, soulful cry (and not the angry hollers I'm used to). She looks crazy small in the car seat, and strangers draw in their breath and squeal, "How teeny!" when they see her. Her newborn coat looks like a giant hooded bathrobe on her, and the arms dangle loosely like Brobee's. The Nugget's (doll) baby Dami was actually larger than Tater when she arrived, and now they are neck and neck.

There some books and classes that teach foster parents how to love reservedly, to make sure you hold some back, slice an invisible dividing line between "foster child" and "your own child". While I understand why, I respectfully have to disagree. Our job is to give without holding back, to be open and unreservedly in love with these children who need us, because they deserve it. Maybe they won't say thank you. Maybe they won't remember us. Maybe they'll be gone to another home in a week, a month, a year. But what we've gained out of our very limited experience far outweighs what we've given. For as long as you need us, Tater, we are yours.

"But who am I to tell fate where it's supposed to go?"

Laughter, Tears, and Trees

2011-12-07T19:51:00.000-08:00

The Nugget verbalized a very special part of his personality today:
"When people are laughing a little bit, I laugh too, and everyone laughs more. And louder. And that makes me happy. I like to do that."

Of course, he's not all laughs all the time. Above, is some art therapy created by the Nugget. "This is a dog with 10 feet and 14 tails. He is sad because he misses his Grammy and Grandpa." We call the first day without G&G the hangover. It involves a lot of pouting and groaning.

But no matter. It is December now, and because we travel for the holidays, it forces us to get our Christmas on early. The tree is up, a Frasier Fir packed tightly with funky ornaments, probably 1/4 penguins. While we were decorating, the Nugget repeatedly stated, "Christmas trees are the best! Christmas trees are the best, Mama! Daddy, Christmas trees are the best!" He helped us hang ornaments, preferring to create little "meetings", 4 penguins to a branch, a manatee kissing a giraffe, etc. We had to move a couple of his creations due to the laws of physics, but otherwise are content to leave his meetings be. Our family trees are not about perfection but about love and memories, and it's always been that way, back to the day when my parents proudly hung up aluminum pie plates with magazine clippings glued inside, pipe cleaner candy canes, and salt dough ornaments scrawled with marker. I used to look at our random tree with concern, comparing it to the stark glittery beauties in dentist offices or Martha Stewart Living. But now I would not trade our funky ornament collection for all the designer trees in the world. Perhaps that's a good analogy for learning to love life's journey as well; embracing all that's uniquely given to you, as chipped and clumsy as it may be.

A penguin conference.

When the Nugget was born, I bought a pack of 12 tiny silver frames strung on red satin ribbon. Each Christmas, I've been snipping down a wallet-sized photo of the Nugget to fit in a frame. I spread out the 5 on the table and called Hubby over to marvel at how much he's grown and changed. And I caught my breath realizing that I only have 7 left in that box.

This is the photo in the first ornament

We hosted our first annual Cupcakes and Cocoa party! At least, I hope it becomes an annual tradition; it will depend on whether our friends are willing to bring back their children for a sugar high on a weekend morning next year. The kids decorated 2 cupcakes each - one to eat, and one to-go. I prepped 3 colors of frosting, sprinkles, m&ms, mini pretzels, tiny white chocolate baking chips, dried cranberries, and mini candy canes. Noodle's leftover baby food containers made perfect cups to hold the fixings. I bought 3 flavors of cocoa mix and heated a half-gallon of whole milk on the stove. Served with a side of mini marshmallows and whipped cream, of course! Then we bundled the kids and let them run out their sugar high in the backyard until the meltdowns started.

We attended the downtown Santa House again this year and were disappointed that the trolley was not included this time. Still, Santa was a hit. The Nugget begged to borrow my scarf, and of course, it looked amazing on him. I really envy his ability to pull off any look. Santa exclaimed, "Wow, what a sharp dresser! Can I hire you to pick out my clothes in the off-season? Mrs. Claus thinks I could use some help."

Thank you, St. Nick!

2011-12-06T18:21:00.000-08:00

Today is St. Nicholas Day, and the stockings are full of goodies. There was one special surprise that St. Nick dropped off at the local hospital for us too! Although we hadn't planned on fostering again so soon, the call just felt right. She is teeny-tiny, under 5 pounds, so she is practically half the Nugget's newborn size. I'll call her Tater Tot or Tater for short. She is 4 days old today.

The Nugget was excited to see the baby swing and car seat out last night. When I told him that he was going to get to take care of a baby sister for awhile, he responded enthusiastically, "Yay!" He did his little happy dance which looks like running in place with a little head bob, fists clenched as if to hang onto his joy.

It was nice to have a bit of notice about Tater's arrival, especially since Hubby is on his way out to a business trip this week. So we got all the baby equipment set up and made some runs to the stores last night for preemie clothes and diapers, all of which seemed impossibly small until I dressed her today, and now they seem impossibly large! When I cleaned the lint trap after a load, the lint was pink! I have to fold down the preemie diapers to attach them! It's a whole new world!

So far, Tater is a typical newborn - eating, pooping, and a little cry that sounds like the panicked bleat of a lamb. She loves the swaddle and being in the Babyhawk. She dislikes being cold, so diaper and clothing changes are just not her favorites right now. She has a full head of silky black straight hair; I look forward to snuggling it against my cheek when she grows big enough to take off the hat once in a while! Her skin is a lovely shade of milk chocolate. She has downy lanugo on her cheeks, which I know she'll shed soon, but for now she is a precious wooly bear caterpillar. Her arms, legs, and fingers are long and slim.

We continue to be blown away by the support of our community. Miss L delivered armloads of bags full of baby girl clothes, diapers, and wipes. My friend A is coming by tomorrow to pick up our donations from the playdate we missed this morning and said she'll come bearing food. Hand-me downs from Cabbage and Baby E are en route. It is humbling and incredible to reach out for help and find it around every corner - eager to provide comfort to a child in need. If you read the comments on Yahoo news stories, you can get pretty concerned about the state of humankind, but I can tell you that goodness and generosity still abound in our world.

Hungry Burps and Other Bodily Functions

2011-12-02T14:42:00.000-08:00

"Mama, when I'm very hungry, my burps sound like this, (deep voice) 'Hit the ball!'"

"Sometimes my pop-pops (that's what we call gas) don't have any sound. That means they're just for fun."

To our sitter:
"I'm going to eat lots and lots at Thanksgiving, so I can have a good selection."
(And a bedtime stall)
"Um, I can't go to bed yet, because Doggie has to come upstairs and tuck me in. That's what we do now."

The Nugget's new favorite phrases: super-duper, a very lot, I'm not positive, I've never seen that
For instance: "Wow, that's a super-duper, very lot of birds! I'm not positive, but I've never seen that before."

Giving Thanks

2011-11-30T13:00:00.000-08:00

Thankful for these boys and their smiles

Cousin F being a good sport. Please note his awesome penguin hat.

The Nugget's thankful chain for 2011 included:
Writing letters
Gyrocopters
Bear planes - they carry bears to Grammy and Grandpa's hometown to have a parade
Windmills
Making cookies
Riding on an airplane at Christmas
Baby Noodle
Grammy and Grandpa
Footie pajamas
Playing dead
Helicopters
Playing airplane
Friends
Breadsticks

Grammy cooked up a feast for 29 (just one side of the family, if you can believe it), with the help of 6 crock pots. The Nugget remembered second cousins he hasn't seen in years, and spent a few happy hours playing babies and Legos in the basement as well as soccer in the backyard. He watched "The Polar Express" for the first time, astonished and captivated.

We went to the zoo and another cousin shared his popcorn and a carousel ride with the Nugget. The Nugget was dismayed that his favorite feature at my parents' zoo (a rope bridge) was closed for repairs, but found solace in a slide and a stationary train. He eagerly rang the brass bell on the train by pulling the rope, but insisted on his headphones with panic for the very quiet carousel bell. Cousin F handed down a huge bin of toys and coloring books for the Nugget to take home and even sweeter, left his favorite carousel tiger to sit with the Nugget on the bench. I don't really know why the Nugget prefers the bench, but each time he rides a carousel now, he yells, "Let's sit on the bench!"

At yet another family gathering, the Nugget built a train track and stacked a marble run with my brother and his girlfriend. His ears practically perked up like a dog's when he overheard talk of chocolate pie and clapped with glee when given his own slice. He dragged another good natured cousin outside for hurry-catch-catch, hula hooping, and chalk art. He chased down Great-Grandma D for several big hugs before she left.

We took the Nugget to one of my favorite childhood restaurants for dinner one night. It is one of those places where the food may not be incredible, but the nostalgia makes it taste better. Waiting for dinner, the Nugget traded funny faces with a baby at a nearby table, laughed uproariously at Grandpa saying, "Soda," (apparently another to add to his funny word list), and did some coloring with Grammy. We enjoyed fried fish sandwiches and hot salty pecans on top of cold rich ice cream while the Nugget chowed down on chicken fingers and rainbow sherbert.

We have so much to be thankful for, but always at the top of my list is the gift of being the Nugget's mama, Hubby's wife, my siblings' sister, and my parents' daughter.

Stocking Stuffers

2011-11-22T18:34:00.000-08:00

I love stuffing stockings! What a fun challenge to find little gifts that won't break the budget nor become plastic flotsam underfoot. I like to add some sweet treats, like fruit snacks, tangerines, granola bars, fruit squeezers, and a couple pieces of chocolate. St. Nicholas likes to deliver the Nugget's stocking earlier in December, but sometimes it's hard to resist and Santa ends up filling it again for Christmas morning. Here's some new ideas for you!

Ages 0-1
Booties
Personalized baby spoon

Ages 1-3
Jingle bracelet
Flower hair clips or a Newsie cap
Bingo daubers filled with washable paint

Ages 4-6
Slide whistle
Window markers
Wooden top
Pastels

Product Reviews: Natural Bubble Bath

2011-11-22T07:50:00.000-08:00

Burt's Bees Bubble Bath - Unlike some other bubble baths we enjoy, this version is tear free. I also love the scent on the kiddo - more milk and honey baby scented vs. herbal. The price point is decent $6-7 for 12oz, and you only need 2 capfuls per bath to make a whole tub of bubbles.

Method Squeaky Green - This one is my second-favorite scent, a sweet rice milk and mallow (as in marshmallow) light scent. It is consistently only $5.49 for 10oz. The bottle is a soft and adorable little seal. The main drawback to it, however, is the bottle design. Instead of unscrewing a cap, there is a silicone valve at the bottom, and you squeeze the thing directly over the tub. This masks how much you are using per bath, and I found that it took a big squeeze to get enough bubbles, so cost per bath is iffy. This bottle has to be stored far away from kids, and it leaks so you can't travel with it.

California Baby - Many parents won't let their daughters take bubble baths for fear of UTIs; this brand is so gentle that the girls can indulge in some foam! We enjoy it too, but at $14 for 13oz, a bottle of this is a real gift for the Nugget, something we tuck into Christmas stockings and Easter baskets. We gave out these mini bottles for party favors. The full-sized bottles come with a bubble wand, which is a nice touch, but actually problematic because you can't blow a satisfying bubble with the solution. It takes 2-3 capfuls for a tubful of foam. The scents are all essential oil-based; I really like the Cold and Flu version for winter.

Urgent Message

2011-11-17T13:25:00.000-08:00

While leaving a playdate, my friend (known to the Nugget as Miss K) was kindly helping us load up the car. After the Nugget had been fastened into his booster seat with his door shut, we were loading the last of the bags when we saw/heard him frantically yelling, "Miss K, Miss K! I have to tell you something!" He was so desperate to pass on this message that he was on the verge of hysterics. When she humored him with a, "Yes, sir?" he was blessedly able to deliver this urgent statement.

"Sometimes when we are at the airport, we get scones."
**************
Thanks to old episodes of Blue's Clues on Netflix (Steve will always be far superior a host than Joe), the Nugget is now fascinated by cassette tapes. I scoured the library to find a book on tape, and finally came up a version of How the Camel Got his Hump by Rudyard Kipling. It is very odd and read super slowly with lots of strange mystical humming music in the background. After the first very skeptical listen, it grew on the Nugget, and now we are going to be lucky if he doesn't wear the darn thing out before it's due back. Of course, the most exciting thing is working the tape deck and imagining the tiny gears in the cassette player spinning.
**************
Parent-teacher conferences at the preschool are always fun and entertaining. No one will care about this except grandparents perhaps, but as this is my online journal of his growing years, here are some anecdotes from Miss L this year:
-She opened the conference by comparing the Nugget to Norm on Cheers. When he walks in the room, she says, all the friends yell, "Nugget!" She said, "And that sums up his personality and our experience with him in the class. He's a big teddy bear."
-Always a big smile on his face, always participating fully.
-Gets frustrated with fine motor work but is persistent and keeps trying.
-Loves dramatic play and anything flashy. He has bonded very quickly with one of the teachers who always wears glitter, shiny high heels, and jewelry. They are "sparkle buddies", says Miss L. This does not surprise nor bother me in the least. I picture the Nugget will be the high school boy dressed in drag for Halloween and Spirit Day and really rocking it. I love this picture of Antonio Garay (a nose tackle for the Chargers), because it reminds me of the Nugget's willingness to be himself and bust through stereotypes.
-Enjoys playing with both boys and girls. Aside from the rough and tumble play, which he avoids now (such a change from 2yo Nugget), he can be found with nearly any friend at any time. Miss L said this is a very unique trait for a 4yo, and says everyone enjoys his easygoing, friendly nature.
-Slow to warm up and cautious before trying new activities. He likes to watch friends try something first.
-Hates getting his hands messy - will frequently run back and forth from a craft station to the sink to cleanse every bit of glue or paint from his fingers.
-Is teaching one friend English! He is a natural teacher and is really helping his friend M learn new words.
-Dislikes nap time. They have had to move his cot away from the true sleepers, because he is so restless. They provide him with books and quiet toys, but it is the bane of his day.
-Is always, always, always dancing. He makes up songs, creates instruments out of random toys, and "gets his groove on" constantly.
-Loves to be silly.
-Very inquisitive and drawn to the sciences.

Farewell to Noodle

2011-11-16T12:39:00.000-08:00

Dear Noodle,

Tomorrow we wish you goodbye. Your bags are packed and at the door.

It is fitting that you are starting the next leg of your adventure near Thanksgiving. We are so very thankful for the gift of time with you. You brought baby squeals, gummy smiles, and footie pajamas back into our life. You gave the Nugget the gift of a live-in little brother. It was an honor to have you in our home, and you'll forever be in our memories. Our hearts are bigger because of you. Our lives are richer because of you.

Wishing you health, happiness, safety, comfort, peace, and love. Have a beautiful life!

Love,
Your foster family

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." - Theodor Seuss Geisel

Little Daddy

2011-11-14T10:36:00.000-08:00

The Nugget often ignores his baby dolls but will occasionally go on jags of intense daddy play. I thought when Noodle arrived, he would spark some daddy play right away, but not until today did it happen. And boy, was it cute! When I went to change Noodle's diaper...

