We are making progress with the potty-training! Jake is now going nearly all the time on the potty, wearing diapers only at night and in the car. I truly cannot believe it. It's like a light just came on and he decided that he would do it. Now, I do have to remind him about every 30 minutes if he hasn't gone, but still, he goes to the potty and actually goes. It's funny how kids just make their own decisions about things sometimes. Bailey did the same thing. We had tried and tried to get her trained before Jake was born. She just wasn't interested. Then, one day that summer, she just decided she would do it. And that was that. We still have to teach him to stand up to go, but I think that will come easily. He's really excited about his Spiderman underwear, which seems to make all the difference. Maybe with a little encouragement about standing like Spiderman, it will all come together! :)
While Bailey doesn't have the same type of progress to make, she has been very busy. This week has been incredibly busy for her, as she has gone to Bible School every evening. She really seems to be enjoying it. I'm not sure what all they do, since she doesn't really ever tell me (she's always forgetting). However, she's very excited about going back. The teachers say she is doing well and that they have been talking about Jesus and playing camping games. She is most definitely our social butterfly, entering the classroom and introducing herself to each child there. I'm so proud of her confidence. I know it's not easy for her because I can see her insecurity, but she goes right in and makes herself accessible to the other kids. It's really good for her to handle new environments so easily, especially right now. We are working on getting her into a local christian school for preschool and, assuming she gets in, she will be starting a new class at the end of August. I think she's going to really enjoy it. She keeps asking me if she is starting "Flower Garden." That's what she calls Kindergarden. I love it that she still says these adorable things. Too cute.
We have really enjoyed a wonderful summer. We've spent a lot of time outdoors, fishing, swimming, and boating. We've had fun at music events in the park, walks through our neighborhood, and a few trips to eastern Kentucky. We've actually watched several movies via the drive-in theater and dollar theaters. Brad and I even had a date night last week, when Brad's mom kept the kids for us for a couple of days. Don't worry, we didn't just pawn them off for a date. They went swimming, to a movie, shopping for toys, visiting their cousin's house in West Virginia, and eating out at McDonald's (a couple of times). They had a mini-vacation in about two days that would equate just about any other normal child's entire summer. We have been very spoiled. And, yes, our checkbook feels it. BUT... it has been worth it. For all of you moms out there looking for a date night: If you like comedies, even a little bit, you should definitely go and watch The Hangover. That's the movie Brad and I went to watch last week. I'm not big into comedies at all. I like them about 1/8th of the time. This was probably the funniest movie I have ever seen. Definitely a must-see on my list. :)
OK... That's it for tonight!
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Fun Times...
Saturday, July 11, 2009
I know I'm getting worse about this! Maybe it's just the summer time. I'll blame that! All is well in the Ooten household. We're making big progress with Bailey and swimming... she will now go under water and can actually swim on her own in the big pool! She is just swimming in short distances and doesn't really love going under, but she's doing wonderfully. I'm guessing that it's time to get her in those swimming lessons that I've been hesitant about.
Jake is also making progress (or so he thinks, anyway)... in other areas. I have been attempting some potty training to guage if he's ready. We've done this off and on several times, as he shows interest in the potty, but doesn't really ever go on the potty. So, I put big boy underwear on him on Wednesday. He looked adorable. He peed almost immediately. Then, about 5 minutes after changing into a second set, he peed again. Five minutes after that mess... yes, again. I don't think he ever quite finished what he started initially, as it was all in small puddles. On the fourth set of underwear (his least favorite pair), I made a phone call to work. I thought it would be good timing since I was sure he was done for a little bit. While on the phone, I see a naked two-year old streaking past me with a wild grin on his face. After about 20 minutes on the phone (and yes, he was still naked), I look over to see him standing on the ottoman doing some kind of dance. I go over to find that he has laid out about three different bowls from Bailey's kitchen and is standing on the ottaman, peeing into them. Yes, he understands how his body works, but apparently going on the potty is not nearly as fun as torturing your sister by peeing on (or into) her toys. Ah... the joys of motherhood. I, of course, was still on the phone and trying to hold back my laughter and frustration and still sound somewhat professional. I yanked him down from the couch and cleaned up the mess before Bailey could see what happened. Oh how she would have shrieked! And followed that with an immediate gagging sound. :)
Yes... life sure is interesting with a two-year old boy...
So, some of the pictures that I promised a while back. Yes, we did finally find a cord at home that would work with my camera. I've just taken a couple of weeks to actually post them. :) And, there are quite a few... so I hope you enjoy...
Jake is also making progress (or so he thinks, anyway)... in other areas. I have been attempting some potty training to guage if he's ready. We've done this off and on several times, as he shows interest in the potty, but doesn't really ever go on the potty. So, I put big boy underwear on him on Wednesday. He looked adorable. He peed almost immediately. Then, about 5 minutes after changing into a second set, he peed again. Five minutes after that mess... yes, again. I don't think he ever quite finished what he started initially, as it was all in small puddles. On the fourth set of underwear (his least favorite pair), I made a phone call to work. I thought it would be good timing since I was sure he was done for a little bit. While on the phone, I see a naked two-year old streaking past me with a wild grin on his face. After about 20 minutes on the phone (and yes, he was still naked), I look over to see him standing on the ottoman doing some kind of dance. I go over to find that he has laid out about three different bowls from Bailey's kitchen and is standing on the ottaman, peeing into them. Yes, he understands how his body works, but apparently going on the potty is not nearly as fun as torturing your sister by peeing on (or into) her toys. Ah... the joys of motherhood. I, of course, was still on the phone and trying to hold back my laughter and frustration and still sound somewhat professional. I yanked him down from the couch and cleaned up the mess before Bailey could see what happened. Oh how she would have shrieked! And followed that with an immediate gagging sound. :)
Yes... life sure is interesting with a two-year old boy...
So, some of the pictures that I promised a while back. Yes, we did finally find a cord at home that would work with my camera. I've just taken a couple of weeks to actually post them. :) And, there are quite a few... so I hope you enjoy...
Relaxed... finally...
Monday, June 29, 2009
As excited as I get to read my friends' blogs and see their pictures of their kids, you would think that I'd blog a lot. You'd think that I would keep up with my end of the bargain and share all of the little details of what's going on in our lives and pictures of the kids enjoying the summer. I'm using the excuse that we've been so busy enjoying life that I haven't had time to write about it. Of course, part of that is true, but the biggest part of it is that I just have been in a slump where I don't want to sit down and write any more than I have to for work!
So, lots of time has passed and I'm sure I'm going to miss lots of details about what's been going on. I'm not promising anything, but I'm going to try to blog a few times this week to get somewhat caught up. You know me though...
We had our vacation last week... and it was wonderful. No beach trip this year, unfortunately. However, we were really happy to just relax. You see, the past three or four months has been extremely busy between t-ball practices and games (usually somewhere between 3 and 4 nights per week), fixing up the house (we recently listed it for sale - I'll post a link below), and working on work. We did a lot of work on the house in the past two months, including replacing our carpet with hardwood in the downstairs living room, tiling two bathrooms and the foyer, painting two bathrooms and the office, painting trim, and painting our deck. It has been one project after another. Then, Bailey's ball team was great and went all the way to the championship in the t-ball tournament, which meant that we played the most games of any team in the t-ball league. And, we practiced as much as we could too. It all paid off when they won the championship. They were adorable with their trophies and dance moves at the closing ceremonies, but I'll tell more about that later. Needless to say, it's been hectic... and we were in desparate need of a break.