"Hmm, I think my baby needs a diaper change too. My pretend baby (that's what he calls dolls), I mean, not my real one. I'm going to change his diaper. His name is gonna be Noodle too. (fusses with diaper) Oh, I see there is no penis, so I guess this baby is a girl. Her name is Dami. I am Dami's daddy. You are Dami's grammy. And...Dawa is Dami's mommy but she doesn't live here.

Ok, so I'm going to change this diaper. Oh boy, it is a poopy one! Wow, that's a good poop. I need to clean you up, Dami. Here's a clean diaper and some bottom cream. Doesn't that feel fresh? And now, I'm going to swaddle you.

And now, I'm going to give you some milk. Dami can drink cow's milk now, because she's big. She drinks it from this bottle, and you can hear her drink it! And den, I'm going to give her some food. The food is on this plate. And here's the bib. And this stroller is gonna be the highchair, but later it will be a stroller.

Ok, now the highchair is a stroller now, and we're going to take a walk very fast! Watch this, Noodle, see my going very fast?!

Now she wants to go in the backpack (his doll-sized Ergo). She likes it! Oh, she needs another diaper change."

This went on for about 45 minutes, until we had to leave for school. But the Nugget wasn't done, and had to leave "Grammy" with some instructions.

"Ok, while I'm at school, Dami will need to have her diaper changed at 2 o'clock. And she will need her diaper changed. Don't forget!"

The 4-year-old's vernacular

2011-11-13T18:16:00.000-08:00

Nugget: Mama, what is "isswater"?
Me: I don't know. Can you tell me about it?
N: Well, it's blue and it goes in the middle of a flower. It's kind of like paint. And the taste is strawberries.

N: (building with Duplos) This is a tag-bo.
M: What is a tag-bo?
N: It's a place where friends can play tag, because it's so soft and furry so if the friends fall down, they won't get hurt! They just fall in the fur!

N: Now we need to play a taygoob.
M: With the tegu blocks?
N: NO. A taygooobbbb.
M: I don't remember what that is.
N: It's when we play music with our instruments together.

Prelude to a Goodbye

2011-11-11T07:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, we got the news that Noodle will be moving to his aunt and uncle's house sometime "before the holidays". Not sure if that means Thanksgiving or Christmas, either way, we have started to prepare.

Deep in the recesses of my foster care folder, I found a packing checklist that needs to be completed for Noodle. Although he arrived with just a single onesie, a sleeper, and a blanket (neither item of clothing actually fit him), we are charged with providing him an entire wardrobe and baby supply kit for him to take with him to his aunt and uncle's house. (So when you hear that foster families "get paid", it's really more like reimbursement.) The list is providing some catharsis for me, and it's a great way to feel like we can continue to provide for him materially even after he leaves us.

I am going to make the Nugget a photo book of him and Noodle as well, and I am brainstorming a "goodbye ceremony" suggested by the counselor at his preschool. I will be scheduling at least a couple counseling sessions for the Nugget to help him work through his emotions after the move. I am going to ask Noodle's aunt and uncle if they'd be willing to exchange contact information post-placement so that we can send him care packages and if we're very lucky, receive photos and updates from their end.

So it looks as if we accomplished our goal - to keep Noodle safe and loved while he needed us. Undecided whether we will continue to foster, I think at least a good break will be in order, but Hubby and I agreed it has been a wonderful positive experience for our family. Saying goodbye will surely be bittersweet, but it will be a happy ~~ending~~ beginning for Noodle.

Enjoying our Time

2011-11-04T15:50:00.000-07:00

One of the worries with a second child is that you are so busy juggling that you miss out on all the little things. The common complaint about the lack of photos, for one. Well, one of the silver linings in fostering is that I am so cognizant that this is fleeting, that I never know when our last week with Noodle will be, that I force myself to soak in the glory of his babyhood.

The little pink stork bite on the back of his neck. The way his warm, peachy head feels on my cheek. The way he bats the bottle like a kitten with a toy mouse. The frantic, ticked off screams he makes every time we wrestle him into a warm coat. The way he lights up for the Nugget. The way his chunky baby thighs rest against my arm in his footie pajamas. When I have tried to put him to bed 3, 4, 5 times, I stare at that little thigh and think, "It won't last," and that gives me the energy to keep going and savor each gentle bounce though my arms cramp.

"We are enjoying our time with him," is my frequent reply to everyone who asks how it's going. More like savoring it, eating it up, but that sounds too creepy to say out loud.

I bought Noodle a good suitcase today, another tip we learned in training. So many foster kids, they said, have to say goodbye to everything they know carrying all their worldly belongings in a ripped garbage bag. I carry that image in my head, and it haunts me. I know times are tough and foster families already give so much, but what message does that send even the tiniest child? Filling that suitcase brought the first tears to my eyes since he was placed with us, a mini preview of how hard it will be not to be able to watch him grow up. But it will be a tangible gift for him, something he can touch and feel and know that we cared enough for him to provide a cheerful rolling blue case to protect his clothes and his treasures. It helps me feel more like I am sending him off prepared for his next adventure.

I started a lifestory book for him on Shutterfly and hope I will have enough notice to finish and print it before he goes. I don't know if his family will pitch it, hoping to blot out the painful memory of his separation from them, but I hope they will keep it for him, let him know that there are others out there who love him. I feel like maybe this is a tiny peek into understanding the emotions a birthmom might go through, wanting a child to know their love was and is real and true, even if the time spent together was fleeting.

We have friends who tell us that they are keeping their fingers crossed that he'll get to stay forever. I cannot even go there right now. I have to repeat in my head that Noodle is going home, that we get to care for him for just awhile, but we can love him forever.

To all the parents who complain about the children growing too fast, who are struggling with a tough phase (myself included), remember that it is an honor and a privilege to witness it.

Things I Had Forgotten About Babies

2011-11-03T13:27:00.000-07:00

10. The way their developing neck muscles suddenly get tired and they crack you right in the teeth with a huge hard skull.

9. Giant poops exactly when you are supposed to be leaving the house. The more important the outing, the larger the poop.

8. When you set them down, they are exactly in the same place when you return. This doesn't last.

7. The terror of having a shirt pulled over the face for even a second.

6. The way an adult sized washcloth covers their entire torso during a bath.

5. The constant crick in my neck and hunch to my shoulders from holding bottles and cradling a little one to sleep.

4. Their ability to violently flail fists but the lack of ability to control where the fists are going.

3. The startle-stare-gape at the flash on a camera, resulting in hundreds of photos of the same bug-eyed expression.

2. The way they sneak your shirt down every chance they get, and suddenly you realize that your bra has been exposed in public for about 5 minutes. Also, all your shirts are now stretched out beyond recognition.

1. The little shudder-sigh as they fall asleep. Yeah, that kind of makes up for all the harder stuff.

Noodle Noodle Bo-Boodle

2011-11-01T13:34:00.000-07:00

Noodle likes:
The jumperoo
The swing
The stroller
Music - he's a big fan of the Banana-fana song (hence the post title) and Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
Baby Signing Time
Watching the Nugget
Bathtime
Doggie, especially when she sniffs him
The binky when it's his idea
Watching a crowd
Diaper changes
Lotion
Storytime
Enfamil Gentlease
Having 2 adults at his beck and call after the Nugget goes to bed

Noodle dislikes:
Wet diapers
Delays in bottle preparation
The car seat
Wearing jackets or feeling warm
The binky when it's someone else's idea
Being worn in the Ergo or the Babyhawk*
Being propped to sit on a lap*
Windy days
Any variety of less-expensive formula
*We are working on these 2 items, because they are really a necessity for any baby, especially a second child!

Noodle has:
A face that reminds me of a cute little old man
Perfect rolls and folds at his joints
A little squeal-laugh
A gummy smile that we see more every day
Busy legs that love to kick our Bop&Wobble Lion
A mellow demeanor, except when he's screaming bloody murder, which is thankfully less and less often
A tired tell - he nuzzles into my body and fondles his nose.
Colicky tendencies - to make up for his nighttime sleeping, he can go into an incredibly fussy inconsolable cry, usually in the evenings. I imagine he is probably homesick, poor guy.
High dimples on both cheeks

One of the biggest surprises to me about parenthood is how much of a child's personality is fully present from the beginning. It is incredible to watch it emerge and learn how to support and work with that personality instead of fighting it. I predicted early on that the Nugget's main drive in life would be for attention - as a baby, he craved socialization and would do anything for a smile. He would light up when he could command an entire room of adults to clap with him. I am fairly certain that Noodle's main drive will be for independence - he is a determined little soul and his little "glowing moments" come when he accomplishes a giant feat like getting the binky into his own mouth or managing to bop Happy Apple.

Eyebrows and other Stuff

2011-10-26T11:39:00.000-07:00

Noodle can now wiggle and waggle his eyebrows along with my other boys. It is great fun watching him relax and feel at home here. Noodle and Nugget often go into squeal-laugh fits with each other. That said, the Nugget has already started the, "I don't want him to look at me," complaint. I think most parents find that super annoying, but after waiting so long to hear the laughter and squabble of siblings, it is (practically) music to my ears.

Nugget: What is my placemat doing on my chair?!
Me: I don't know...
Nugget: Maybe the night wind blew it!

The Nugget invented a new game and dubbed it "Hurry, catch-catch." To play HCC, you take turns throwing a frisbee, then you both race each other to fetch it. It is important that during the race portion, you both yell, "Hurry, catch-catch, hurry, catch-catch, hurry, catch-catch," until the winner triumphantly grabs it off the ground. Repeat about a zillion times, or until one of you steps in dog poop, or until the adult tires and requests a water break.

Hubby gets the Best Dad Ever award, as he took both boys to Zoo Boo when I felt too feverish to attend this weekend. I am so lucky! With the Nugget missing Trunk or Treat due to croup, I am knocking on wood and hand sanitizing like crazy, hoping that we are all healthy for the 31st!

What is it like?

2011-10-25T18:24:00.000-07:00

I continue to gather my thoughts and build my philosophy on fostering. What is it like? It's like nothing else I've ever experienced, but it has familiar components. It's sort of like:

-Being a parent
-Being a nanny
-Babysitting a niece or nephew
-Hosting an exchange student
-Participating in the witness protection program
-Being a student
-Being a substitute teacher without a lesson plan
-A desk job involving lots of paperwork and phone calls, but you can only work during nap time
-Being a bus/carpool driver: Noodle to visit, Nugget home, Nugget to preschool, time for a 5 minute errand, Noodle pickup to home, oh my!

Gifted

2011-10-21T13:26:00.000-07:00

A couple more Nugget thoughts:

"I'm going to be a big daddy someday. I'm going to name my girl James Lou. Or Melissa."

"I had a dream that I was running with you (Daddy) and Grandpa. I was bigger, I was almost a grown-up. We were running on a trail at the place that was a little stinky."

There's this quote I've seen a lot since we started the fostering process:
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift."

Right now, there are four pumpkins on our porch. Our home, car, laundry baskets, and calendar are ridiculously full, and I'm feeling pretty thankful for the gift of today.

Alternative Halloween Treats

2011-10-18T07:09:00.000-07:00

On our October line-up this year: Trunk or Treat, Halloween party, Zoo Boo, and traditional Trick-or-Treat in our neighborhood. Clearly, Nugget and friends are in for a sugary October. I hand out fun-sized chocolate bars on Halloween, but for the rest of the festivities, I like to distribute alternative treats. But I remember clearly how much I abhorred raisin boxes on Halloween, so here's a list of kid-appreciated alternates.

Little bags of salty:
Goldfish crackers
Pretzels
Pirate Booty

Sweet-but-not-candy:
Fruit snacks
Fruit squeezers
Animal crackers
Mini graham crackers
Granola or cereal bars

Toys:
Stickers
Temporary tattoos
Mini Play-Doh tubs
Glow bracelets (get a tube of them at Dollar Tree)
Bouncy balls
Lego Mini Figs (buy them in bulk, give out 1 per kid - will only be cost effective if you have a small group)
Pencils and erasers

To bring to parties:
String cheese and crackers
Bananas
Yogurt squeezers

Care packages:
Cute snappies - I especially like the orange swiss dot because it will have a useful life beyond Halloween
Ghosts in the House - I flipped through a copy at B&N, and the illustrations are amazing! Looks like hard-carved woodcuts plus sheer tissue? fabric? Whatever it is, this book is a thing of beauty, and the story is sweet, not scary.
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything - Disembodied clothing tries to spook a little old lady, but she won't fall for it.
The I'm Not Scared Book - Not exactly Halloween-y, though there is one page with costumed children. Todd Parr validates common fears but then empowers children with solutions that will make them feel braver.

The Quotable Nugget

2011-10-14T19:46:00.000-07:00

To Doggie (he has just learned she is part Aussie, part BC):
"Go downstairs, Australian Shepherd."

"That's a funny word!" These words cause the Nugget to spontaneously combust into wild giggles.
-Pipsqueak
-Gourd
-Blimp
-Petite

(Holding up a pretend measuring stick)

"Let's see, I think this water bottle is 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 miles tall."

This week, the Nugget declared, "I want to make a fancy bat. A very fancy one." I wrapped some foil around a piece of cardboard, drew a bat shape on it, and the Nugget went to town with some homemade Modge Podge, colored tissue paper, and glitter. It is really fun to watch him create.

Please note the small glitter smudges on the bat's feet and off to the side. "These are his shoes. And here are some slippers for him to wear later."

Today, the Nugget admired his bat but stated that, "He could be even fancier."

Noodle Bowl

2011-10-09T13:21:00.000-07:00

Noodle has a big gummy smile, and when he smiles, he makes tiny fists, shrugs his shoulders up high, and crosses his arms over his chest. Noodle startles and stares whenever I get the camera out, so it's hard to catch his joy on film in this phase, but it is something very special that I want to remember.

When he eats, Noodle wants so badly to hold the bottle by himself. He grunts and grasps, pushes my hand away. If I comply, the bottle slips, and he wails. Or sometimes he will triumphantly get just the nipple into his mouth but can't tip it properly, so he sucks air. The Nugget likes to help feed him, so I try to hold Noodle's hands so that he doesn't pinch or scratch the Nugget. He has a mighty belch that comes right out the second you turn him right side up.

Noodle falls asleep in quite a remarkable fashion. I haven't seen anything quite like it before. Sometimes during a bottle, other times in the midst of fussing, he will go from awake to totally out in 10 seconds. You can feel him turn from squirmy baby to limp sack of potatoes in the blink of an eye. The car seat is another guaranteed nap for him - even on 5 minute journeys, the motion lulls him to sleep. Quite the contrast from the Nugget, who was like the valedictorian of the Moro reflex.

Noodle loves Doggie. He lights up whenever she's in the room. With baby Nugget, Doggie was always up in his grill, wanting to sniff, lick, rebreathe his air. Older and wiser now, Doggie gives Noodle a wide berth but comes to check on him when he cries, looking at us balefully as if to say, "You're not doing it right."