So, Bailey's championship game was on Father's Day (June 21st), we listed our house for sale on the following Tuesday (June 23rd), and we had our vacation from the 22nd through the 26th. All of our hectic schedules and projects ended at the perfect time and really left us with a great week. We traveled to the Cincinnati Zoo and King's Island for a couple of days during our vacation. The kids had a blast (so did we). I can't even tell you how cute it was to see them get so excited about seeing Scooby-Doo, Dora, Diego, Sponge Bob SquarePants, and the Fairly Odd Parents' fairies. Their faces would light up and they'd take off in a dead sprint to get to them. Jake even kissed each of them. He was so impressed. They really enjoyed the rides - Jake loved the small version of the Whip (which I think was something to do with Swiper the Fox from Dora). He would hold his little arms up and laugh so hard when it whipped him around the curve. Brad took Bailey on the Fairly Odd Parents Roller Coaster (which I think used to be the Beastie, but I'm not sure). She LOVED it. Brad said it was so cute when they were riding to the top of the hill on the coaster. They put their hands up in the air and were laughing and having fun. Then, when they started coming down the hill, he could feel her little hands reaching for his face, just trying to find something to hang on to. He held her hand the way down. When she walked off the ride, she looked at me and said, "That was SO awesome." Thrill-seeker in training.
I have a ton of pictures from King's Island and the Zoo, but Bailey thought it would be a good idea to bite the end of our USB cord for the camera one day and now it won't work. So, I'm in search of a cord that will fit. Hopefully, I'll be able to post them later.
The rest of the week was equally as great. We spent it on the boat at the lake and then spending time with our family and friends over the weekend. It was wonderful. We have tans!!! Finally!!! The weather was so hot, but it was perfect for boating and swimming. And the best part of the entire week... I cooked breakfast twice! That was all... the rest of the week we ate out or fixed sandwiches or had someone else cooking for us (thanks Bret & Cilla!).
Oh... and here is a link to our house for sale. Please send anyone looking for a place our way!
So, lots of time has passed and I'm sure I'm going to miss lots of details about what's been going on. I'm not promising anything, but I'm going to try to blog a few times this week to get somewhat caught up. You know me though...
We had our vacation last week... and it was wonderful. No beach trip this year, unfortunately. However, we were really happy to just relax. You see, the past three or four months has been extremely busy between t-ball practices and games (usually somewhere between 3 and 4 nights per week), fixing up the house (we recently listed it for sale - I'll post a link below), and working on work. We did a lot of work on the house in the past two months, including replacing our carpet with hardwood in the downstairs living room, tiling two bathrooms and the foyer, painting two bathrooms and the office, painting trim, and painting our deck. It has been one project after another. Then, Bailey's ball team was great and went all the way to the championship in the t-ball tournament, which meant that we played the most games of any team in the t-ball league. And, we practiced as much as we could too. It all paid off when they won the championship. They were adorable with their trophies and dance moves at the closing ceremonies, but I'll tell more about that later. Needless to say, it's been hectic... and we were in desparate need of a break.
So, Bailey's championship game was on Father's Day (June 21st), we listed our house for sale on the following Tuesday (June 23rd), and we had our vacation from the 22nd through the 26th. All of our hectic schedules and projects ended at the perfect time and really left us with a great week. We traveled to the Cincinnati Zoo and King's Island for a couple of days during our vacation. The kids had a blast (so did we). I can't even tell you how cute it was to see them get so excited about seeing Scooby-Doo, Dora, Diego, Sponge Bob SquarePants, and the Fairly Odd Parents' fairies. Their faces would light up and they'd take off in a dead sprint to get to them. Jake even kissed each of them. He was so impressed. They really enjoyed the rides - Jake loved the small version of the Whip (which I think was something to do with Swiper the Fox from Dora). He would hold his little arms up and laugh so hard when it whipped him around the curve. Brad took Bailey on the Fairly Odd Parents Roller Coaster (which I think used to be the Beastie, but I'm not sure). She LOVED it. Brad said it was so cute when they were riding to the top of the hill on the coaster. They put their hands up in the air and were laughing and having fun. Then, when they started coming down the hill, he could feel her little hands reaching for his face, just trying to find something to hang on to. He held her hand the way down. When she walked off the ride, she looked at me and said, "That was SO awesome." Thrill-seeker in training.
I have a ton of pictures from King's Island and the Zoo, but Bailey thought it would be a good idea to bite the end of our USB cord for the camera one day and now it won't work. So, I'm in search of a cord that will fit. Hopefully, I'll be able to post them later.
The rest of the week was equally as great. We spent it on the boat at the lake and then spending time with our family and friends over the weekend. It was wonderful. We have tans!!! Finally!!! The weather was so hot, but it was perfect for boating and swimming. And the best part of the entire week... I cooked breakfast twice! That was all... the rest of the week we ate out or fixed sandwiches or had someone else cooking for us (thanks Bret & Cilla!).
Oh... and here is a link to our house for sale. Please send anyone looking for a place our way!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
As much as I love to blog, I feel like I never have time to do it. And then, when I do, I exhaust myself by writing for an hour or more. SO... tonight, you'll get short little stories and a bunch of pictures.
First, an update on t-ball. Bailey would say that our team is rockin' out da house. She'd probably add on an "Oh baby-oh" at the end of that statement too. Yes, she adds her own little flair to everything. Our team lost its first game, but not one game since. And, I'm probably putting a big jinx on them by even bragging, but they've really been a good little team. Bailey has been contributing to those wins by hitting really well. She has now scored 4 runs total for the year, 3 of which happened over this past weekend. We were so thrilled for her. She really was excited about it. At first, she seemed really surprised, but by the end of the weekend, I heard her tell my mom, "I score runs now... it's just what I do." Yes, she is so full of it, we can barely contain ourselves! And, she's not the only one. Jake is now saying just about everything we tell him to say and most of what Bailey says. So, tonight I tell the kids that it's time to get out of the bath. They (naturally) ignore me. I then ask who wants to get out first. Bailey says nobody. Jake repeats in a loud yell - NO BODY! Over and over... and over. I think he wanted me to understand that when Bailey said it, he agreed. And so it goes. He's trying to say the alphabet, making it through most of the song without too many mishaps. And, he loves Blue's Clues. He even saw a UK license plate that had a blue paw print and UK on it the other day and started yelling, "Blue's Clues!"
Okay... back to keeping it short. We are very lucky to have a wonderful grandparent on our team that does photography. I'm not sure if it's a hobby or a job, but he does wonderful photos for us and lets us have full access to them to order prints. I'm including some here:
Of course, I love all of these photos (and more), but I have to say that my BFF Cilla is the greatest photographer ever. We did our pictures in the spring at a local orchard and she gave us a sneak peek recently. I'm not posting them all here... mainly because it would take me a while, but if you want to see them all, you can check it out on my myspace or facebook page!
Here ya go!
First, an update on t-ball. Bailey would say that our team is rockin' out da house. She'd probably add on an "Oh baby-oh" at the end of that statement too. Yes, she adds her own little flair to everything. Our team lost its first game, but not one game since. And, I'm probably putting a big jinx on them by even bragging, but they've really been a good little team. Bailey has been contributing to those wins by hitting really well. She has now scored 4 runs total for the year, 3 of which happened over this past weekend. We were so thrilled for her. She really was excited about it. At first, she seemed really surprised, but by the end of the weekend, I heard her tell my mom, "I score runs now... it's just what I do." Yes, she is so full of it, we can barely contain ourselves! And, she's not the only one. Jake is now saying just about everything we tell him to say and most of what Bailey says. So, tonight I tell the kids that it's time to get out of the bath. They (naturally) ignore me. I then ask who wants to get out first. Bailey says nobody. Jake repeats in a loud yell - NO BODY! Over and over... and over. I think he wanted me to understand that when Bailey said it, he agreed. And so it goes. He's trying to say the alphabet, making it through most of the song without too many mishaps. And, he loves Blue's Clues. He even saw a UK license plate that had a blue paw print and UK on it the other day and started yelling, "Blue's Clues!"