It's an interesting dance of affection and attachment. We're letting Noodle steal a part of our hearts, but that's ok, because he can take that with him if/when he goes. I wasn't sure I'd be able to do this, but now I feel like I'm right where I'm meant to be. Things might change, but if today they told me that Noodle's home and family was made safe for him, I could hand him over with a hug and a kiss, with his new bear and some onesies to-go. And I'm not sure that it would break my heart the way the failed adoptions did, because if he was able to go home, it would mean that we accomplished our goal, that we kept him safe and loved while he needed it. And on the other hand, if something went wrong and we were asked to become Noodle's forever family, we would say yes in a heartbeat.

The Sibling Experience

2011-10-07T14:27:00.000-07:00

Day #3, and the Nugget is beginning to let his ambiguity show.
"Can we drop him off? At the baby kennel?"

But then hours later,
"I need Noodle to come see me. I can't wait for him to wake up!"

Every day, we are reviewing his options when Noodle cries. I might draw him a cheat sheet, since he is a visual learner:
1. Headphones
2. Find another place to play
3. Turn on music
4. Help us figure out what Noodle wants

Somehow, Noodle and Nugget have already synched up their meltdowns and their hunger. I realized today that I cannot prep and give a bottle while peeling and slicing an apple. So Noodle waited impatiently while I gave Nugget cheese and crackers. Then Nugget waited impatiently for his apple while I made a bottle and fed Noodle. I narrated the process, trying to demonstrate to Nugget that they both have to take turns, not just him. When Noodle was down for his nap, we took the monitor handset out into the backyard and had some "Mommy-Nugget time." This is not easy, but it's also what I wanted - a real way to teach Nugget how to be patient and to grasp that while he is an important valued part of the world, the world does not in fact, revolve around him. He's not always going to like it, but that's part of the sibling experience. This is big brother boot camp.

Noodle

2011-10-05T13:40:00.000-07:00

There are three boys in the house. Hubby, Nugget, and a newcomer. I got a call yesterday afternoon, "Could you foster a 4 month old baby boy?" Our littlest houseguest has a big round noggin covered with nothing but brown peach fuzz, round green eyes, a cute little chin, and 10 tiny toes. I'll call him Noodle. As previously mentioned, we are not allowed to post pictures nor share any backstory, but we can describe our new life as we know it.

Doggie initially gave me a look like, "Are we seriously doing this again?" But she can't resist his charm, nor her maternal/herding instincts to serve and protect the littlest member of our pack.

The Nugget is equal parts enchanted by the baby, upset at the sudden upheaval of his world, and thrilled by his new round the clock role as big brother. Today, he wanted to show Noodle off to all his friends, "This is my baby." He knows that it's only for awhile and that we don't know how long. He wants to know why Noodle can't go home right away. "He needs a safe place for now," I tell him. "I will protect him!" the Nugget replies. We could not be prouder of our big boy.

Hubby and I are waking up latent memories of what it feels like to snuggle an infant in your arms, to mix formula and wash bottles, to bathe a slippery baby, to wrestle tiny limbs into cotton sleepers and snap them up before those wiggly toes escape again...finding that our fingers are clumsy but that they remember how.

Expect blog posting to be light over the next few weeks as we find our footing as a for-now-family-of-four.

Cousins in Kalamazoo

2011-10-02T19:57:00.000-07:00

We lived in WA for the first 15 months of the Nugget's life. My mom always said, "Anytime you are east of the Mississippi, we will come see that baby!" And indeed, they traveled to the southeast when we came for a wedding to sneak in some extra Nugget time. We took a page from their book and joined them when Cabbage and Co. were in Michigan this weekend. We took the Nugget out of school, boarded the dog, and packed up the car...all worth it for some precious cousin time.

The hotel was amazing - nestled in a big beautiful building with multiple restaurants, stores, and a coffee shop. The kids were awestruck by 2 sets of escalators, a fountain, and a long hallway with a giant fish tank. Empty conference rooms flanked the opposite wall, so it was perfect for letting the children run off some energy. We spent several hours watching them run and play in that hallway, where their squeals didn't bother a soul. Best of all, a hotel pool and 3 adjoining rooms. It was like a college suite, with Grammy and Grandpa's room as the central hangout.

Cabbage is walking now, still on the tiniest feet imaginable. Her hair has changed to a caramel color that women would spend big bucks to get from a stylist. She is starting to talk in earnest, and like her mommy, she uses her hands expressively. One of my favorite Cabbage moves is when she walks with her hands clasped behind her back, demonstrating her advanced walking skills. Also thrillingly adorable is when she places both tiny hands over her mouth in dramatic fashion and exclaims, "Oh wow!"

The Nugget sees himself as her mentor. "Look at me, Cabbage! Can you do this? Can you drum like this? Can you say, 'water'? Come here, Cabbage, come play hide and seek!" He was her willing pawn in the "throw the cup/flower/etc on the ground" game that 1 year olds love to play, fetching it for her over and over again with a big loopy smile on his face, golden retriever-style. He invited her to sit on his Trunki while he pulled it from room to room, both of them squealing in delight until Cabbage was removed for a diaper change, her face red and her legs kicking in indignation - a foreshadowing of her toddler years. So in love with that girl, and we can't wait until we can see them again!

Product Reviews: Kids' Sunscreens Group 2

2011-10-02T08:07:00.000-07:00

I found some new sunscreens to recommend!

Babyganics Cover up Kids Sunscreen - great consistency, unscented, easy to apply, does not leave a visible chalky film. Retail about $8.99 at BRU, which is fantastic! Use a 20% off store coupon (they give these out with every purchase) to make it $7.19 a tube for a 6oz bottle - that's competitive with store brands. I also found a BOGO deal on Babyganics at Diapers.com. They carry it for $11.99, but at BOGO, that's $5.99 per tube. At this price point, it's going to be our family's regular sunscreen.

Aveeno Baby Natural Protection Sunscreen Stick - I have always liked the California Baby sunscreen stick. All natural minerals, easy to apply, and it doesn't melt in your bag nor drip into your kid's eyes...but at $15-20 (the price has dropped since I last reviewed it), it was a tough price point to swallow. I'm happy to say that Aveeno came out with a similar stick format made from just Titanium dioxide and Zinc oxide, but it's only $9. Score!

Rainy Days

2011-09-28T06:42:00.000-07:00

Autumn fluctuates between gold and gray. We got a little sun break yesterday, but the majority of our past week has been solidly in gray territory.

I prefer the gold, but gray is the reason rubber boots and raincoats were invented. The Nugget knows the fine art of puddle stomping, and verbalizes the wonders of dirt swirling around his lobster boots. And there is nothing like coming out of the gray into a lovely dry bookstore and warming up with a chai tea latte (me) and a hot pretzel (Nugget).

The grayness means that we can't go to the playground but that I can entertain the Nugget for hours with a turkey baster, some food colors, and a few cups of tap water. That $2.25 turkey baster might not ever see a turkey in this house, but it's going to get plenty of QT with the Nugget. Maybe I will add a set of eyedroppers to this tray next time and tell him that the turkey baster had babies.

Cooking show, cow song, and Colorado

2011-09-25T12:11:00.000-07:00

When passing some new townhomes, the Nugget exclaimed, "That looks like Colorado!" Indeed, they looked like Cabbage and Company's former residence.

"I was dreaming about harvesting blueberries. It was a sweet dream, because the berries were very sweet."

The Nugget's preschool is doing a study on sports. College athletes and coaches are taking time out of their days to volunteer at the school, running mini clinics on their sport. The Nugget is inspired and now insists on playing both baseball and soccer in the backyard daily. He ~~forces~~ includes us in the practice, assessing our pitches and kicks with authority. "That was a nice one, Daddy." "Mommy, that pitch was a little bit high."

We are borrowing lots of Mister Rogers dvds from the library these days. The Nugget's favorite part is the factory tour under the special features. So far, we've marveled at the creation of construction paper, pretzels, crayons, and teddy bears.

The Nugget likes to run his own cooking show at the sand table. Today, I will share his recipe for Water Vapor Dough.
"Now, we are going to make Water Vapor Dough. Well, we start with this wet sand. Mama, can you put wet sand in your hand like I am doing? You have a little too much, try to make yours look like mine. Ok, that's it. Now, we put our sand in the bucket. And then, we add frown sugar. Not brown sugar, FROWN sugar. Now I crumble this yeast. And one more. A little bit of brown sugar. There, now I smooth it out. It won't be ready today, it takes a very lot of time. When it's done, it will taste like milkshakes. "

The Nugget is fully capable of pronouncing Daddy, but he has a new slang title which is utterly adorable. "Daa-eee!" He is also back to calling me "Mama", which is sweet.

A new favorite song is Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5. The Nugget calls it, "The Cow Song," because of the line, "Moo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-ooves like Jagger." "It's a cow singing, Mama!"

Big Boy Bike

2011-09-19T06:59:00.000-07:00

9/11 now holds a happier memory for our family. It's the day the Nugget rode his big boy bike "all by self"! We got him a new helmet (not pictured) to celebrate. Well, he thinks it's a celebration prize, in all honesty, it was toddler sized and the plastic was slightly warped from sitting in a hot car on the Ohio Turnpike.

I have a little product review to go along with this milestone. As always, I don't get money nor freebies, just sharing what worked/works!

Strider Bike - This 12 inch balance bike is what the Nugget has used to practice riding since he was 2. It is very durable, lightweight, and it actually benefits the learning rider to swap back and forth from riding the big kid bike (with adult help) and riding the Strider solo. We bought a floor model for half-price under the claim that the Strider would help the Nugget transition to big kid bike sans training wheels and for the fact that our practically pro-cyclist friend was putting his son on one too. I wasn't sure if it would really work or not, but I loved watching him gain confidence and balance as he proudly scooted around the block on his own power. So in love with this little bike and I will be sad to see it go. Perhaps I can figure out how to get it to Baby Cabbage so I can enjoy watching her ride it too.

Balance Buddy - Since we skipped the training wheels, we progressed immediately to the stage where the parent hunches over, holds the seat of the bike to steady the Nugget, and runs like heck to keep up. Hunching + running = ouch. I ordered this balance buddy adjustable handle so we could skip the hunching and just run. Grammy wisely pointed out that if your child is larger and does not have the balance mostly down, this aluminum handle might not be strong enough to help you catch all the tips. It was perfect for the Nugget's occasional wobbles and the times when he spotted a squirrel and his handlebars followed his gaze. It is also very easy to loosen your grip on the handle and gauge how your kiddo is progressing while still being right there to catch him. I wish it were a bit cheaper, but I will certainly be able to either resell it or hand it down.

Bell helmets - The Nugget is pretty sensitive to having things touching his neck and chin, but we are sticklers for helmets. Grammy and Grandpa gave him a Bell brand helmet with his first trike, and I love that it has a little lip on the clip that minimizes the pinching risk. I think he's been pinched exactly 1 time, and that's saying something because he is super wiggly.

Anyway, back to the riding. The Nugget tells me that he prefers to wait until Daddy's home, because Daddy can run fast enough to stay right by his side while he's riding for emotional support. I tried riding my bike next to him, but he wasn't having it. That's ok though, because isn't this just the sweetest father-son bonding activity ever?

Soccer

2011-09-13T07:19:00.000-07:00

The Nugget started soccer lessons, and I didn't know that it was possible, but little shin guards and knee socks conspire to make him extra adorable. The class itself is hilarious - 2 of the 4 children know how to play soccer already. The Nugget is in the other half; he doesn't really understand what's happening, but he finds it all very fun and exciting. "Coach, look at this! Watch me doing this!" He has got a great punt and dribbling skills already. But he keeps trying to set the ball up with his hands, like a golfer teeing up.

I think years of drilling sharing and taking turns makes this whole concept of sports competition a little confusing though. When Coach asked the kids to run a friendly 1-on-1 drill, the Nugget raced his friend K out to the ball, but when she got to it first, he totally stopped and cheered her on, "Go, K! Yay!" And when he got to it first, he passed it to her immediately, "Here, it's your turn now." It was all very chivalrous and heart-warming, at least better than him knocking her down to get the ball.

One of the coaches brought her 18 month old to toddle around during lesson, which distracted both K and the Nugget, but for different reasons. K wanted to go right into babysitting mode, and the Nugget was distraught that the baby was not following directions but instead rearranging the cones. K's mom turned to me during the first 10 minutes and said, "I think Coach has his work cut out for him with this group." He's going to earn his class fee, for sure!

Avenues Open

2011-09-12T05:43:00.000-07:00

We raised our fostering age from 0-12 months to 0-2 years. We are also having our profile presented for SNAP certification (possibly in October, possibly not til next year, you never can tell with the state), which means that we'd then be eligible to adopt waiting children with special needs. I'm working towards my required foster license renewal hours at a snail's pace; I feel like the system doesn't need me, so my motivation is pretty low.

We just have not seen much action from the adoption side of the house, nor the fostering either. Feeling peace with whatever comes, just not quite ready to pack up/give away the baby things yet. At one point, I had looked into sitting for an 18 month old one day a week - it didn't work out, but perhaps offering professional childcare on some level will soothe my desire to nurture another little one and give the Nugget a faux sibling experience? Not sure what life has in store, and for the first time in a long time, maybe ever, I feel like that's ok.

We finally got our tax credit for 2009 adoption expenses. We really weren't sure if the IRS was ever going to come through, but are very thankful to have that. If you are not familiar with the credit, it provides enough tax relief to make adoption financially possible for many adoptive families; we still are required to pay costs up front, but we receive some of it back with our tax refund. This has been especially important with the number of disruptions we've faced. Nearly every year, Congress debates about whether to extend the credit law for another year or discontinue it. Removing this credit would put adoption out of reach for most would-be adoptive families and would limit the choices for birthfamilies, so I encourage you all to write your reps and tell them you support the adoption tax credit. Write your Rep here and your Senator here.

Beautiful Autumn

2011-09-11T19:27:00.000-07:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year! In my opinion, anyway; Andy Williams might beg to differ. The sunlight has officially changed into my very favorite golden rays, creating roads dappled with light as it filters through the trees. A few early-achieving trees have shed some leaves already; the Nugget and I plucked a select few from the sidewalk to become immortalized through crayon rubbings. I see bits of yellow glinting and winking from the canopy. The air is fresh and crisp, and I love flinging the windows open to bring it into the house. I gleefully pulled out my jeans and down vest yesterday. And my hot coffee mug seems more comforting in my hands during the fall. Sweaters, corduroys, boots, pumpkins, red leaves, and mittens will be soon to follow but for now I will revel in this in-between. The tug of war between chilly mornings and warm afternoons, of wearing hoodies paired with shorts and being able to complete a brisk 3 mile walk without breaking a sweat.

Football season is underway, which for our family means out-of-town visitors, tailgating, and the free entertainment of marching band rehearsals. The band played Lady Gaga's "On the Edge", which brought a smile to the Nugget's Top-40-loving heart. The Nugget marched, danced, and whirled with a new friend, and squeal-scampered back to our legs when the clarinet section suddenly came running off the practice field. He snarfed several servings of whole grain Tostitos at a friend's tailgate, and spent a blissful day with his favorite sitter while we attended the home opener. Our team is off to another rough start, but we are loyal fans nonetheless and will be cheering them on even if they finish the season with an 0 in the W column (but digits crossed for at least a few Ws, please!).

Downtime

2011-09-01T17:17:00.000-07:00

One thing that is a healthy challenge for the Nugget and me is downtime at home. I am always tempted to pack up and head off on an adventure, but I aim for one day a week where we sit tight. It's good for the imagination - his and mine.

Today, we tried out a recipe for sidewalk paint. We mixed equal parts cornstarch and water, then a couple drops of food coloring. I loved the way it dried, smooth to the touch. The Nugget found it ideal for painting cyclops.

We also made a batch of birthday cards. I spotted this on Pinterest. I tweaked the concept to make an easy preschooler craft. I used double-stick tape to create a 4 on construction paper. Then I let the Nugget hole punch a bunch of construction paper scraps, and he stuck the punches on by hand. We sprinkled glitter on top to make it extra festive and use up the stickiness of the tape. I had the Nugget glitter on a tray, and I used a lint roller to clean up the excess (also a Pinterest find; I'm addicted). I also gave the Nugget several pieces of tape to arrange in a pattern of his choosing. The Nugget usually has a short attention span for crafts, but he loved this project and spent a good hour on it.

One more fun thing - I didn't get pictures, but his sitter Miss A came up with the idea to make pudding with the Nugget this week. I froze the extra into popsicles, and they were yummy.

More Nugget Quotes

2011-08-28T19:09:00.000-07:00

N: Mama, Daddy, close your eyes. I'm going to get my pajamas on all by myself and surprise you!
M: Ooo, I am going to be surprised!
N: Yes, and I will be so pwoud of myself.

N: Daddy, are you going to have a good sleep?
D: Yes, are you?
N: No, I'm going to stay wide awake all night long.

N: Whoa, look at that very fancy truck.
M: Yes, I see it!
N: That's tight.
(Where in the heck did he learn that?!)

M: Remember that you will need to take turns and share all the toys at school.
N: Yes, but if I see a friend who's going to play with my best toy, I will run super duper really fast and get it first. Then I won't have to grab it.

Scout: I want it to eat chocolate. That's my favorite food.
N: Scout, chocolate is not a food. It's a dessert, and you can't have it all the time.

N: Mama, I was thinking that today we could go somewhere.
M: Well, today, you get to go to school!
N: Oh! I am going to be very pleased!

Every night at dinner since our trip to OH, the Nugget says,
"And I'm thankful that we're going to see Baby Cabbage next time."

After tuck-in, we head downstairs and the Nugget usually yells, "Sweet dreams! See you next time!" Tonight, he added, "Good luck!"

Pictured:
"Look, I am the most ginormous butterfly I ever saw."

Quiet Bag

2011-08-26T21:24:00.000-07:00

I always love hearing what other parents put in their child's "quiet bag". You know, the bag of toys you pack for church, restaurants, doctor's offices, or visiting a parent at work, baby sib's nap/nursing time, etc.

I have a really funny quiet bag story from my own childhood. My mom got me these mini saint books with pretty watercolor illustrations for my quiet bag. I don't think she read them or she assumed that at 4-6, I wouldn't be reading, I'd just be admiring the pictures. Well, I was an early reader, and the books weren't just saint books. They were martyr stories, with deaths recorded in gruesome detail! So as a 5yo girl in church, I would read them and mull over my death options. Would I prefer to go with a swift beheading? Or maybe eaten by lions. I drew the line at burning at the stake. Imagine my relief and surprise when I found out that modern Christians were typically not required to die violently. Love you, Mom!

I rotate the contents of the Nugget's quiet bag, but here's a few rotations worth, minus the nightmare-inducing books. I combine 2-3 rotations when I know it will be a marathon event like a wedding or waiting in line at the health department for a flu shot! Tell me, what's in your kid's quiet bag?

Rotation 1:

stickers

mini notebook

Silly Putty

Schleich animals

Color Wonder markers and book

Rotation 2:

plush lovey friend

crayons and coloring book

pipe cleaners

Rotation 3:

Matchbox car or airplane

mini photo album

Spirograph set

return address labels

sheet of construction paper

Rotation 4:

book

Wikki Stix

lacing cards

Fruit

2011-08-24T13:01:00.000-07:00

I am like a broken record with the fruit farms, right? Can't help it, maybe I was a farmer or a fruit picker in a past life. It is my favorite kind of exercise. We trekked out to another local orchard this weekend for Redhaven peaches, and came home with apples and blackberries too.

We had to stop for lunch on the way home but hadn't pre-mapped out family-friendly restaurants. We took a gamble and just slowed down when we came to the closest town's main drag and spied a little soda shop. It was an absolute treasure - popcorn and water beat our menus to the table, our delicious panini sandwiches were wrapped in parchment paper and delivered in tin lunchboxes, and we picked out single scoop ice cream cones, all under $25.

I've got a peach pie in the fridge (although I'm tempted to call it the ice box when it is holding a pie...it feels so Laura Ingalls Wilder) and applesauce cooling on the stove.

First Day

2011-08-22T12:57:00.000-07:00

The sun is dialing its rays back from "intense" to "golden". Autumn is coming, I can feel it in the air. The Nugget has come skipping downstairs fully dressed and ready for his day for the past couple mornings. He is working on buckling his own seatbelt in the car these days too.

Today, he hefted his little backpack on his shoulders, and with a wink, he was in the car. He entered the school building with confidence - pressing the call button and laughing at the "clunk" of the door unlocking instead of covering his ears with dread. He waved to Ms. H at the front desk and twirled to show her his backpack instead of hiding behind my back.

But when we entered the classroom full of boisterous classmates to unload his fresh art supplies into his art box, little octopus arms wound tight around me. Still attached, we went over to the fish tank, where we counted his new class pets, and friends came over to debate with us whether or not there was a fourth fish hiding in the cave. The octo grip slackened, then transferred to Llama. I asked him if he wanted a kiss in his hand like we did last year, but today he preferred one kiss deposited in each of his pockets, then he was off to line up with the children to go outside. He didn't look back.

After I left the school, I started my fall routine. A 2 mile walk on campus, some errands to the store and library, and home again to create something for my boys to eat tonight and upload pictures from my camera. My car felt quiet, and my arms felt empty carrying only what I needed, no wipe-o's for sticky fingers, no headphones for public restrooms, no snacks. The emptiness felt a little traumatic at first, like part of my own body had been severed. Then it felt a little like freedom, as I slipped quickly back into efficiency: workout, errands, housekeeping. It's a little of both, I suppose, and I am thankful that this "letting go" business of parenthood happens gradually.

While walking around campus today, I spied some parents depositing their big boys and girls for their new school year. I wondered if it seemed to them that their teens gamboling and flirting on the manicured quads were just yesterday wide-eyed, octopus-armed preschoolers transferring chunky crayons into their art cubbies.

Prelude to a school year

2011-08-20T17:23:00.000-07:00

The Nugget starts school on Monday. On Friday, the school hosted an open house; an opportunity for the children to meet their new teachers and explore their new classrooms. The Nugget will be in the 4's room, and all 3 of the teachers have been guiding preschoolers for 15 years or more. These are unflappable women full of enthusiasm and calm. They had a scavenger hunt prepared with sticker stations, so that each child would seek out different features of the room, like the art cubbies, the lockers, and the all-important restroom. The children decorated paper name plates and picked out their own special square on the "art gallery" bulletin board and watched with awe as Miss L stapled their creation to their chosen square. We stocked the Nugget's locker with back-up clothing and delivered his pillow and blanket. The Nugget proudly handed over the pictures he'd chosen - one of himself for his locker, and one of our family for the family board. He discovered heavy bins of well-loved die-cast vehicles and sorted through them reverently, pausing to show us or one of the teachers a "very special" truck or helicopter. He was thrilled to see his friend J, and the boys reunited with giggles, tickles, and a shared mission of racing cars down a plastic ramp.

The Nugget has been preparing at home by watching Mister Rogers' Going to School and reading Llama Llama Misses Mama. Last year, he handled weeks 1 and 2 so easily that I don't even think he noticed I was gone. The rest of the year was met with ambivalence - he moaned that he didn't want to go to school every day, was clingy at drop-off with occasional tears. At the end of each day we got this glowing report from his teachers, and Daddy practically had to drag him out the door. This year, he boasts, "I'm not going to be sad or scared. I'm not going to miss you, because I know Daddy is coming to pick me up. I'm going to help other friends who are sad. I'm going to give them a toy, and that will make them happy!" This year, he said he said he doesn't need Bedtime Giraffe, but that he will bring Llama instead.

Summer's End

2011-08-14T13:00:00.000-07:00

I smell like chlorine, and there is Play-Doh under my fingernails. I have 4 woodland creature stickers on my shoulder and arm. It's been a good day with the Nugget, and the listening fish jar is practically full. August is fickle; she seems to welcome you with the promise of weeks left before school, then she snatches them away. August chokes us with heat and humidity so thick you feel like you're swimming through the air, then treats us to the first whispers of autumn. She is summer's end, get it while you can.

This week, I've tried to memorize the hollow thump of his red playground ball, the way his curls tighten against the back of his neck when he's sweating, the way he flops on his back and flips his feet all the way up over his head the second his bottom hits couch. The way he tap dances, his torso loose and relaxed, his arms gesturing wildly, his feet stomping out a rhythm like he already knows the steps. His nervous laughter as he pedals his big boy bike, equal parts terrified and delighted. His sweet little boy's voice telling us such gems as,

"I teached you how to swim! You did a good job. But I am tired from teaching you, because it was a lot of work."

"Llama, when my jar is full of listening fish, I get to go to a place that has pancakes. It's called Bob, Evans."

The way he marvels with hyperbole about the littlest things,

"This is the most tallest tree I have ever seen!"

The way he encourages us to try new things, the same way we encourage him to just try a bite of casserole. "Daddy, let's go talk to Neighbor G! Let's ask him how his day was!" "Mommy, let me show you how to hit a baseball. I know you can do it!"

I am coming to peace with our family just as it is. I am no less a mother than one blessed with 2, 3, or 6 children (although I'm getting more sleep and food than they are). I'm not saying we're done...just that I have finally found peace and contentment here, and that's worth celebrating. I have finally learned how to live in the moment, and maybe that's what our trials were all about.

It's not that I would go back and do anything differently with the Nugget as a baby or a toddler, it's just that I wasn't emotionally prepared to wave goodbye to those chapters of life, those stages of growth. I thought I'd get a chance for a "do-over". That I'd surely get to revisit those challenges and treats with more calm and wisdom. Now I feel like I'm more present for this age, because maybe, possibly, likely it's the last time I'll ever get to be mommy to a 4 year old. The enthusiasm, the anger at being told he's not quite as big as he thinks he is, the giddiness...I can marvel at these little grains of time as they sift through my fingers. And the truth is, I should have been doing this all along, because even if I did get to visit the ages and stages all over again, it wouldn't be with the Nugget.

Bags are packed in our front hallway, full of Kleenex, naptime essentials, and a current photo to tape to the Nugget's locker, reminders of what's to come. The Nugget pages through albums of what's behind us, adding his own perspective and blurring the tense, "Mama, when I was a baby, I will be able to talk. When I was a baby, I don't like peas."

Milestone

2011-08-13T14:02:00.000-07:00

The Nugget drew his very first stick figures this week, totally unassisted and without any prompting but that of his inner artistic spirit. They are Mr. Rogers (in white) and Miss Maggie (in blue). Not sure if the spots are neckties, necklaces, dog tag, or belly buttons.

These are a few of my favorite things

2011-08-13T13:57:00.000-07:00

Nugget here. Mommy wanted me to log some of my favorite/un-favorite things, so she can remember what I was like at 4. Parents, they can't remember anything!

My favorites:
Song - Till the World Ends by Britney Spears, but anything by Britney, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry are a sure hit with me.
CD - Sesame Street Silly Songs
Foods - Arthur macaroni (I call it, "The Faces"), pears, peaches, raspberries, corn dogs, string cheese, yogurt, ham, bacon
At the park - teeter totter
Animals - giraffes, pandas, flamingos, and zebras
Color - purple, of course! But I like all the colors of the rainbow too.
Video - changes practically every day, but I have recently discovered Yo Gabba Gabba, Mister Rogers, and Reading Rainbow
Book - the Llama Llama series
To do - playing with my friends, playing guitar with Daddy, tap dancing, riding bikes
Clothes - my helicopter underpants, my purple peace sign shirt, wearing shirts that match Daddy's
Vehicles - any
Having my fingernails clipped

I do not like
Foods - potatoes, lettuce, parsley, cilantro
Animals - most bugs (but I like butterflies, dragonflies, caterpillars, and ladybugs)
Saying goodbye. Sometimes I will even pout and turn away so I don't have to say it.
Clothes - shirts with graphics on the back, because I like to see the pictures
Getting splashed, especially in the face
Auto flush toilets
Hair cuts
Having my toenails clipped
Getting my hands sticky - I want them wiped right away when that happens.
When Mommy and Daddy say I'm not old enough to do something, like chop with a sharp knife or drive the car. I'm very tall, so I think I should qualify.
When Mommy won't let me listen to the Katy Perry Alien song. Something about words she doesn't want me repeating or silliness like that.

Hummus

2011-08-12T18:00:00.000-07:00

Hubby eats hummus for second dinner every night. I should have bought stock in Sabra, because he was snarfing a family-sized tub each week. Finally, I decided that I had to try making our own, for the sake of our budget. It took a few experiments, but here is the winning recipe. My friend K tipped me off to a Middle Eastern grocery shop that has the best deal on large jars of tahini. The rest of the ingredients are practically chump change.

Hummus
1 can La Preferida chickpeas (this brand was the key to winning over Hubby's taste buds)
1/3 c tahini
15 twists of sea salt
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1/4 c olive oil
1/4 c water
4 T garlic

Drain and rinse chickpeas. Stir tahini in the jar before measuring. Combine tahini, chickpeas, salt, lemon zest, lemon juice, and garlic in the food processor. Slowly stream in the oil, then the water, until smooth and creamy. Store in fridge for about a week. Enjoy with carrots, cucumbers, pita chips, or tortilla chips.

Incentive Program

2011-08-07T15:39:00.000-07:00

We rolled out a new incentive program this week. The Nugget gets to add one fish to the jar each time we catch him listening. When it's full, he gets to have dinner out at the restaurant of his choice. It is working so far. Often, when I find he's getting out of hand, I realize we've been concentrating too hard on what he's doing wrong and ignoring what he's doing right.