Okay... back to keeping it short. We are very lucky to have a wonderful grandparent on our team that does photography. I'm not sure if it's a hobby or a job, but he does wonderful photos for us and lets us have full access to them to order prints. I'm including some here:
Of course, I love all of these photos (and more), but I have to say that my BFF Cilla is the greatest photographer ever. We did our pictures in the spring at a local orchard and she gave us a sneak peek recently. I'm not posting them all here... mainly because it would take me a while, but if you want to see them all, you can check it out on my myspace or facebook page!
Here ya go!
Mothers...
Sunday, May 10, 2009
It was a great Mother's Day. I woke up to two little perfect babies saying, "Happy Mother's Day," with beautiful sweet smiles. I looked at them both and knew they really meant it when they hugged and kissed me, telling me they love me. Funny how a day that was probably really invented by Hallmark or some other money-hungry industry looking for a spring holiday can really make a day more special (yes, Bret, that was for you). I hope every Mother's Day can include my babies telling me they love me. Bailey, Mom, and I made our way to get pedicures today (my gift to Mom and my kids' gift to me). It was fun to watch Bailey's face light up as they scrubbed her little feet and painted her toes. Yes, we know what a mistake we are making by starting this early, but that's beside the point. It was a relaxing experience... very nice. We weren't able to spend time with my mother-in-law today because the floods in West Virginia kept her from making it home. I was disappointed that we couldn't see her... I hate the thought of her not seeing her son on Mother's Day. But, I'm glad that it was out of our control and not for a lack of trying on either side! We missed you, Kathy!
Anyway, it was a good day. But, that's really not what I want to write about. I have some special people that I want to write about and appreciate. Hold on, this will probably be a long blog. Get your coffee cup filled up.
First, I have to say that I have an amazing husband. He and I don't always see eye to eye on everything. He's less romantic than I would have him be on most occasions, he takes his time to do things (and sometimes my time too!), and I have to prod him along on a lot of things, often making me feel like I'm nothing more than a nag (or a mom) to him. :) However, I have to remember the good things that I often overlook in my haste to get things done, get to point B, or just to do the next thing. I rarely have to worry that Brad is going to tell me no about most things. He might procrastinate, but he generally goes along for the ride on whatever I want to do. He'll be tired and ready to relax (like on Saturday evening) and I'll decide I want to drive to Ashland to see my family a day early... or that I want to go and get ice cream... or that I just want to go for a walk. Sometimes I can tell that he's not really that interested, but he still goes. I sometimes forget that he only does this to make me happy. He works hard for us at the office, but I'm always waiting on home for him to get home and help me with the next project. Most recently, he's tiled our bathroom, is in the process of tiling another bathroom, and will very soon be replacing our worn out carpet in our living room with hardwood. I know how hard it is to go to work everyday and then come home to only do more work. But, I don't often say that. What's more? He's even a more amazing father. He lacks some ability to discipline (but I guess I make up for some of that) and my kids totally recognize it. We have nightly struggles on who Daddy will help get to sleep, who he'll help get dressed after bath time, and the list goes on. He's the fun guy... the one who is greeted like a God when he comes home, only to be wrestled to the floor and pummeled with hugs and kisses. I know it can't be easy to be everything to someone... especially without appreciation. I love you, babe. And I thank you for making my Mother's Day so special.
Now, on to the mothers that I want to recognize.
I could literally write a book about my own mom (and have sometimes considered it as a possibility for future income!). I have never met a woman in my life that is strong as my mother and I suspect that I never will. She has done things that she would never consider amazing or strong. She'd never even acknowledge that she's been through THAT much. But she has... and she wears a smile on her face everyday. More important to me, though, is the type of mom that she has always been. She was eighteen years old when I was born. A kid... recently out of high school with no job or plan for the future. A kid with a baby. I think about what I would have done at 18with a newborn baby. How I would have felt that my life was over and probably would have stuck my head in the sand and let everything fall apart around me. She didn't though. She toughed it out with me and we grew up together. Or at least that's what we joke about. Of course, Dad was there too! :)
I grew up with more love than any child could know. My parents worked hard for every dime they made and they always made sure I had everything I needed or wanted. Even when times were tough, they made everything special. And the material things were great when we had them, but the times that were toughest financially are the ones that will forever stick in my mind... for all the right reasons. They taught us that love was more important than anything, that we could do anything we put our mind to and that we always had each other, no matter what. I can remember always having this confident feeling that the world was OK if I had my family. And, I still feel that same confidence now... my family is just a tad bigger now. :)
I think today was a special Mother's Day for me because I spent most of it with my mom. There's just something about spending time with her that can make me happy. We didn't do anything that exciting (except the pedicure), but it was nice. We laughed about our own flaws and the crazy things we both do... talked about our jobs, the kiddos, and all kinds of things in the world. I'm sure people wonder why I love spending time with my mom so much. I can honestly say that I don't know many others that enjoy hanging out with their moms like I do. It has to be because of our friendship. She truly is my best friend... the one person in the world that can connect with me without words and know exactly what's on my mind. I guess that just happens after 28 years of growing up together. (Sorry, Cilla, you know that your my very best friend that's not blood-related.) I can be me, all of me, with my mom. And most of the time, if I have something on my mind, she's two steps ahead of me. She knows what's coming before it happens... and I don't think I'm that transparent! She's always been that mom... connected with each of the three of us in the same way. She can almost always tell me when one of my brothers is having an issue way before they mention it... or sometimes before they even know it. Yet, she knows to be patient and let us deal with things on our own. Independence with the knowledge of having her full support, even when you're wrong. If only I can give that to my kids... if only I'd be able to read my babies that well that I would know what they need before they even know what's wrong. She's passed along a lot of things through genetics - the need for promptness, speediness, and order. I hope that there's a special gene for that part... and pray to God I got it!
I often wonder what I would do without her being honest with me. How would I make the right decisions, how would I figure out what to do with my own kids without her, how would I remember that recipe... I pray every night that I don't ever have to deal with a time without her help and advice; without her friendship and love. Life is good when you've got a great family at home... and that much better when you have a mom to share it all with.
I'm more lucky than most women though. I not only have the most wonderful mother and friend in my own mom, I have a wonderful mother-in-law that I love and cherish. She raised a pretty good man (or two, if you know her other son, Ryan). I think I've made Brad's head big enough for the night, so I'll just say that she did a great job there. Yes, I will acknowledge publicly that you should have made him work a little harder when you had him at home, Kathy, but I couldn't ask for a better husband or father for my kids. And, no, I don't think that was just fate. Kathy taught Brad so much that I could go on and on. By far my favorite thing that she passed on to him though is his respect and appreciation of others. One of the things that first attracted me to Brad was that he was not snobby at all. He came into our school as the new kid and could have disregarded about half of our class without missing a beat and could have been the most popular guy in a month. Yet, he was nice and treated everyone with so much respect. He never made anyone feel like they were beneath him. A boy that age doesn't just do that on his own... someone had shown him that you don't treat people differently because you think you're better.
That's not what I love most about Kathy, though. We, as people, might not always understand why we have the quirks we do... God knows that I like things a certain way. I have issues with my dishtowel laying in a certain spot or with towels being folded a certain way. It makes no sense to me why I have these issues; I know it's ridiculous. Yet, they still remain. But, I know someone else with the same kind of issues and we aren't related through blood. When I feel like I have OCD issues, I know that Kathy can make me feel like I'm normal because she'll understand. You see, our quirks might be different, but we have them and we understand each other's needs. As a matter of fact, I sometimes think that Brad can live with me because he understands me from living with his own mom. We really are more alike than not. And our biggest issue that we might have is that we might have the same quirk, but with a different style! :)
I can remember the first few times that I stayed at Brad's house when we were dating. Kathy and I ended up sitting up until late in the morning (usually 3 or 4), long after Brad and Rick would have gone to bed. We loved to talk about everything and nothing... just enjoying each other's company. And we still love to talk... it's just now we talk about something entirely different. Not only do we still love the same man... we now love the same two babies. And I could not look the whole world over and find a better grandmother for my kids. She reminds me so much of my own Grandma Dale that it's almost scary. She takes the time to enjoy every moment with them and they completely take advantage of her for it. She knows she's getting manipulated and just keeps on going. I love to tell her that "I told her so" when she's exhausted with sweat and sticky with candy, but I love it that she spoils them so much (even if they are complete hellions for two days afterward!). She has made my life so much better in so many ways. She is a wonderful friend that I can call any time, a mother that loves her own son more than life itself, and a grandmother that would do anything for her grandkids. And, she's a heck of a lot of fun... she can make anyone laugh, if for no other reason than she has the funniest laugh in the world. She loves to tell jokes, even inappropriate ones, and especially knock-knock jokes, which she knows that I hate, but loves to tell me anyway! And, you know, she's been through her side of hell, too. I can say that if strength in women is genetic, Bailey is going to be the toughest woman in the world. Between my mom and Kathy, they could take on the world... and win.
OK... two more women and I'm going to bed.
I already alluded to this woman... she's my Granny Dale. And she's one of the most influential women in my life. We (as a family) spent several years of my childhood living with my grandparents and it was truly a wonderful experience. Imagine having the most wonderful grandmother in the world with all of her attention focused on you... constantly. Basically, that's how my life was with Granny Dale. She could make the most simple afternoon a complete adventure. From having our little parties in the basement, complete with Kool-Aid and peanut butter and marshmallow on crackers, to picking blackberries on the hillside, Granny Dale could find pleasure and enjoyment in the simple things in life. She taught me to stop and appreciate nature. She showed me that God made all things beautiful and for a purpose. She taught me to play a myriad of songs on the piano and always found a way to make me feel more guilty than anything in the world for saying something hurtful to my brothers. I sometimes hear her voice when I'm feeling guilty for thinking or saying something wrong... they should probably make a bracelet with WWDD on it. You know, What Would Dale Do? :) I'll admit that she wasn't always perfect. I'll never forget the day that I saw her temper flare as my grandfather told her that she should soak her paintbrush in gasoline. She argued with him for a minute and when he kept ignoring her, she stood up and yelled, "Well, fiddlesticks, Leonard." If I had a drink of pop in my mouth, I would have snorted it everywhere... Cory and I couldn't stop laughing for days. She truly was and still is a wonderful grandmother.
Which really brings me to the toughest one I have to write. As you all know, I lost my Granny Charlene in August of last year. It was a really tough time and losing her has been hard for all of us. So, today, it was on my mind that my mom was going through her first Mother's Day without her own mom. We didn't talk about it. It's one of those things that you know is there, but you just don't talk about it. Honestly, thinking about her is what actually made me think that I needed to sit down and do a blog about my own mom... and then about Kathy... and Granny Dale. So, it's only natural that I write about her.
When I was a child, Granny Charlene was the strict grandma. Her house was perfect and her hands were old, even when she was young, from years of cleaning and working in the sewing factory. She was always old to me... far older than my Granny Dale who was actually the elder of the two, but far more fun. Granny Charlene had her own way about everything. She was less affectionate, but yet she found her way to baby us. She loved to cater to us with food and nice things. We always had wonderful clothes when we were with her. Our shoes were always spotless and she made us feel like that was the most wonderful thing in the world. And, you know, it really did kind of sink in. I love to look at my kids and see them all clean and dressed nicely with clean shoes. And I can see them having that same feeling of pride that we had with her. Now, I can admit, this sounds very Mary Poppins-ish without the singing and fun. Again, she had her own way. What I remember the most is the feeling of security and love. My grandparents did a lot of living off the land and enjoying the outdoors. They were always cleaning vegetables, making fresh pies from apples out of their own yard, or encouraging us to eat grapes off the vine. Everything I can remember about their house as a child was that we could live there without a phone or TV or any other thing in the world and we could live forever. I can remember watching my granny's hands as she would string green beans or roll out a pie shell. I can still see her little houseshoes and can still feel the softness of her cheeks. I want two things for my house that I don't have now - a porch swing and a big jug of water (you know, the Igloo kind that has a spout on the bottom - most people probably can remember them from football practices). The front porch always had an Igloo jug of icy cold water for hot summer days. The porch swing is where we spent most of our time at Granny's, eating popsicles and scheming up our next big plan. I miss those things, but I can also say that those are my childhood memories. I laugh about our relationship and how it grew as I got older. I can really laugh about some of our conversations about Brad and Papaw and how I could swear sometimes that Brad and I were turning into Papaw and Granny. I began to understand a lot more about her as we grew. And, yes, she was a far reach from Granny Dale and more opposite than anyone can be from her own daughter. Yet, she is the driving force in my mind when I look at the baseboards and realize that I really need to wash them off. She is the person I think of every single time I eat peanut butter fudge, turn on my electric mixer, or smell an apple pie. She enjoyed the special things in life - a drive through the country, a crossword puzzle, a picture of her grandkids. And, while she wasn't the fun granny that Granny Dale was, she had her own way and she most definitely gave me the best thing in the world... my mom.
Anyway, it was a good day. But, that's really not what I want to write about. I have some special people that I want to write about and appreciate. Hold on, this will probably be a long blog. Get your coffee cup filled up.
First, I have to say that I have an amazing husband. He and I don't always see eye to eye on everything. He's less romantic than I would have him be on most occasions, he takes his time to do things (and sometimes my time too!), and I have to prod him along on a lot of things, often making me feel like I'm nothing more than a nag (or a mom) to him. :) However, I have to remember the good things that I often overlook in my haste to get things done, get to point B, or just to do the next thing. I rarely have to worry that Brad is going to tell me no about most things. He might procrastinate, but he generally goes along for the ride on whatever I want to do. He'll be tired and ready to relax (like on Saturday evening) and I'll decide I want to drive to Ashland to see my family a day early... or that I want to go and get ice cream... or that I just want to go for a walk. Sometimes I can tell that he's not really that interested, but he still goes. I sometimes forget that he only does this to make me happy. He works hard for us at the office, but I'm always waiting on home for him to get home and help me with the next project. Most recently, he's tiled our bathroom, is in the process of tiling another bathroom, and will very soon be replacing our worn out carpet in our living room with hardwood. I know how hard it is to go to work everyday and then come home to only do more work. But, I don't often say that. What's more? He's even a more amazing father. He lacks some ability to discipline (but I guess I make up for some of that) and my kids totally recognize it. We have nightly struggles on who Daddy will help get to sleep, who he'll help get dressed after bath time, and the list goes on. He's the fun guy... the one who is greeted like a God when he comes home, only to be wrestled to the floor and pummeled with hugs and kisses. I know it can't be easy to be everything to someone... especially without appreciation. I love you, babe. And I thank you for making my Mother's Day so special.
Now, on to the mothers that I want to recognize.