This weekend, I heard a commercial about a classic car show just down the street. Hubby and I are both planners, so we don't often make it to last-minute events. But this time, I called Hubby the second after the radio commercial ended and asked if he could take the Nugget while I was grocery shopping. I met the boys after I tucked the groceries in the fridge and found them munching pizza. The Nugget eagerly told me about fan belts and couldn't wait to point out his favorite car to me. He wandered the lot slowly, with his hands on hips, thoughtfully assessing each car. He waited in line for a balloon giraffe but decided at the last minute to get a ladybug that fit on his wrist, just like the girl in front of him. He wore it gleefully and when we got home, he gave the ladybug a tour of the house, then held his hand up awkwardly so she could see the tv while he watched Mister Rogers. Sometimes spontaneity has its rewards!

Natural Bug Repellent Reviews - Group 2

2011-08-02T18:01:00.000-07:00

As promised, I tried a couple more natural insect repellents on myself and the Nugget. Go here for Group 1. Here's our feedback.

California Baby - At a little over $13 for a bottle, this was the most expensive brand we sampled. I had a heck of a time getting ahold of it, as it always seemed to be sold out through my favorite vendors. Now that it's in-hand, it might be my favorite. You shake the bottle, then it sprays gently into your hands. The spray top has a twist lock, so you could lock it and feel comfortable with it being in your bag. It feels like water, dries on the skin immediately, and smells very light. I think its protection is comparable to the Burt's Bees - a bite or two per outing.

Badger Anti-Bug Balm - Out of all the brands we tested, this one was by far the most effective. We didn't get a single bite when we wore this. Per ounce, it might be the most expensive, but it's in a very different format so I'm not positive how long it will last vs. the others. It is basically like a giant stick of lip balm - it's a waxy solid that you apply to your skin, then rub. This makes it great for the Nugget's face, because it can't possibly drip into his eyes. However, if you don't have it cranked up just right, the plastic edges of the tube rub your skin a little - no biggie for the adult, major drama for a preschooler. The scent is different than the rest - more cedar than lemongrass/citronella. I felt very confident about having this one in my bag, and it would be super for travel - no leaks possible. Even on very hot days (I'm talking in the car during a heat advisory), the balm did not liquify.

Both Badger and California Baby make genius combo Sunscreen/Bug Repellent products...maybe we will test them next summer!

Buddy the Elf

2011-08-01T13:28:00.000-07:00

After swim lessons, the Nugget sits on the steps outside to have a little snack. He loves to wave bye to all the other friends as they are leaving, and he also yells, "Hello!" to any college students lucky enough to be within hearing range. Most are good sports and reply instead of ignoring him. Today, he spotted 2 boys and yelled, "Hi! What's your favorite color?"

We see trucks with the name "K-" plastered on the side in giant letters. The Nugget has a friend with the same name, and when he first saw the truck, he asked what it said. When I replied, he exclaimed, "It's full of K's!" In the way a milk truck is full of milk, or a Lay's truck is full of chips. Today, he decided that it couldn't really be full of K's, because there's only one of her. Instead, he mused, "It's probably full of toy K's. They are little, and you shake them to turn her on and off. Usually toys have buttons, but she doesn't. But at night time, she starts talking to you all by herself. She says, 'How are you feeling?'"

Quick quote:

"My favorite grain is sweet grain. It's a kind of grain that we get from combines. It tastes like chocolate, and it comes from corn."

The Rabid Badger

2011-07-26T08:36:00.000-07:00

The Nugget has an alter ego I like to call The Rabid Badger. The Rabid Badger surfaces during a hair cut, toenail trimming, eye drops, and any sort of first aid situation. Basically any extreme hygiene measures, and you are risking TRB making an appearance. The Rabid Badger is 46 pounds of solid muscle with a fighting spirit driven by equal parts rage and fear. While the Nugget has decent logic and reasoning skills for a 4yo boy, TRB has only the instinct to survive. You are not allowed to call animal control to assist you with TRB. Hubby is basically no help at all once the transformation to TRB is complete; if anything happens to me, the Nugget will probably grow toenail claws and will walk around with permanent pinkeye.

You can identify the transition from giggly charming Nugget to Rabid Badger by the escalated crying/screeching. Then the limbs all start flailing wildly, and you WILL get nailed in the eyeball or throat. You can't really blame TRB though, because it does not have control of its faculties. TRB also releases copious amounts of snot and tears which will wind up on your shirt and your hair and serves to make TRB extra slippery. You can't let TRB win, because that will only increase its strength, so the only option is to wrassle it, whisper sweet nothings to it, bribe it, and try to complete the hygiene measures as swiftly as possible, while dodging its ninja kicks to your head.

Once the hygiene is completed, The Rabid Badger quickly reverts to Nugget form, kind of like Bruce Banner coming down off Hulk rage. Loopy giggles and a hug ensue, then the Nugget will ask, "Why are you so tired? I'm all done! I was so brave!" The Nugget will be suddenly energized and bouncing off the walls in relief that the hygiene did not actually kill him, and you will feel like you've been run over by a tractor trailer.

I say this because before parenthood, I thought skinned knees were just a part of childhood, easily cured by a kiss and a cool band aid. The Nugget is the one child on earth who fears band aids. I fought TRB 3 times yesterday when the Nugget fell 3 times and kept skinning the same knee. And right now, I am copping out and searching for youth-sized knee pads to keep TRB at bay.

Walk this way

2011-07-25T14:13:00.000-07:00

The Nugget has developed a new habit this summer. He will tug up on the hem of his shorts until they look like basketballs shorts from the 70's (holy cow, I wasn't even looking for Will Ferrell this time, and there he was...freaky) and walk around, usually when he's thinking. To be fair, most brands make boys' shorts so long that they are practically mid-calf, so maybe the fabric rubs in an awkward spot. I don't think he was even aware he was doing it until I asked him what he was doing with his shorts. He looked down, shrugged, and replied nonchalantly, "This is just how I walk now."

The Nugget borrowed a children's hip hop dvd from the library, and he has a new love. There are also some tap segments featured, and he is walking around the house with a shuffle-shuffle-stomp. I think we'll have to try this project soon.

Pictured, our first blueberry picking outing of the summer. Note the blueberry colored outfit - I've finally got the hang of color-coordinating outfits to potential stains.

DIY Thank Yous

2011-07-23T15:54:00.000-07:00

I have been creating most of my own thank you notes for a few years now. Usually I download free clip art and a fun font to create a little insignia for the Nugget. This time, I opted for a more hands-on approach. Here's a quick tutorial for the easy bunting thank you's I made for the Nugget's purple party.

The supplies:
1 sheet purple polka dotted scrapbook paper. (would also be cute with 2 or 4 different patterns that coordinate with your party)
white cardstock
A2 envelopes (I use the 40% off coupon at JoAnn's)
glue stick
glitter gel pen
paper cutter
scissors

1. I sliced the cardstock into quarters.
2. Then I cut a 1" strip of purple paper. Using scissors, I snipped the strip into triangles to make the pennants.
3. I glued 4 pennants in a semicircle and used the gel pen to make the "string". I also wrote a "4" in the center of each pennant, per Grammy's expert crafting advice. Grammy also had the (too late) suggestion to make 2 loops of bunting, which would have been cuter. Next time!
4. We printed wallet sized photos of Nugget and Cabbage to tuck into each thank you.

If you want to go the extra mile, you can buy extra scrapbook paper, and line the envelopes.

Chipmunk

2011-07-22T14:49:00.000-07:00

We went for a nature walk and saw a chipmunk cross our path. It squealed, "Chip!" and scurried into the bushes. The Nugget laughed for a full minute, then asked why it ran away. I told him that the chipmunk thought we might try to eat it, and the Nugget thoughtfully countered, "We don't eat chipmunks. Just chips."

The Nugget was playing hide and seek. When I found him, I pretended that I wasn't sure it was him at first, a game he adores. Then he called Daddy in for a second opinion, so I reported my findings.
M: Here's how you can tell it's a Nugget. First of all, you can look at its toes, and it has the very finest toes. Also, it has a belly button...
N: And its belly button is surprised, like this! (stretches his belly button gently) And the belly button says, "Ooo! I'm so surprised!" And that's how you can tell I'm a Nugget.

A common Nugget saying these days is, "Why did I do that?" Usually after he does something incredibly silly or bizarre. We tell him that he's the only one who knows, but that doesn't seem to satisfy him.

Four

2011-07-20T16:39:00.000-07:00

Stats at 4:

46 pounds

46 inches

Top 10 Challenges of 4

10. You constantly beg for definitions and it's typical to hear,"Why?" over a dozen times before breakfast.

9. You are still pretty skittish around loud noises. I have to carry your Peltors with us nearly anytime we leave the house. If there is a noise that concerns you and I don't have your headgear, you plant your feet like a stubborn donkey and let out a bloodcurdling screech.

8. You are starting to balk at putting away your toys. I have to constantly come up with clever tricks to persuade you to participate in keeping our floors clear.

7. You have a mind like a steel trap, which means we have to be very cautious about what we say, what we promise, and what you might overhear.

6. You want to constantly go and do. You're not so content with the idea of downtime, although you need it just as much as your parental units. You express much displeasure if I don't have a specific plan for an adventure in the morning. (Definitely my fault since one of my parenthood goals was creating daily fun adventures.)

5. You are starting to understand stealth and falsehood. I accept that it's an important part of growing up and that it's a sign of intelligence, but let's just say that I have to sniff your hands to make sure they have been washed with soap and that you haven't just been running the water in the sink.

4. Peer pressure is proving to be an effective force in your life. Your teachers describe you as a very easygoing kid who likes everyone, and that also means that you go with the flow. Awesome when that means using the toilet or lining up for outside time. Not so awesome when that includes hopping over a fence or running with giant pointy sticks.

3. The hitting has mostly stopped (unless you are defending yourself or mimicking another), but it has been replaced with screaming/crying when you feel you've been wronged. I'll still take the verbal assault over the physical though :)

2. The whining has officially started. It tends to escalate during important phone calls of course.

1. You are all done with your naps/quiet times. You stopped taking a true nap nearly a year ago, but now I can't even give you an hour of quiet time in your room or you don't fall asleep at night.

Top 10 Memories of 4

10. You sing pop music and children's songs all the time. You know a lot of the lyrics but aren't afraid to make up your own either.

9. At bedtime now, you choose 1-3 "things" for me, and usually 5 things for Daddy. A "thing" might be a tickle, a pound it, a neeeoum (pound it with airplane sound effect), a high five, a high five-pound it combination, a smooch, nuzzle noses, etc. Then we yell to each other, "Bye-bye! Sweet dreams!" as I walk down the steps. As Daddy walks down the steps, the two of you have this exchange, verbatim, each night:

N: Are you gonna sleep with me?

D: No, my bed is downstairs.

N: Why is your bed downstairs?

D: Because the mommy-daddy room is downstairs.

N: Why?

D: Because they thought it was a good idea.

N: Why?

D: Because it was something different.
N: Why?
D: Because sometimes the mommy-daddy room is upstairs.
N: Yeah and sometimes downstairs. And Daddy? The baby's room is on the right, and my room is on the left.
D: Ok. Goodnight.
N: (yelling) Good night. Sweet dreams!
D: Sweet dreams!

8. You help select your outfit for the next day. I pull 2 tops and a coordinating bottom or vice versa, and you choose. You add underpants and socks all by yourself. You are in love with 5 pairs of purple socks we have found from various sources. You can't possibly appreciate how hard it is to find purple socks that are not ruffly, but I scout every store frequently to keep you stocked in violet socks. When all the purple socks are in the laundry, there is much despair but you can sometimes be convinced to wear the red ones.

7. You can fasten your buckle sandals and put on your velcro shoes all by yourself. You are learning to master laces - I think you be an early shoe-tier. You can be trusted to put your excrement in the proper receptacle 99.99% of the time, hooray!

6. You are starting to love arts and crafts, but you have to be "in the mood". You can delicately apply a dot of glue to paper, string a bead on a necklace, or dip a paintbrush in water then dab it in your new watercolor box to create a sleek streak of purple on a page. And yes, in every single media, from colored pencils, to markers, to paints, to crayons, to sidewalk chalk, the purple is best loved and worn quickly to the nub.

5. You read out loud to your loveys, reciting books word-for-word from memory, or just narrating the pictures.

4. You bounce seamlessly from one activity to the next. You are mixing up something delicious in your pretend kitchen, you spy the dog out in the backyard, and instantly you are a dog barking and jumping at the front door. The "dog" chases his stuffed bunny, then the bunny falls and gets an "owie", so the dog morphs into a veterinarian checking the bunny and proffering a plastic bandaid. Then you want to try the bandaid on me, then you want me to put on my bracelet. Then you want to try on my bracelet. It goes on this way until we have to break for lunch or until I notice that every single toy is on the floor and I call for a 5 minute pickup. I feel a little like I'm living If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.

3. One of your favorite things to do is cook or bake. If you're not helping me whisk up a batch of muffins, pitting cherries, husking corn, or setting the table, you can often be found at your toy kitchen, mixing, microwaving, and chopping with your wood knife, calling out order numbers.

2. You are quick to say, "Oh, I'm sorry," or offer comfort with a hug or a reassuring pat.

1. You are such a dancer. You crack us up by busting a move anywhere, anytime. You are just as apt to jam along to the car radio as you are to spontaneously jig while out to eat. I can't wait to see what you do with your dancing skills - will you save them for showing off at the Homecoming dance or will they be a part of your or career? Either way, dance on, Nugget!

Cabbage gets appetized

2011-07-19T17:07:00.000-07:00

The second big event of our Ohio weekend was Cabbage's baptism. Poor Cabbage was a good sport for most of the ceremony, but since the baptism happened right over her usual napping time, she started objecting vociferously during the second half. The Nugget was worried about her and repeatedly turned to me and said, "Cabbage doesn't want to get appetized."

Pictures by my talented brother T.

7.17

2011-07-19T17:05:00.000-07:00

July 17 is a very special day for our family. Both Nugget and Cabbage chose this date to make their debuts into the world. Often we ponder and marvel at the odds for Grammy and Grandpa to have 2 grandchildren with the very same birthdate. And this weekend, I wondered if being birthday buddies has given Nugget and Cabbage some sort of special cousin connection, because they are hooked on each other. An arm-grabbing, face-scratching incident aside, they were pretty much a Hallmark movie all weekend.

Sweet Nugget-Cabbage Moments:
8. At the party when one of the other babies took a toy from Cabbage's hands, the Nugget sallied forth to her rescue, "No, we DO NOT grab from Baby Cabbage! Cabbage was playing with that." This moment became less sweet as he then decided to regard this baby with suspicion the entire rest of the party, and I had to keep shooing him away from her. (I think it's clear that Uncle J will be able to borrow him to intimidate Cabbage's future suitors.)
7. Grammy took the kids for a walk, with Nugget pushing Cabbage in the stroller.
6. The Nugget gave the Cabbage a tutorial on how to operate one of her new toys for almost half an hour.
5. "I'm going to teach Cabbage how to scamper."
4. Holding hands (pictured)
3. They took turns tickling each other and laughing hysterically
2. Cabbage pulled up on Nugget's chair while he was watching a video and tapped him on the shoulder with her tiny index finger. He turned around with a big grin to find her grinning back.
1. After we left, the Nugget said, "I think Baby Cabbage misses me. Hopefully we'll get to see her next time."