I could literally write a book about my own mom (and have sometimes considered it as a possibility for future income!). I have never met a woman in my life that is strong as my mother and I suspect that I never will. She has done things that she would never consider amazing or strong. She'd never even acknowledge that she's been through THAT much. But she has... and she wears a smile on her face everyday. More important to me, though, is the type of mom that she has always been. She was eighteen years old when I was born. A kid... recently out of high school with no job or plan for the future. A kid with a baby. I think about what I would have done at 18with a newborn baby. How I would have felt that my life was over and probably would have stuck my head in the sand and let everything fall apart around me. She didn't though. She toughed it out with me and we grew up together. Or at least that's what we joke about. Of course, Dad was there too! :)
I grew up with more love than any child could know. My parents worked hard for every dime they made and they always made sure I had everything I needed or wanted. Even when times were tough, they made everything special. And the material things were great when we had them, but the times that were toughest financially are the ones that will forever stick in my mind... for all the right reasons. They taught us that love was more important than anything, that we could do anything we put our mind to and that we always had each other, no matter what. I can remember always having this confident feeling that the world was OK if I had my family. And, I still feel that same confidence now... my family is just a tad bigger now. :)
I think today was a special Mother's Day for me because I spent most of it with my mom. There's just something about spending time with her that can make me happy. We didn't do anything that exciting (except the pedicure), but it was nice. We laughed about our own flaws and the crazy things we both do... talked about our jobs, the kiddos, and all kinds of things in the world. I'm sure people wonder why I love spending time with my mom so much. I can honestly say that I don't know many others that enjoy hanging out with their moms like I do. It has to be because of our friendship. She truly is my best friend... the one person in the world that can connect with me without words and know exactly what's on my mind. I guess that just happens after 28 years of growing up together. (Sorry, Cilla, you know that your my very best friend that's not blood-related.) I can be me, all of me, with my mom. And most of the time, if I have something on my mind, she's two steps ahead of me. She knows what's coming before it happens... and I don't think I'm that transparent! She's always been that mom... connected with each of the three of us in the same way. She can almost always tell me when one of my brothers is having an issue way before they mention it... or sometimes before they even know it. Yet, she knows to be patient and let us deal with things on our own. Independence with the knowledge of having her full support, even when you're wrong. If only I can give that to my kids... if only I'd be able to read my babies that well that I would know what they need before they even know what's wrong. She's passed along a lot of things through genetics - the need for promptness, speediness, and order. I hope that there's a special gene for that part... and pray to God I got it!
I often wonder what I would do without her being honest with me. How would I make the right decisions, how would I figure out what to do with my own kids without her, how would I remember that recipe... I pray every night that I don't ever have to deal with a time without her help and advice; without her friendship and love. Life is good when you've got a great family at home... and that much better when you have a mom to share it all with.
I'm more lucky than most women though. I not only have the most wonderful mother and friend in my own mom, I have a wonderful mother-in-law that I love and cherish. She raised a pretty good man (or two, if you know her other son, Ryan). I think I've made Brad's head big enough for the night, so I'll just say that she did a great job there. Yes, I will acknowledge publicly that you should have made him work a little harder when you had him at home, Kathy, but I couldn't ask for a better husband or father for my kids. And, no, I don't think that was just fate. Kathy taught Brad so much that I could go on and on. By far my favorite thing that she passed on to him though is his respect and appreciation of others. One of the things that first attracted me to Brad was that he was not snobby at all. He came into our school as the new kid and could have disregarded about half of our class without missing a beat and could have been the most popular guy in a month. Yet, he was nice and treated everyone with so much respect. He never made anyone feel like they were beneath him. A boy that age doesn't just do that on his own... someone had shown him that you don't treat people differently because you think you're better.
That's not what I love most about Kathy, though. We, as people, might not always understand why we have the quirks we do... God knows that I like things a certain way. I have issues with my dishtowel laying in a certain spot or with towels being folded a certain way. It makes no sense to me why I have these issues; I know it's ridiculous. Yet, they still remain. But, I know someone else with the same kind of issues and we aren't related through blood. When I feel like I have OCD issues, I know that Kathy can make me feel like I'm normal because she'll understand. You see, our quirks might be different, but we have them and we understand each other's needs. As a matter of fact, I sometimes think that Brad can live with me because he understands me from living with his own mom. We really are more alike than not. And our biggest issue that we might have is that we might have the same quirk, but with a different style! :)
I can remember the first few times that I stayed at Brad's house when we were dating. Kathy and I ended up sitting up until late in the morning (usually 3 or 4), long after Brad and Rick would have gone to bed. We loved to talk about everything and nothing... just enjoying each other's company. And we still love to talk... it's just now we talk about something entirely different. Not only do we still love the same man... we now love the same two babies. And I could not look the whole world over and find a better grandmother for my kids. She reminds me so much of my own Grandma Dale that it's almost scary. She takes the time to enjoy every moment with them and they completely take advantage of her for it. She knows she's getting manipulated and just keeps on going. I love to tell her that "I told her so" when she's exhausted with sweat and sticky with candy, but I love it that she spoils them so much (even if they are complete hellions for two days afterward!). She has made my life so much better in so many ways. She is a wonderful friend that I can call any time, a mother that loves her own son more than life itself, and a grandmother that would do anything for her grandkids. And, she's a heck of a lot of fun... she can make anyone laugh, if for no other reason than she has the funniest laugh in the world. She loves to tell jokes, even inappropriate ones, and especially knock-knock jokes, which she knows that I hate, but loves to tell me anyway! And, you know, she's been through her side of hell, too. I can say that if strength in women is genetic, Bailey is going to be the toughest woman in the world. Between my mom and Kathy, they could take on the world... and win.
OK... two more women and I'm going to bed.
I already alluded to this woman... she's my Granny Dale. And she's one of the most influential women in my life. We (as a family) spent several years of my childhood living with my grandparents and it was truly a wonderful experience. Imagine having the most wonderful grandmother in the world with all of her attention focused on you... constantly. Basically, that's how my life was with Granny Dale. She could make the most simple afternoon a complete adventure. From having our little parties in the basement, complete with Kool-Aid and peanut butter and marshmallow on crackers, to picking blackberries on the hillside, Granny Dale could find pleasure and enjoyment in the simple things in life. She taught me to stop and appreciate nature. She showed me that God made all things beautiful and for a purpose. She taught me to play a myriad of songs on the piano and always found a way to make me feel more guilty than anything in the world for saying something hurtful to my brothers. I sometimes hear her voice when I'm feeling guilty for thinking or saying something wrong... they should probably make a bracelet with WWDD on it. You know, What Would Dale Do? :) I'll admit that she wasn't always perfect. I'll never forget the day that I saw her temper flare as my grandfather told her that she should soak her paintbrush in gasoline. She argued with him for a minute and when he kept ignoring her, she stood up and yelled, "Well, fiddlesticks, Leonard." If I had a drink of pop in my mouth, I would have snorted it everywhere... Cory and I couldn't stop laughing for days. She truly was and still is a wonderful grandmother.
Which really brings me to the toughest one I have to write. As you all know, I lost my Granny Charlene in August of last year. It was a really tough time and losing her has been hard for all of us. So, today, it was on my mind that my mom was going through her first Mother's Day without her own mom. We didn't talk about it. It's one of those things that you know is there, but you just don't talk about it. Honestly, thinking about her is what actually made me think that I needed to sit down and do a blog about my own mom... and then about Kathy... and Granny Dale. So, it's only natural that I write about her.
When I was a child, Granny Charlene was the strict grandma. Her house was perfect and her hands were old, even when she was young, from years of cleaning and working in the sewing factory. She was always old to me... far older than my Granny Dale who was actually the elder of the two, but far more fun. Granny Charlene had her own way about everything. She was less affectionate, but yet she found her way to baby us. She loved to cater to us with food and nice things. We always had wonderful clothes when we were with her. Our shoes were always spotless and she made us feel like that was the most wonderful thing in the world. And, you know, it really did kind of sink in. I love to look at my kids and see them all clean and dressed nicely with clean shoes. And I can see them having that same feeling of pride that we had with her. Now, I can admit, this sounds very Mary Poppins-ish without the singing and fun. Again, she had her own way. What I remember the most is the feeling of security and love. My grandparents did a lot of living off the land and enjoying the outdoors. They were always cleaning vegetables, making fresh pies from apples out of their own yard, or encouraging us to eat grapes off the vine. Everything I can remember about their house as a child was that we could live there without a phone or TV or any other thing in the world and we could live forever. I can remember watching my granny's hands as she would string green beans or roll out a pie shell. I can still see her little houseshoes and can still feel the softness of her cheeks. I want two things for my house that I don't have now - a porch swing and a big jug of water (you know, the Igloo kind that has a spout on the bottom - most people probably can remember them from football practices). The front porch always had an Igloo jug of icy cold water for hot summer days. The porch swing is where we spent most of our time at Granny's, eating popsicles and scheming up our next big plan. I miss those things, but I can also say that those are my childhood memories. I laugh about our relationship and how it grew as I got older. I can really laugh about some of our conversations about Brad and Papaw and how I could swear sometimes that Brad and I were turning into Papaw and Granny. I began to understand a lot more about her as we grew. And, yes, she was a far reach from Granny Dale and more opposite than anyone can be from her own daughter. Yet, she is the driving force in my mind when I look at the baseboards and realize that I really need to wash them off. She is the person I think of every single time I eat peanut butter fudge, turn on my electric mixer, or smell an apple pie. She enjoyed the special things in life - a drive through the country, a crossword puzzle, a picture of her grandkids. And, while she wasn't the fun granny that Granny Dale was, she had her own way and she most definitely gave me the best thing in the world... my mom.
Procrastination = me blogging!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
I'm currently procrastinating working. I have so much to do for work that I really can't decide which is a priority. It's all a priority at this point. So, I'm just sitting here blogging instead. Make sense?! :)
I'm trying to think about what I haven't really blogged about most recently and I suppose there are a few things, so I'll just go all over the place. Sorry for not being the most organized with this today. I usually try to make it all relate, but well, as you can tell, I'm just wanting to get things off my mind... and put off working. :)
We had check ups for the kids a couple of weeks ago. Brad had to work, so I loaded the kids up and took them by myself. It's not really that big of a deal to take them these days. They both really like going to the doctor's office; they enjoy having someone brag on them and really enjoy getting to see the doctor pull out all of her tools to check them out. Of course, this means that we have to reenact our visit for several weeks following our appointment. Anyway, because the kids have birthdays so closely together, we schedule the check ups together. It makes life much easier. On this visit, we had to have blood tests. Two nurses, one for each child, pricked Bailey and Jake's fingers to get blood. Both sat very still and were tough throughout the process. As soon as the nurses were finished, both puckered up and cried on me... acting like I had let the nurses chop off their arms. They eventually calmed down, but both of them told me repeatedly how terrible it was that I had let the nurses do this. After calming them, the doctor came into the room for the full check. I thought I would fall over when she said, "Well, Mrs. Ooten, whatever you are feeding this babies, you just keep feeding it to them... their bloodwork looks as good, if not better, than any of the patients their age... so what concerns do you have?" After lifting my jaw off the floor, I laughed and said, "Well, my first concern was that they don't eat many fruits or vegetables and I'm worried about their diet, but I will just shut up." I couldn't believe it! Honestly, if you have ever been around my kids, you probably have seen them with suckers, candy, or french fries. They drink more orange juice than any kids I know... they refuse most any healthy foods (except for strawberries and grapes, and occasionally Jake will eat corn or green beans, but never Bailey). It really just shocked me to death. I really worry about what they eat and don't eat. But, I guess all that worrying isn't doing me much good...
Our surprises didn't end there...
Bailey's stats: 40 pounds and 41.5 inches tall... 90th percentile in both height and weight
Jake's stats: 26.5 pounds and 34.5 inches tall... 50th percentile in height and weight
My childrens' roles have reversed... Jake was always in the 90th percentile and Bailey always in the 50th... but not this time. Of course, I asked the doctor if I should be concerned and she said they both looked great and that I shouldn't worry about either of them. They are both healthy and happy.
Maybe I should have asked the doctor about my kids' obsessions with watching the same shows and movies over and over. Bailey is finally growing tired of watching things over and over, just as Jake is entering this phase. Bailey has had a long and deep affection for Scooby-Doo, Tom and Jerry, and Little Bear. We have watched some of these shows so many times that she actually says the lines of the movies as they progress. Even Jake mutters through the lines. And I've always hated watching these over and over (although I have to say it is 100% better than the Wiggles or Barney). Jake is now entering this phase, but with a deep affection for movies... specifically, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Monsters, Inc., a little Scooby-Doo, and Meet the Robinsons. With the Grinch, he has watched it so many times that he actually mimicks the facial expressions, along with the lines and grunts, and evil laughs. It's hilarious. As a matter of fact, now that I think about it, I need to video it. I thought I would fall over laughing at him last night, as we lay in his floor watching this movie (AGAIN). Brad and I have a theory on why he loves this movie so much. We've determined that he's made a connection with the Grinch because of school. Jake is the known anti-social at school. I can't remember if I've blogged about his disinterest in playing with kids his own age (also talked to the doctor about this who reassured me that it is quite normal for him to go through this). Jake loves playing with older kids, is very good to little babies, but typically acts like kids his own age are beneath him. For instance, if I say to Jake, "This morning, we are going to day care and you'll get to play with your friends." He looks at me with the most hateful look he can muster and says, "No friends." He reinforces this by shaking his head and pointing his finger at me. When the kids try to play with him (most of the time), he picks up his toys and moves away, as if to say, "Get your own toys and leave me be." The Grinch doesn't really like the kids in his class either... maybe that's why Jake seems to be so attached to him. And, you know, I think he really feels sorry for the Grinch in the movie. He gets a sad little face when the people of Whoville are mean to him. I truly think he gets it. So funny...
OK... this is getting long and I really, really do need to work. I guess I've put it off as long as I can. I promise I'll get some new photos up soon... we have a photographer that comes to our t-ball games and takes photos. They posted some really good ones today... I just need to take the time to go through them!
I'm trying to think about what I haven't really blogged about most recently and I suppose there are a few things, so I'll just go all over the place. Sorry for not being the most organized with this today. I usually try to make it all relate, but well, as you can tell, I'm just wanting to get things off my mind... and put off working. :)
We had check ups for the kids a couple of weeks ago. Brad had to work, so I loaded the kids up and took them by myself. It's not really that big of a deal to take them these days. They both really like going to the doctor's office; they enjoy having someone brag on them and really enjoy getting to see the doctor pull out all of her tools to check them out. Of course, this means that we have to reenact our visit for several weeks following our appointment. Anyway, because the kids have birthdays so closely together, we schedule the check ups together. It makes life much easier. On this visit, we had to have blood tests. Two nurses, one for each child, pricked Bailey and Jake's fingers to get blood. Both sat very still and were tough throughout the process. As soon as the nurses were finished, both puckered up and cried on me... acting like I had let the nurses chop off their arms. They eventually calmed down, but both of them told me repeatedly how terrible it was that I had let the nurses do this. After calming them, the doctor came into the room for the full check. I thought I would fall over when she said, "Well, Mrs. Ooten, whatever you are feeding this babies, you just keep feeding it to them... their bloodwork looks as good, if not better, than any of the patients their age... so what concerns do you have?" After lifting my jaw off the floor, I laughed and said, "Well, my first concern was that they don't eat many fruits or vegetables and I'm worried about their diet, but I will just shut up." I couldn't believe it! Honestly, if you have ever been around my kids, you probably have seen them with suckers, candy, or french fries. They drink more orange juice than any kids I know... they refuse most any healthy foods (except for strawberries and grapes, and occasionally Jake will eat corn or green beans, but never Bailey). It really just shocked me to death. I really worry about what they eat and don't eat. But, I guess all that worrying isn't doing me much good...
Our surprises didn't end there...
Bailey's stats: 40 pounds and 41.5 inches tall... 90th percentile in both height and weight
Jake's stats: 26.5 pounds and 34.5 inches tall... 50th percentile in height and weight
My childrens' roles have reversed... Jake was always in the 90th percentile and Bailey always in the 50th... but not this time. Of course, I asked the doctor if I should be concerned and she said they both looked great and that I shouldn't worry about either of them. They are both healthy and happy.