Daddy and Friends

2011-07-12T13:32:00.000-07:00

I came out of the office last night and found Hubby reading with Joe, James, and Sheep. I just love parenthood on him!

Submarine Party

2011-07-10T17:37:00.000-07:00

The Nugget treated a few friends to fun at the waterpark this weekend. We got very lucky with the weather (thanks, St. Clare of Assisi). At first, I was wishing we'd had a bigger budget to include more friends, but it was a blessing in disguise. Relaxing instead of overwhelming. I didn't take as many pictures as I'd hoped, but captured a few sweet moments. The Nugget turned to me several times and declared, "This is such a special fun day!"

I showed you the party favors and invitations. I tied the rest of the theme together with Rice Krispie subs, yellow and white striped paper cups (and an aqua Sharpie for writing names on them), blue and yellow polka dot napkins, cupcakes in yellow papers, orange sprinkles, and the blue and white striped flags, and orange fish table scatter. The food was sort of themed too, though I worried more about keeping it cold and fresh vs. making it pretty: orange shark shaped crackers, orange cheddar cheese, yellow lemonade, blueberries, etc.

One of the best things about this park is that you can bring in your own food. We borrowed a big cooler from a friend and toted in our own cherries, blueberries, watermelon, yogurt, cheese, ham, crackers, Pirate Booty, pasta salad, Rice Krispie submarines, cupcakes, and drinks...it all fit in 2 large coolers and 1 medium soft-sided cooler bag. I chose very grab and go food that was mostly utensil-less for kidlets who wanted to just fuel up and get back in the pool. Instead of trying to deal with toting ice cream, we called ahead to find out how much cash we'd need to treat each little guest to a popsicle. No organized games, just fun in the water, and the lifeguard whistle breaks provided the perfect times to do food/cake and gifts. I love creating mellow kids' parties, so it was all fun and no stress (except that I misplaced the first batch of toothpick flags the night before, so I had to make a fresh batch - but no worries because the second batch was cuter!). So grateful for the friends who were able to help us celebrate the Nugget!

Rice Krispie Subs - inspired by these Twinkie subs
1. Prepare Rice Krispie treats according to instructions.
2. Instead of pouring them into a pan to cool, quickly butter your hands and grab a handful. Shape into a sub - a potato shape, with a flat bottom. Set each sub on a Silpat-lined cookie sheet to cool.
3. Squish 3 m&m's into the sub to create windows. I did windows on just one side. If I'd had more time, I might have used Royal Icing to glue them on - the marshmallow did hold, but I had to restick them several times. If you don't like the idea of m&m's or are allergic to chocolate, you could use large quins.
4. Trim bendy straws and push into the tops to create periscopes.

Nugget 2 Strip...Is that like Boyz 2 Men?

2011-07-05T13:00:00.000-07:00

While Nugget is an alias I use for the blog, it is also a nickname we use in real life. I hadn't intended on giving our son a random nickname, but when I laid eyes on him for the first time, he was so much bigger and softer than I had imagined, all compact in the way newborns curl up, I turned to Hubby and said, "Oh my, he's such a big Nugget!" And his Tummy Mummy claimed to have a craving for McNuggets throughout her pregnancy with him, so Nugget just seemed fitting.

Yesterday, we were playing a silly game in the car, where the Nugget calls out a series of words, and I call back to him. (Backstory: At one restaurant we frequent, the Nugget has a choice between chicken nuggets or chicken strips. Lately, he's been choosing the strips.)

N: Oh, Mommy.
M: Oh, Nugget. (I really said Nugget, not his name.)
N: Oh, Strip.
M: (pause) Huh? Oh, do you mean like a chicken strip?
N: Yes. Oh, Nugget. Oh, Strip. I'm not a Nugget anymore, I'm a Strip. And you're a Strip. And Daddy's a Strip. We are a family of Strips.

Pictured, the Nugget turns a basket into the world's tallest fez. If I can just get him to pose like this, the Will Ferrell resemblance continues.

Happy 4th

2011-07-04T17:52:00.000-07:00

What did you do for the holiday weekend? Our summers in the Midwest have so much to offer; it's hard to choose what to do and where to go on any given weekend. We took advantage of the sunshine and headed back to the U-pick farm to harvest our own crop of raspberries. Last year, we went on opening raspberry day and were disappointed that the red berries were few and far between. This year, I held out until week 3, and these berries did not disappoint. They were soft, sweet, and plentiful. Froze a big batch, made fruit pizza, and raspberry pie, but my favorite way to enjoy them are fresh with oatmeal for breakfast.

Our local 4H fair started this weekend, so we decided to make it part of our holiday celebration. Decked out the Nugget in red and blue, snuck full water bottles into our backpack, and shelled out cash for freshly squeezed lemonade and a fistful of ride tickets. The Nugget remembered the bumper boats from last year; as we were walking into the fair, he said, "I think there are boats here, and I will want to ride them please." He spun his in a tight circle over and over again, oblivious to the other children cruising around the giant pool. His favorite ride this year was definitely the motorcycle. He was in "hog" heaven on his sparkly ride

There were also plenty of tractors, both modern and antique. The Nugget spied this huge one, and kept repeating, "Look how big it is! I can't believe it! I can't believe it!" Hubby marveled, "Nugget, you could lie down inside that wheel, it's that big," and quickly had to retract his statement, "I mean, you can't...you just could...I mean, get out of there please."

The Nugget pretends to be a rescue dog.

The Nugget starting to freak out because his hands are sticky.

We loved having a bonus weekend day and used it to hit our local state park again. This time, we remembered to bring sand toys, goggles, and a new foam noodle (purple, of course!). We had just enough energy and drinking water left to explore one of the park's playgrounds. It was a Norman Rockwell kind of weekend.

Now, the boy is freshly bathed and tucked into his bed. The swimsuits have gotten a (Woolite) bath too and are drying on the line. I'm experimenting with milkmaid braids in my hair and contemplating a fresh coat of polish for my nails instead of putting away the Easter egg wreath that I noticed is still hanging on the office door. Happy 4th!

Sandals

2011-07-01T17:15:00.000-07:00

Salt Water Swimmers

Lands' End Action Sandals

I have never been much of a shoe person, but I have to admit that I am really getting addicted to little boy shoes. The Nugget wears through and grows out of shoes quickly, and I like to get the best value. I've posted shoe reviews before (RIP Vincent Shoes), so here's a sandal review for you!

My new favorites are Salt Water Swimmers. These are leather sandals that inexplicably can be worn in water and go right to church afterwards. The originals have a cult following, but I opted for the Swimmers, which have a more flexible, supportive sole for growing feet. This particular style is unisex, which is great if you have boy-girl sibs and want your investment to last. A side benefit is that the Nugget has learned to fasten buckles, a lost childhood skill in the age of Velcro. The leather looks like it might be stiff or rough-edged when you see them online, but in person, those straps are very soft. My only complaint is that there are no half-sizes, so the Nugget's pair is a little big (but will last all summer). I've always felt like I need a water sandal and a dress sandal for the Nugget, and from here on out, I'll just stick with one pair of Salt Waters, yay!

If you prefer the look of a fisherman sandal, you can't go wrong with Pediped's Sydney. We had the now discontinued Noah style, but the Sydney looks just as cushy and easy for little hands to put on and take off, "All by self!" Closed toes provide a bit more protection for the playground. Pediped carries similar styles available for pre-walkers and new walkers. These are not water-friendly though; you'll need something else for the beach.

If you like sandals strictly for poolside and water play (no dress up required), check out the *Lands' End Action Sandal (already on sale). The price will continue to drop throughout the summer, and if you wait until September, you should be able to snag a pair for $12.99. I like that the straps can easily adjust to fit both narrow and wider feet (the Nugget is on the wide side), and they are easy to rinse off. They have plenty of traction on the bottom for slippery pool decks, and I have the Nugget keep them on for wading at the beach to protect against sharp shell fragments. If you hate paying shipping, go to Sears and order from their kiosk. They will ship directly to you, but without any shipping fee. Or if you're lucky, the store will have your size, sometimes cheaper than online.

For new walkers, I recommend the *Teva Psyclone. The straps both peel all the way off, so you can lift the soft Neoprene flap completely up, set that teeny foot with the curling toes down on the sole, then strap'er in snugly.

*These two sandals are treated with Microban (triclosan), which studies are now showing to be a hormone disrupter in lab animals and may contribute to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Just another thing to agonize over.

A whacking.

2011-06-29T16:44:00.000-07:00

Nugget: Where's the ball?
M: It's by the fence. Daddy whacked it really far this time.
N: What's a whacking?

N: Look at that truck! It has fancy wheels.
M: Do you like fancy wheels?
N: I surely do.

N: Miss S?
Miss S: Yes?
N: Um, this last day I drank a lot a lot of water so I was hydrated.

One frustrating/fun thing the Nugget does now is ask for definitions of words he already knows, so he can be an expert. For example, he will ask, "What's a car?" and won't accept - "That's a car." He wants to hear all about it. A Nugget-approved answer will sound something like this, "A car is a vehicle that carries people. It has 4 wheels, seats, a steering wheel, a speedometer, head lights, and windshield wipers." That's all well and good, and he's sucking up information like a sponge. But just try not running out of breath/patience/sanity when his 3rd question in 5 minutes is, "What is wait?" or my favorite so far, "What is blue?"

We're on the list

2011-06-20T17:33:00.000-07:00

I totally forgot to post that we are officially licensed foster parents, as of last week. Everyone tells me it won't be very long before our first call; while we are physically prepared, I'm not holding my breath.

Our license is for 1 child, ages 0-12 months, and we are considered a pre-adoptive home, which means we won't get called for children they absolutely know just need a safe spot to stay but will be returning home. What that doesn't mean is that the child will become adoptable - no one can predict that as it's in the hands of the birthfamily and the judge.

If/when we do get our first placement, I'm not really sure how it will affect this blog. I'm sure postings will drop off sharply as I adjust to live with 2 kidlets, but also I am not allowed to post/share any pictures of foster children, nor comment much on how the case might be progressing. I believe I am allowed to blog about how the child is doing in our home.

Wanna-be Aussie

2011-06-20T17:19:00.000-07:00

Things I never thought I'd say for 300, Alex.
"Please use your hand to pet the dog, not the cup holder." I will clarify that the Nugget had detached the cup holder from his car seat and was using it to pet/brush the dog; he wasn't stroking the cup holder. Whoever thought it was a good idea to make the cup holders easily detachable clearly didn't have children.

Tonight I made BLTAs (the a is for avocado) on wheat toast. Thought I had an easy dinner in the bag and was mentally commending myself for a job well done. Then TWICE I wrapped freshly rinsed iceberg in a dishtowel to dry, and TWICE I washed my hands, grabbed for the towel without thinking and splattered lettuce all over the floor.

As all parents know, children who are playing happily and independently will suddenly and urgently need you the second you get on the phone. Grammy claims the four of us even did that to her as teenagers. (God bless her, I don't know how she restrained herself from clobbering my whiny teenage self with the phone.) Today, the Nugget came over seconds after I answered a call and started ~~nagging~~ begging me to read him How are you Peeling? I said I would be happy to read it to him after I was done with the phone, and while he was waiting, he could choose to play quietly or he could read the book to Sheep (a lovey conveniently sitting on a couch). He shook his head sadly and said, "Sheep hates that book."

Thanks to Wombat Walkabout and Marsupial Sue, the Nugget has a strong affinity for pouched furry friends. Maybe that's why he keeps rearranging his seasonal window gems from USA to AUS?

Pictured: The Nugget pets a puppy at EcoFest. With his hand, not with a cup holder.

Waiting for August

2011-06-16T13:21:00.000-07:00

(I cannot resist the urge lay a big smooch on the Nugget's soft cheek.)
N: (swatting me away...already at not-even-4!) No, Mama! You have to ask first!
Me: I'm sorry. May I give you a kiss, please?
N: No, not right now. Maybe later. Maybe in August.

We are sitting outside at a restaurant, watching cars go by on a busy street.
N: "Whoa, they're going to the library in a hurry!"

Our new game in the tub is carwash. The Nugget puts on his swim goggles, and he happily watches the water and suds drip down his "windshield", as I sing Car Wash very poorly. Why haven't I thought of this before?

Speaking of singing, I was pushing the Nugget on the swing at the park, and he just started ruefully singing Rolling in the Deep.

The Nugget sometimes likes to play "Daddy". He will get out his 2 dolls and push them in the stroller, or take them grocery shopping. One dolly babbles when you turn it on, and he comforts her, "It's ok. I know, I know." Today, he swaddled her, then announced, "Ok, bye. I'm going fishing now."

My Very Hungry Hubby

2011-06-13T13:34:00.000-07:00

Hubby is an avid runner, and we are so proud of him for completing his first marathon this month. He runs almost every morning and has a speedy metabolism, so he eats like a ravenous teenager/bear preparing for hibernation. In the evenings, he likes to partake in what we call "2nd dinner". I told him recently that he reminded me of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

At 8:30, he ate chips with hummus. But he was still hungry.

At 9:00, he ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. But he was still hungry.

At 9:30, he ate a bowl of cereal. But he was still hungry.

At 10:00, he ate 2 muffins.

When I showed him this post, he said, "When you say it like that, it sounds like a lot." I am happy to report that he hasn't started building a cocoon...that I know of.

U-Pick, We Pick

2011-06-12T17:45:00.000-07:00

The Nugget's favorite part is the ride to the patch.

Harvesting is a workout!

My precious!

Sampling the goods

There's something just extra-satisfying about selecting your own produce straight from the fields, and if you haven't tried it, I can't even describe how much fresher the fruit tastes than it does from the store. And at $1.50/pound, you just can't beat the price. We love driving out to the local farms and trying our hand at harvesting. The Nugget is obsessed with farms and farm equipment (if you want to hear him talk for 5 minutes straight, ask him about the John Deere cotton picker), so he is less interested in the picking and more interested in which tractor we get to ride next.

Of course, the main problem is that your "little" peck basket doesn't look so big out in the vast fields of berries, and you know these are the cheapest, tastiest berries you're going to see all year, so you are tempted to fill 2 pecks. Upon arriving home, the berries suddenly feel overwhelming on your tiny kitchen counters, and the time is ticking away for you to process/devour them before they start to rot.

So far, we've delivered berries to neighbors and friends, froze enough to fill a gallon bag, made strawberry syrup for today's pancakes, enjoyed strawberry shortcake, and I have a recipe for strawberry muffins on deck.

Overheard

2011-06-10T13:20:00.000-07:00

"Oof! Scout, you are getting big and heavy! You are growing!" (Man, I hope not. That would be all kinds of creepy.)

"I'm thankful that Daddy got a haircut."

"Don't worry, Llama, I got ya."

"I believe this is a wheat seed."

At the zoo with his friends, the Nugget exclaimed, "I need a beer." (Ironically, we only get a single 6-pack every month or so.)