Maybe I should have asked the doctor about my kids' obsessions with watching the same shows and movies over and over. Bailey is finally growing tired of watching things over and over, just as Jake is entering this phase. Bailey has had a long and deep affection for Scooby-Doo, Tom and Jerry, and Little Bear. We have watched some of these shows so many times that she actually says the lines of the movies as they progress. Even Jake mutters through the lines. And I've always hated watching these over and over (although I have to say it is 100% better than the Wiggles or Barney). Jake is now entering this phase, but with a deep affection for movies... specifically, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Monsters, Inc., a little Scooby-Doo, and Meet the Robinsons. With the Grinch, he has watched it so many times that he actually mimicks the facial expressions, along with the lines and grunts, and evil laughs. It's hilarious. As a matter of fact, now that I think about it, I need to video it. I thought I would fall over laughing at him last night, as we lay in his floor watching this movie (AGAIN). Brad and I have a theory on why he loves this movie so much. We've determined that he's made a connection with the Grinch because of school. Jake is the known anti-social at school. I can't remember if I've blogged about his disinterest in playing with kids his own age (also talked to the doctor about this who reassured me that it is quite normal for him to go through this). Jake loves playing with older kids, is very good to little babies, but typically acts like kids his own age are beneath him. For instance, if I say to Jake, "This morning, we are going to day care and you'll get to play with your friends." He looks at me with the most hateful look he can muster and says, "No friends." He reinforces this by shaking his head and pointing his finger at me. When the kids try to play with him (most of the time), he picks up his toys and moves away, as if to say, "Get your own toys and leave me be." The Grinch doesn't really like the kids in his class either... maybe that's why Jake seems to be so attached to him. And, you know, I think he really feels sorry for the Grinch in the movie. He gets a sad little face when the people of Whoville are mean to him. I truly think he gets it. So funny...
OK... this is getting long and I really, really do need to work. I guess I've put it off as long as I can. I promise I'll get some new photos up soon... we have a photographer that comes to our t-ball games and takes photos. They posted some really good ones today... I just need to take the time to go through them!
Random stories...
Sunday, April 26, 2009
My little ones have enjoyed a weekend with the grandparents and we have so enjoyed working on the house and yard without them. Don't get me wrong, we both have missed them terribly. We have gone around imitating them all day, saying what we think they'd be saying to us as we cleaned out the garage, worked in the yard, and hung up the shutters that have been down for the past three years. We miss them, but we were really happy to have some time to get work done and to get a chance to hang out again.
I have some really funny stories to tell you about, but before I blog anything else, I have to make sure to brag on my little ball player. :) It might be one of the only chances I get to brag, so let me have a moment! lol...
Before I took the kids to my mom's yesterday, Bailey had a big day at t-ball. She won the game ball. We were so proud and thrilled for her! Her team was playing another very good team and the score wasa tied up when the game would normally have ended. Bailey had already batted once and had unfortunately struck out. She was very disappointed, coming to me afterward and saying very sadly, "Mommy... I lost." She held her little head so low and I felt like I was going to cry! I told her it was OK and that she'd get a big hit next time... just to keep swinging hard. So, when the last inning was coming to a close and it appeared we would continue playing, my heart raced. Bailey would have to bat again and I couldn't bear the thought that she would strike out again, both for her confidence and because I was worried she'd cause the team to lose. Now, don't think I'm terrible for being concerned about that. I wouldn't mind if we lost, even if it was Bailey's fault. I just wouldn't want the other kids to be ticked off at her or to dislike her because of it. And kids do that... especially 6-year old competitive little boys. So... it was important that she get a hit. As the third batter up, I was praying that the other two in front of her would be on base so she wouldn't be the third out if she struck out. Fortunately, they both made it on base. So, Bailey gets up, a runner on first and a runner on second, and no outs. Not nearly as much pressure. She swings, fouls a time or two, and then hits! She ran to first, but was thrown out. That was OK though. The kid on second base made it to third, and the next batter got a hit, knocking the run in. Now, you and I both know that Bailey's hit could or could not have caused any thing to end up differently. But, the coaches still gave her and the player that scored a game ball... and she was so thrilled. Here's to hoping that it will give her a little more confidence when she gets up there again...
Now, I just have to tell you this funny story. Brad and I went out to eat tonight for dinner. We were both exhausted from working, so I was a little slap happy, but seriously, this might have been one of the funniest things ever. We were sitting at our table in Red Lobster and an old man and two older women were sitting at the table next to us. We had just ordered and were talking. Brad was saying how he would be an old hateful man when he gets old. Random, I know, but we were just laughing and I was saying that he couldn't do that, even if he wanted to. Well, about a minute later, the old man beside of us hiked his leg up and ripped the longest and loudest fart that I have ever heard in public. It was disgusting. I was trying so hard not to laugh. I kept looking at Brad and he was trying not to laugh. Finally, I picked up a menu and started pretending to read it because I was laughing so hard (quietly of course) that tears were streaming down my face. I could not stop! It was terrible. Finally, he and the two women got up to leave. I had found enough composure to carry on a conversation without laughing. But then, I heard the women ask a server where the restrooms were. When the server responded to find out if they wanted the mensroom or womensroom and they said men's, I thought I would lose it! As soon as they were out of sight, I busted out with laughter and could not stop most of the meal. I know our server thought I was crazy or drunk, because every time he came around, I was laughing like a little kid! Brad even made a comment about the old man hiking up his leg when I was taking a drink of pop and I laughed so hard that it came out my nose. I had pop all over me. It was hilarious. I was so thrilled that the kids weren't with us. Bailey would have yelled that the guy had farted and was nasty if she had been there. She probably would also have thrown up every where, so thank God she wasn't there. Jake would probably have been mortified too. He probably would have turned around and asked the man if he pooped!!!!
Speaking of Jakey man... he is doing so much better speaking. I should have known that as soon as I blogged about him not speaking that he'd make a liar of me. He's starting to say more and more. Maybe he heard me say that I was going to take him to a specialist in July if he wasn't talking more. His favorite thing to say now is "Why not?" Every time I tell him no about anything, he'll say, "Why not?" When I respond, I often say, "Because." Well, he turned it around on me last week. I asked him to do something and he said no. So, I said, "Why not?" He looked at me and said, "Because." I thought I'd crack up. Bad thing that Jake is doing... he does not like his food to be shared. Bailey ate one of his cheetos a few days ago and he cried as if she had eaten his finger. And the remaining cheetos were no longer edible. Apparently they were contaminated. And such was the same when I ate one of his fries in the car yesterday. They are his and his alone. If someone eats one, then all of them must be banished (at least until he's been able to cry for 15 minutes). ARGH. OCD without a doubt.
OK... enough of my random stories for the night... going to bed.
I have some really funny stories to tell you about, but before I blog anything else, I have to make sure to brag on my little ball player. :) It might be one of the only chances I get to brag, so let me have a moment! lol...
Before I took the kids to my mom's yesterday, Bailey had a big day at t-ball. She won the game ball. We were so proud and thrilled for her! Her team was playing another very good team and the score wasa tied up when the game would normally have ended. Bailey had already batted once and had unfortunately struck out. She was very disappointed, coming to me afterward and saying very sadly, "Mommy... I lost." She held her little head so low and I felt like I was going to cry! I told her it was OK and that she'd get a big hit next time... just to keep swinging hard. So, when the last inning was coming to a close and it appeared we would continue playing, my heart raced. Bailey would have to bat again and I couldn't bear the thought that she would strike out again, both for her confidence and because I was worried she'd cause the team to lose. Now, don't think I'm terrible for being concerned about that. I wouldn't mind if we lost, even if it was Bailey's fault. I just wouldn't want the other kids to be ticked off at her or to dislike her because of it. And kids do that... especially 6-year old competitive little boys. So... it was important that she get a hit. As the third batter up, I was praying that the other two in front of her would be on base so she wouldn't be the third out if she struck out. Fortunately, they both made it on base. So, Bailey gets up, a runner on first and a runner on second, and no outs. Not nearly as much pressure. She swings, fouls a time or two, and then hits! She ran to first, but was thrown out. That was OK though. The kid on second base made it to third, and the next batter got a hit, knocking the run in. Now, you and I both know that Bailey's hit could or could not have caused any thing to end up differently. But, the coaches still gave her and the player that scored a game ball... and she was so thrilled. Here's to hoping that it will give her a little more confidence when she gets up there again...