While backing out of the driveway, we spotted the mailman delivering mail 3 houses down. He was walking on the sidewalk, and the Nugget warned me,
"Mommy, don't squish the mailman with the car."

At the barbershop, watching Daddy get a haircut, the Nugget exclaimed, "The barber is cutting the hair! But not the face!"

Purple Party Part 1

2011-06-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

Working on our joint party for Cabbage and Nugget. Decided on shades of purple as a theme - feminine enough for Cabbage and hopefully will coordinate with her birthday outfit(s), and it's the Nugget's fave, so it's all good!

Found another great invite on Shutterfly...actually, it's a baby announcement that I revamped for my purposes. Don't be afraid to raid "inappropriate" card categories. You can easily edit the pictures and text to make them what you need.

I have been enjoying all the creativity on the Hip Hip Hooray blog, and was inspired by these numbers. I decided to use a technique I learned in grade school to make the numbers fluffier. It was easy, and I managed to finish both numbers in the time it took Hubby to watch 2 episodes of LOST (although I'll admit repetitive tasks are my forte, so it might take you longer). I hope to get a good photo op of the children holding up their numbers so I can tuck a wallet size print into each thank you note. You could easily do an initial the same way. Depending on where/how we want to display them, I might add a loop of ribbon with a dab of hot glue.

Cut a cardboard number (this is an old Vera Bradley box - use what you have) and snip squares of tissue

I used about 4 full-sized sheets of tissue per number (the 4 took more)

Add glue to cardboard form

Form pouf around a pencil eraser

Attach.

Done!

Crockpot Pot Roast

2011-06-08T06:17:00.000-07:00

On hot days, I like to make meals in the Crockpot. Here's an easy pot roast recipe.

Pot Roast - adapted from Allrecipes

Beef round roast

2 carrots, peeled and chopped

2 potatoes, peeled and chopped (I omitted them today, because I'm making Cheesy Potatoes)

1 onion, chopped

1 can stewed tomatoes

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1/2 c red wine

1/2 c water

Saute onions with olive oil or butter. Deglaze with wine. Place roast in crockpot, cover with other ingredients. Cook on low 5-8 hours.

Ideas for pot roast leftovers:

Shredded beef tacos or nachos

Over hash browns with poached eggs and shredded cheese

Hot grilled sandwich with provolone and sauerkraut

Natural Bug Repellent Reviews - Group 1

2011-06-06T09:42:00.000-07:00

It's going to be a buggy summer. I'm testing a few different brands of bug repellent for you! As always, there are volunteer reviews to help fellow parents, nothing was paid, and I haven't received free samples from companies. The official recommendation is to apply bug repellant, then sunscreen on top.

If we were going into the deep woods or a malaria zone, I would not hesitate to use a DEET-based repellent. The natural guys just don't repel like DEET does. But since bites here are usually a nuisance rather than life-threatening, I avoid using it as our everyday repellent, mostly because I dislike aerosol sprays around children - I feel very nervous about the Nugget inhaling pesticide. You are also not supposed to apply DEET to babies under 6 months, but you can protect your baby with most natural versions. So here's our first review of "natural" bug repellants.

Burt's Bees - We've used this oil based repellent for years. People compliment me on my "perfume" when I wear it; it has a very strong, pleasant lemongrass scent. It has a squirt top (not aerosol) that you pump into your hands, then apply. I dislike that it is an oil formula, I just don't like the feel of oil on my skin and I have to keep it in a plastic baggie so it doesn't leak in my bag...but the pro side is that it slides on the Nugget very quickly, no need to rub it in. One $8 container has lasted 4+ years for our family of 3, making it a wise investment. I get far fewer bites when using BB than unprotected, but probably at least 1 per outing in a mosquito zone.

Tropical Traditions - My friend A thoughtfully gave me a bottle to try. This brand is a moisturizing lotion, which is nicer in my bag and feels good on my skin. It's easier to put on the Nugget's face without worrying that it will drip into his eyes. The scent is much milder, and more of a citronella scent. It's not quite as effective as Burt's Bees.

Group 2 will include California Baby and Badger Anti-bug Balm.

Chicago Children's Museum

2011-06-05T15:30:00.000-07:00

creating his own fountain

our little contractor

pumping gas

washing the windshield

a duck friend on the pier

We had the great fortune to be able to visit Grammy and Grandpa in Chicago today. Grandpa was attending a conference in town. It was a no-brainer to make a daytrip to get a little grandparent time and another fun city experience.

I'd never been to Navy Pier before, so I was picturing a hotdog stand and a ferris wheel. It was so much more! Lots of rides, shopping, boat excursions, restaurants, and gorgeous turquoise water. The Nugget chose a hot dog, but we enjoyed really tasty, fresh Mexican food at Chango Loco.

The Chicago Children's Museum was wonderful, and today was a Target Free Sunday, so the Nugget's admission was free. We probably only saw 1/4 of the museum, so we look forward to our next trip. Tempted to get a membership...

Nugget quote of the day: "Grammy, look at the most ginormous bird I ever saw!" It was a seagull.

Little Squirt

2011-06-02T17:18:00.000-07:00

Paint water pictures on the house.

Bring a friend to your art gallery.

Polish your sweet ride.

Spray your chalk until it's soaking wet, draw, and squirt it away.

One of the myriad things I loved about the Nugget's preschool was the weekly email home lesson plan. It was entirely optional, but full of enticing, time-killing, brain-feeding, imagination-sparking activities you could do at home with your child. Most were free or involved very little expense. We weren't able to complete many of them during the school year, but I tucked away a lot of fun ideas for the summer.

One of them involved purchasing a cheap spray bottle and finding different ways to use it. I needed one to water our carrot seedlings in the garden anyway, so I found a fuschia one that I knew the Nugget would love. Above are just a few activities the Nugget enjoys with the squirt bottle. He also likes to spray my hair and play hairstylist with a comb, pretend scissors, and hair clips, fill it with drinking water and taste it, wet the sand in his sand table, bring it into the bathtub and give his octopus "eye drops", fill the sink in his playhouse, practice squirting letters onto the fence, and spray it in his wading pool and watch the water ripple.

Marguerita Pasta Salad

2011-06-02T13:11:00.000-07:00

So many conflicting spellings for Marguerita (Margarita, Margherita), I'm not sure if I chose correctly. Sometimes we moms pack elaborate lunches for the kids and make do with a yogurt or a granola bar for ourselves. It's always a fun surprise when one of us brings a mama-friendly salad or dip to share, and this was my contribution to our playdate today, inspired by the pizza and by the great deal I found on fresh mozzarella!

Marguerita Pasta Salad - by me!
1 box whole wheat rotini
2 balls fresh mozzarella, diced
2 plum tomatoes, diced
3 stems fresh basil chiffonade
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and diced
olive oil
balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper

Cook rotini and rinse under cold water. Add the veggies and toss well. Add about 1-2 tbsp vinegar to your taste and enough olive oil to lightly dress the salad. Season with fresh ground salt and pepper, and make sure there's some at the table too.

Strawberry Shortcake

2011-06-01T13:06:00.000-07:00

Everyone has their favorite version of strawberry shortcake. I have had it with Angel Food cake, on sliced pound cake, on scones, on those funny yellow round sponge cakes. But Grammy usually made it with drop biscuits, and I think they are the perfect partner for sweet strawberries and cream.

Grammy's Strawberry Shortcake - adapted from Bisquick

1.5 c Heart Smart Bisquick

1/2 c milk

butter

sliced strawberries

whipped cream

Mix Bisquick and milk. Butter your hands and make 4 drop biscuits. Bake at 450 for 7-9 minutes. Top with sliced strawberries (lightly sugared if they're not in season) and whipped cream. Ours is typically out of a can.

Memorial Day Weekend 2011

2011-05-30T13:50:00.000-07:00

The Nugget noticed that I give an involuntary, "Oof!" everytime his 45 pound frame plops into my lap for storytime. Now he requests, "Mommy, say 'Oof' when I sit on you, ok?" As if I could stop myself.

Our Memorial Day weekend was lovely. Friends invited us for lunch on Saturday. On Sunday, we went to church and played at a park, then had to scoot home for a tornado warning. We passed the time in the basement watching Reading Rainbow on YouTube. Today, we went to a parade then a state park. This park is only 20 minutes from our house, and it's a treasure! I'm so glad we tried it - we only did the beach this time, but there are playgrounds, boat rentals, campgrounds, and hiking trails. We can't wait to go back for more.

Party Prep

2011-05-29T11:21:00.000-07:00

In lieu of a big birthday party, I told the Nugget that this year, he could invite a few friends to join us at the local childrens' waterpark. It's going to be a small, low-budget event, but I think that way, it will be mellow and fun. I found a really cute Submarine invitation on Shutterfly, so I'm drawing the theme and colors (shades of blue, yellow, and orange) from the invite. Creating children's favors might be my favorite thing to do. Here's a sneak peek.

I copied the basic sub shape from the invitation by hand and cut it out of yellow cardstock. I used a circle punch to make the window and hand cut a 4 from the scrap circle. The 4 was glued onto a circle of blue cardstock, and the whole sub shape was glued onto a kraft gift bag. Trying to decide if I should leave it as is for a clean mod look or embellish it with "rivets" of glitter glue or foil.

The manila tags, bags, and ribbon were leftovers from my basket biz. I wanted to use a blue stamp pad for the sea star (Michael's dollar bin) rubber stamp, but my blue pad had dried out. Instead of buying a new pad, I colored the stamp with a Crayola washable marker and it worked like a charm. The double-faced satin anchor ribbon is by Midori. They don't make it in this color combo anymore, but here's a similar ribbon.

I spotted the Magic Grow Capsules at our local grocery store and immediately knew I wanted to include them in the favor bags. But the package was ugly and had way too many per child. So I split them up and repackaged with into small cello bags. I punched scalloped circles of orange cardstock and wrote instructions with the same Crayola marker. I folded a piece of yellow cardstock to make a "hang tag" for each bag. I don't like to use staples for little children, so I used a mini hole punch and aqua ribbon to secure the tag to the bag.

I cut strips of striped scrapbook paper, folded and notched them to make tiny banners. I used a little Elmer's school glue to secure them around toothpicks, and voila, cheap cupcake toppers! The Nugget has already put in an order for vanilla cupcakes. I have some yellow cupcake papers and will sprinkle the frosting with orange sugar leftover from Halloween.

I'm really pleased about how everything is coming together and that I've been able to create pretty little things from supplies already in my stash.

Saying grace

2011-05-27T16:40:00.000-07:00

We say a very informal grace before dinner. Each of us takes a turn naming something for which we are thankful. It's been really fun now that the Nugget joins in giving thanks. Here's how grace has been going lately.

N: I am thankful Grammy and Grandpa and Grandma and Papa and Mommy and Daddy and me. And for airplanes that fly in Noctover (this is from our cancelled trip to CO in October 2010) and Spring. (He sings the word spriiiiinnnnngggg.)

The Nugget used to belt out, "A-Men," like a Baptist preacher. Now he prefers that we count in unison, then say it twice. He has lobbied for a count to 20, but usually we are too hungry to comply.

N: Are you ready? 1-2-3, Amen, Amen!
******************
At bedtime, I used to recite the poem from Night-Night, Little Pookie, but he's decided that he prefers a bedtime high five. So we do a high five, a pound it, and then he yells, "Bye!" Tonight he added, "Sweet dreams!" as we walked down the steps.

Papa's Sizzlelini Pasta

2011-05-24T17:03:00.000-07:00

We have a local Italian joint that serves a delicious sizzling pasta skillet that includes hot Italian sausage, green peppers, and onions. My FIL (Papa) tried it and immediately concocted a knock-off version in his kitchen. He generously shared the recipe with us, and here is our version with just a few tweaks. It's a really nice summer pasta - light and fresh.

Papa's Sizzlelini Pasta
whole wheat thin spaghetti
chicken Italian sausage - I like the Archer Farms "mild, no casing" version
green bell pepper, sliced
red bell pepper, sliced
Vidalia onion, sliced
garlic, minced
1/2 c white wine*
olive oil
fresh grated Parmesan
Italian parsley, roughly chopped (optional)

Prepare the sausage according to the package instructions. Let rest 5 minutes, then slice diagonally. Set aside. While you boil the pasta, saute the onion with olive oil, over medium heat. If you can't find a Vidalia (sweet) onion, add a pinch of sugar to help it caramelize. When onion is softened, return the sausage slices to the pan, add peppers and garlic, saute for another minute. Add white wine to the pan, lower heat and simmer. When pasta is al dente, drain and combine with the meat-veggie mixture. Add a little olive oil, about twice around the pot. Toss to combine. Top with parmesan and parsley, and let your family add salt and pepper to their taste.

*I stock mini bottles of white and red wine in my pantry for cooking. Often you can find them on special 4 for $5, so a recipe with a smidgen of wine doesn't put you over budget for the week.

The Lazy Housekeeper - Dishwashing for Dummies Edition

2011-05-21T17:15:00.000-07:00

The next in my series for my fellow housekeeping-impaired friends! If you were a Family and Consumer Sciences major at BYU, just stop reading now, so you don't double over with horror/laughing cramps.

Yes, I could throw everything in the dishwasher. But sometimes I want something right away and the dishwasher isn't full yet. And many of my kitchen tools are marked not-dishwasher safe. Also my dishwasher is pretty wimpy and quivers in fear at things like a smear of peanut butter or melted cheese; it prefers to fuse these items onto the dishes instead of removing them. So without further adieu, here is the next installment of the Lazy Housekeeper.

How do I wash this thing?!
1. Box Grater - I shredded about 3 sponges and 2 fingers before I though to reach for a bottle brush!
2. Straight straws - we are big fans of the Foogo Straw Bottle, and for awhile, I just bought replacement straws when they got too grody. Finally, my friend AP took pity on me and taught me how to make a super long Q-tip. Take a bamboo skewer (the kind you use for kebabs) and a pinch from a cotton ball, wrap the cotton around the non-pointy end of the skewer, squirt a drop of dish soap on the tip, then go to town. This also works to clean crevices in the highchair and car seat. Toss the used bit of cotton ball instead of a $3.50 straw replacement. I keep a skewer and a cotton ball on the windowsill above the sink just to increase my laziness quotient.
3. Twisty straws - pipe cleaners...they're not just for crafts! Find them in the aisle with the crayons and googly eyes.
4. Non-stick pans - Ok, I knew I wasn't supposed to use the green side of the sponge, but the soft side takes so much elbow grease, I could never resist flipping it over to the dark side. No worries, it was already scratched with my cheap-o metal tongs, so no biggie, right? What's the worst that can happen, something will stick in that little scratch? Oh what? You say tiny bits of Teflon and possible carcinogens will flake off into my family's food? (Cue to me imagining this scene from A Christmas Story, but replace Ralphie with the Nugget and replace "soap" with Teflon.) Now that I've replaced my battered old pan with this allegedly eco-friendly guy, I also upgraded to silicone wrapped tongs and a nifty non-scratch scrubber made just for non-stick pans.

One of my favorite hostess gifts for fellow mamas is a fancy dish soap. A new scent makes it more fun to wash a sinkful of dirty dishes, and it's a way to get aromatherapy without the dangerous combination of children and candles. Right now, I'm enjoying method's Clementine and Caldrea for Target's Saffron Quince (purchased on clearance by the Easter Bunny).

Last Day of School

2011-05-19T14:14:00.000-07:00

last day of school 2011

first day of school 2010

Look how much the Nugget has grown! Here he is before heading off to his final day in the 3's room, and one picture from his first day for comparison. You can tell the Nugget is an aviation enthusiast (thanks for the helicopter shirt, Miss L).

End of Year Teacher Gifts

2011-05-19T12:07:00.000-07:00

Today is the last day of the Nugget's school year. I've been slowly assembling these gift bags for the Nugget's teachers. Teacher gifts are tough, because you want to give something thoughtful, yet most families have multiple teachers to thank within a small budget. I like to give teachers "consumables" (not necessarily food, but something practical that gets used up), because I know they have a ton of mugs and apple ornaments.

The bags themselves are reusable nylon shopping bags that fold up and fasten with a snap, so they can be tucked in a glove compartment or carried in your purse. I snagged them from Bath and Bodyworks' post-Christmas sale for 75 cents each. Most of the items were purchased at Target with printable coupons (from their homepage, click see more and select "coupons") plus my 5% off with my Target card.

Inside, each bag contains:
-Pack of gum
-Handmade soy wax votive candle - left over from my gift basket business
-Lip balm
-Notepad from the Target Dollar Spot
-Hand sanitizer
-Gift card to a local gourmet ice cream shop
-A handmade card from the Nugget

We gave the Gym Bus teacher a gift card to Jamba Juice since I wasn't sure if the kids' fitness guru would appreciate a splurge of ice cream or not ;) We gave the secretaries some fresh baked cookies.

I wish we could give them a winning lotto ticket for all the patience, dedication, energy, enthusiasm, and kindness they pour into the children.

Crockpot Chicken and Stuffing

2011-05-17T07:28:00.000-07:00

I love my crockpot, especially when during the summer. It doesn't make the house hot like the oven does, but it's a do-ahead option that lets me eke a little more family time out of the evenings.

This meal is not pretty, I mean it's possibly the ugliest entree I've ever enjoyed...so don't make it for company. But it's very tasty!

Crockpot Chicken and Stuffing - adapted from AllRecipes
2-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed
6 slices swiss cheese
1 can Healthy Request cream of mushroom soup
1/2 c milk
2 c dry stuffing mix
1-4 tbsp butter (we use 1, I think the original recipe called for a whole stick, but it's not necessary)

Grease crockpot with cooking spray. Lay in chicken, cover with cheese. Top with soup and milk, then stuffing mix and butter. Cook on low for 5-8 hours. You'll want to give this one a little stir around the last hour or so, so the stuffing will cook evenly. Enjoy with steamed asparagus or cauliflower.

Bowen and Cinda

2011-05-15T18:35:00.000-07:00

I asked the Nugget to please remove a dried boogie from his cheek. We were in a parking lot, and I didn't have a tissue handy, so I told him to just drop it on the ground. He paused thoughtfully and stated confidently, "Yeah, I think a squirrel will like to eat it."
***************
As any educator knows, the "correct" way to inquire about the blob doodled by a child is to say, "Tell me about your picture!" The Nugget recently answered, "This is a fishy that goes around and around and squirts water out of YOUR mouth. You can do that if your tummy is sick. Or in your house." So it seems he drew the fish totem of vomiting. It actually makes a pretty picture.
***************
The Nugget and Daddy were sitting down to a game of Memory, and the Nugget found the 2 matching fish.
N: What are those fishies' names?
D: I don't know. You could name them! What would you like to call them?
N: Bowen and Cinda.
{Those are not the names of any of the Nugget's friends or book/video characters, but names he came up with completely on his own! And they kind of sound legit, don't they?}
***************
N: My tummy is hurting.
Me: Oh no! Do you need to go potty? Do you feel sick? Are you very hungry?
N: Well, I think my tummy is hurting because it needs chocolate. Can I have a chocolate please?
***************
Pictured: We skipped the Nugget's naptime to take him on a special trip to the Shedd Aquarium. A little after his normal naptime, the Nugget was one of the two dozen gift shops and decided to test out a pillow pet. His "tired tell" is a little drumming/kneading with his finger tips, and he cuddled and drummed the penguin for a few minutes before he got up the strength to head up the steps.

Table Talk

2011-05-13T14:49:00.000-07:00

The Nugget commonly converses with his food. Here's one conversation he had with his asparagus.
Aspargus: Oh no! I'm afraid! I'm afraid of the teeth. The teeth are going to bite me.
Nugget: Nom nom nom. Now you're at the party in my tummy.

I caught the Nugget sprinkling crumbs from his placemat (have I mentioned I'm not the best housekeeper?!) into his cereal bowl. He looked at me proudly and said, "I'm adding some seasoning."

N: Did you hear that? *slurping milk*
Me: Yes.
N: That was an old sound.

N: Stand up, Dad!
D: What?
N: Stand up, please.
D: Why?
N: So I can take things (iPod Touch) out of your pocket.

N: This grape is Miss K. This one is Nucas, and this one is Dawa. They're going to the party.
Me: Um, ok. (Note to self - conduct internet search re: Is it normal for preschoolers to pretend to be cannibals?)
N: K & K are there too! And some milk is there too.

It's a bright, bright sun-shiny day

2011-05-13T10:02:00.000-07:00

60's are giving way to 80's. The grinding sound of plastic big wheel tires on pavement is music to my ears. Little swim trunks are drying on the line. New sandals have been furnished, to a whimpering Nugget who dislikes the strappy feel of them at the beginning of each summer. But by September, he'll be wiping away tears when we tuck them away in the closet, knowing that sandals = water play.

The Nugget watered our carrot seeds with a squirt bottle. He plucked a perfect yellow dandelion, "It's for Grammy."

There is a plastic tray that collects dust on top of the fridge all winter. I wiped it down and used it to carry our lunch outside to the Nugget's picnic table. I blew a tiny spider off his shoulder, and instead of screaming or squirming, we both laughed about how the spider must have thought he was a tree and needed a lift down to the ground.

I blew air into the inflatable wading pool while the Nugget reveled in jumping through the sprinkler, and turning the faucet to make the streams spray higher...and lower...and higher again.

Then back into our cool house for naptime (after living in this beautiful old little bungalow with plaster walls that keep us from having to use the a/c until it hits 90, I wonder why builders ever switched to drywall). I forgot to rub his little legs down with baby powder, so there will surely be sand in the sheets. I ~~had~~ got to sweep up a giant pile of dirt and sand from the floors from all the in and out traffic this morning...of dirty dog paws, gritty Nugget sandal-ed feet, and fresh-from-weeding-the-garden Mama feet.

The backup corduroy pants and long sleeve shirt have been swapped out of the diaper bag and replaced with clean shorts and his least-favorite tee. We met friends at a park for a Bubble Date. The children galloped, skipped, and ran across new brilliant grass and decorated bald dirt patches with their footprints. Little brows got sweaty, little cheeks got red, little hands eagerly grasped for water bottles. Each child went home coated with dried bubble solution, like those sponges that come infused with soap, primed for warm baths.

We tucked the Nugget into his bed with the ceiling fan whirling overhead, his Giraffe clutched at his side, his shortie jammas on for the first time this year, looking so different now over big boy underpants instead of a bulky night diaper.

It was the kind of day I'd like to keep in a jar.

Homestudy, check!

2011-05-10T09:59:00.000-07:00

Our licenser came to the house today for our homestudy. (For those keeping track, this is the 3rd professional social worker who has come to survey our home since we started the adoption/foster process.)

I've been worrying much more about the foster homestudy, because the state requirements seemed much higher than private adoption requirements. (It's all about liability.) We passed, despite the fact that I housekeeping-impaired, and our licenser will write up our homestudy documentation this week. We meet her next week to review and sign the document.

In other "hoop" news, criminal checks for WA are done. I took my online fostering assessment today, and Hubby needs to take one too.

Waiting for:
1. WA CPS checks to clear.
2. References to be turned into the licenser. I know at least 2 of our references received their forms and are working on them already. Really thankful for all friends and family who have served us as references along the way. We could not have done this without you.

Still to do (before or after placement):
1. Adoption/Permanency Training
2. Handbook Training

Tortoise

2011-05-09T18:21:00.000-07:00

There is a tortoise statue at our local zoo that gets a lot of love. Every spring/summer, thousands of children scramble onto its back and parents get their cameras ready. I wish it could talk...either it would have misty-eyed recollections of watching children grow up over the years...or it would be a crusty curmudgeon who'd yell something like, "You kids get off my lawn!" I like to think it would be the former.

Here's the Nugget with our tortoise friend, from his first ride in 2009 and his latest in 2011.

Cheesy Potatoes

2011-05-07T18:56:00.000-07:00

Every woman on Grammy's side of the family has her own version of this yummy, prep-ahead side dish. It will be part of my Mother's Day dinner; all Hubby will have to do is throw it in the oven. The crunchy topping can be breadcrumbs, French's onions, crushed potato chips, Special K, cornflakes, or anything you can imagine! Perfect with burgers, sandwiches, an egg dish, or ham.

Cheesy Potatoes - my version
1 bag frozen cubed hashbrowns
2 c shredded cheddar
1 c lite sour cream
1 can Healthy Request cream of chicken soup
1/4 c melted butter
a crunchy topping
onion powder
garlic powder
fresh ground pepper

Grease a 9x13 spray with oil, butter, or cooking spray. Combine ingredients in a large mixing bowl and season to taste. Spread the potato mixture evenly in the dish and add your favorite crunchy topping. Cover and bake at 350 F for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 15 minutes until hot and bubbly and topping is lightly browned.

Baked Brie

2011-05-07T17:04:00.000-07:00

I tried a new recipe for baked brie tonight, and it's a winner for sure.

Baked Brie - adapted from All Recipes
Small wheel of brie (I used the Presidente brand in the small wood box)
5 sheets Phyllo dough, thawed - find it in the freezer section near the frozen pies
Pepper Jelly - I used the Tastefully Simple Jalapeno Pepper Jelly but I think raspberry jam or Harry and David's Pepper and Onion Relish would be yummy too.
Olive oil

Lay out a single sheet of phyllo on a cutting board. Brush with olive oil. Top with another sheet of phyllo and repeat. When you get to the final sheet, instead of brushing it, center your wheel of brie on top. Spread a light layer of jelly on top of the brie. Wrap the sides of the phyllo up and around the cheese. Brush the top with olive oil and bake at 350 F for 15-18 minutes until phyllo is crunchy and light golden brown at the edges.

We enjoyed it on whole wheat crackers with thinly sliced apples on top, but I think pears, grapes, pecans, and fresh baked bread would be other nice additions.

Unfortunately, I have a ton of thawed phyllo now and no way to use it. Guess I'll be searching for more recipes!

May I have it in a sentence, please?

2011-05-06T12:00:00.000-07:00

I have 2 new vocabulary words, complete with definitions, straight from the mouth of the Nugget.

Blass goss: something you use to ride a horse and a cow (I think he means a saddle)

Bamber: like a waterfall made of milk; a milkfall
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"A has lots of curly hair, because she braided it lots and lots at the supermarket when she was born-ned."
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We have a new sitter, Miss A. For the first night she was here with the Nugget, we wanted to make it special, so she brought her Curious George movie with her for them to watch together. He watched it solemnly. When it was over, she asked, "How did you like the movie?" The Nugget responded, "I didn't like it because George made sad choices."
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Pictured: The Nugget's new circus act. He goes from standing to upside down in half a second. So beware if he takes both of your hands...this is what he has in mind. Hold on tight!

Bubbles

2011-05-05T18:00:00.000-07:00

I remember blowing bubbles for a Baby Nugget. He was a summer baby, and we didn't have a/c in our WA house. There were a couple weeks where it would be 10 degrees hotter inside the house than outside. I'd put a blanket or beach towel down on the prickly dead lawn and blow scented bubbles from the Dollar Tree, and a sweaty, cranky baby boy would startle, then focus calmly on the translucent orbs floating up in the sky. Only for a few minutes, because I couldn't put sunscreen on his brand new skin.

The next year, we'd pack them up and take them with us to a park, the bubbles always in risk of leaking on the Gerber puffs in my overstuffed diaper bag. A handsy Nugget would take a few seconds to coo and grab at the bubbles but then make a clumsy yet persistent swipe for the bottle in my hands.

The following summer was his first in the Midwest. I'd hold the bottle and let him try to blow, but he'd only dip the wand into his mouth again and again. Sputtering and dribbling soapy drool down his chin. It would attract sand to his face like a gritty goatee.

Our second summer here, we discovered the no-spill bubble tumblers, and bubbles would become a more independent outdoor activity. Last summer, the Nugget would blow and blow in frustration, and after a few weeks, he mastered the slow gentle breaths that yielded beautiful bubbles. Only for a moment, then he would tire of the activity and toss them to the ground in search of new fun. Or he would shake and shake the tumblers until the soap foamed and lost its ability to make a satisfying bubble.

This year, we pulled out the tumblers and refilled them with fresh solution from a giant neon yellow bottle. All but one have lost their decorative decals and they are scuffed from being dropped on the cement. Thanks to Daddy's diligent hunting, they still each have a wand. The Nugget ran right to them, and created what is, for me, the harbinger of summer. Behold, the bubbles.

Move along

2011-05-04T17:59:00.000-07:00

Got an unexpected call today! Our licenser is busy, but luckily she has a co-worker who is going to take on our foster parent homestudy. She gave me a short to-do list of missing forms, which I completed this afternoon and will mail to her tomorrow. She is going to call us to schedule our homestudy right away.

Back to the missing forms; she needed a city, county, and state background check from WA since we lived there in the past 5 years. One thing that was great though - WA has just one central criminal history record for the entire state, so they were condensed in a single check! Our home state now keeps those 3 criminal records totally separate, so if you were an offender booked by the county, the state might not have the record of your crime and vice versa. Does this make a lick of sense, especially in this digital age? I don't get it.

Spring Carnival

2011-05-04T17:16:00.000-07:00

This week, a couple of dorms at our local university put together a free spring carnival for children in the community. Daddy finished up work early and joined us for the following:

1 ball thrown at the dunk tank before dissolving into worried tears about the dunkee
1 pony ride
1 preschool friend spotted and hugged repeatedly
2 treats (sno-cone and cotton candy) begged for, received, and rejected after a single bite (good thing they were free!)
1 baseball painted on cheek
10 runs through the inflatable obstacle course
2 turns in the bouncy house
30 minutes waiting in line for the inflatables
1 hotdog, consumed only after having the chargrilled outer layer "peeled off"
2.5 hours of fun
2 exhausted parents