Now, I just have to tell you this funny story. Brad and I went out to eat tonight for dinner. We were both exhausted from working, so I was a little slap happy, but seriously, this might have been one of the funniest things ever. We were sitting at our table in Red Lobster and an old man and two older women were sitting at the table next to us. We had just ordered and were talking. Brad was saying how he would be an old hateful man when he gets old. Random, I know, but we were just laughing and I was saying that he couldn't do that, even if he wanted to. Well, about a minute later, the old man beside of us hiked his leg up and ripped the longest and loudest fart that I have ever heard in public. It was disgusting. I was trying so hard not to laugh. I kept looking at Brad and he was trying not to laugh. Finally, I picked up a menu and started pretending to read it because I was laughing so hard (quietly of course) that tears were streaming down my face. I could not stop! It was terrible. Finally, he and the two women got up to leave. I had found enough composure to carry on a conversation without laughing. But then, I heard the women ask a server where the restrooms were. When the server responded to find out if they wanted the mensroom or womensroom and they said men's, I thought I would lose it! As soon as they were out of sight, I busted out with laughter and could not stop most of the meal. I know our server thought I was crazy or drunk, because every time he came around, I was laughing like a little kid! Brad even made a comment about the old man hiking up his leg when I was taking a drink of pop and I laughed so hard that it came out my nose. I had pop all over me. It was hilarious. I was so thrilled that the kids weren't with us. Bailey would have yelled that the guy had farted and was nasty if she had been there. She probably would also have thrown up every where, so thank God she wasn't there. Jake would probably have been mortified too. He probably would have turned around and asked the man if he pooped!!!!
Speaking of Jakey man... he is doing so much better speaking. I should have known that as soon as I blogged about him not speaking that he'd make a liar of me. He's starting to say more and more. Maybe he heard me say that I was going to take him to a specialist in July if he wasn't talking more. His favorite thing to say now is "Why not?" Every time I tell him no about anything, he'll say, "Why not?" When I respond, I often say, "Because." Well, he turned it around on me last week. I asked him to do something and he said no. So, I said, "Why not?" He looked at me and said, "Because." I thought I'd crack up. Bad thing that Jake is doing... he does not like his food to be shared. Bailey ate one of his cheetos a few days ago and he cried as if she had eaten his finger. And the remaining cheetos were no longer edible. Apparently they were contaminated. And such was the same when I ate one of his fries in the car yesterday. They are his and his alone. If someone eats one, then all of them must be banished (at least until he's been able to cry for 15 minutes). ARGH. OCD without a doubt.
OK... enough of my random stories for the night... going to bed.
Second Guessing.. .
Friday, April 17, 2009
We have it made when it comes to technology. It's not like it's really inconvenient to get online and access everything, especially when you have a laptop and wireless internet. However, I catch myself wishing that I could just blog my thoughts without typing. What is wrong with this world?! When I have become that lazy or that busy, there is something just wrong with the world.
I've written a half dozen blogs in my mind recently, but one that keeps resurfacing in my mind is one that I wanted to write a couple of weeks ago. Parenting isn't easy. Duh... no one said it was, right? I expected it to be tough... to be constantly feeling like I'm overwhelmed or to be staying up at midnight to finish up some housework or some work for work, or even to just have a few minutes to myself. I think I expected almost all of the tough things about parenting, even most of the tough decisions. I knew there would come days that I wouldn't know what exactly to do, but I felt like I could figure it out and I'd know if I was right or wrong. I've always been very comfortable with the decisions I make. It might take me a while to make a decision, but I once I make that decision, I can stick with it and justify it without concern (special thanks to Cilla for always helping me to justify it ALL).
Well... that's the part of parenting that I think I did not expect. The doubt. The lingering concern in the back of my mind that says, "Am I screwing this up?" Bailey and Jake are happy and healthy. They can be rambunctious and mean sometimes, like most kids, but they are sweet and loveable. They know right from wrong, even if they don't always adhere to it, and they really don't have problems at day care or with any of our friends and family. We feel good about how we can take them everywhere and know that MOST of the time, we can trust them to behave. But, there are those moments that make you wonder if you should be doing something differently. I think what started this whole thought process was two-fold - Bailey playing t-ball and Jake talking more, but not as much as we would like.
As I've blogged (most briefly), Bailey is growing to enjoy t-ball more and more. She's still not sold on it when we first get to the field and I still have to convince her to go onto the field to practice. I'll correct that... I have to bribe her and threaten her to get her out on the field. Brad has convinced her that she'll get ice cream after every game and practice that she stays on the field for the entire time. When that doesn't work, I threaten to take away the dollhouse. One or the other typically works. But, I feel like crap when I'm doing this. The entire time, I'm wondering if I'm forcing her to do something she cares nothing about. Then, she gets on the field, has a blast, and I think that I'm doing the right thing. It blows my mind how I can go from thinking that I shouldn't bring her back to thinking that she's having so much fun and improving with each practice all in less than an hour. I know that she needs a little push to do more. I was her 24 years ago... not wanting to take gymnastics because I was intimidated by the other kids or the teachers or because I was just as content hanging out with my mom. Thank God that mom made me do things or I would have NEVER had ANY fun. I still missed out on a lot all the way through life because I wouldn't push myself to go and have fun. Heck, I still do it! I want to push her because I don't want her to miss anything. It goes by so fast. BUT... I also hate pushing her. ARGH!!
I hate the second-guessing... and it's already starting with Jake! He's two and he talks some. Not much, but some. He's been talking more and more in the past couple of weeks, but I wonder if I've focused too much attention on work or on making him happy by giving him everything without making him talk or if I've just ignored it because he's my baby. He's not a big reader, so we don't force it on him. Maybe I need to. Or do I need to talk about possibly doing speech therapy like some people suggest? The doctor says he's fine, that we can talk to a speech therapist if we want, but that she thinks he's fine (and is used to Bailey talking too much for him to get a word in). She suggested getting his hearing checked since I worry that he doesn't enunciate. So, I guess we'll try that. It can all just be so worrysome. Instincts tell me that he's fine... slightly stubborn, a little lazy, and very much enjoying being the baby. BUT... do I go on instincts and risk screwing up?! ARGH.
Again, the second-guessing. It's SO frustrating. But, it most certainly is part of parenting. I'm glad I'm not alone (yes, misery loves company!). I know every parent has gone through this... and most of my friends have been saying the same things. So... I guess we'll just be dealing with this for a few more years (or the rest of our lives). :)
I've written a half dozen blogs in my mind recently, but one that keeps resurfacing in my mind is one that I wanted to write a couple of weeks ago. Parenting isn't easy. Duh... no one said it was, right? I expected it to be tough... to be constantly feeling like I'm overwhelmed or to be staying up at midnight to finish up some housework or some work for work, or even to just have a few minutes to myself. I think I expected almost all of the tough things about parenting, even most of the tough decisions. I knew there would come days that I wouldn't know what exactly to do, but I felt like I could figure it out and I'd know if I was right or wrong. I've always been very comfortable with the decisions I make. It might take me a while to make a decision, but I once I make that decision, I can stick with it and justify it without concern (special thanks to Cilla for always helping me to justify it ALL).
Well... that's the part of parenting that I think I did not expect. The doubt. The lingering concern in the back of my mind that says, "Am I screwing this up?" Bailey and Jake are happy and healthy. They can be rambunctious and mean sometimes, like most kids, but they are sweet and loveable. They know right from wrong, even if they don't always adhere to it, and they really don't have problems at day care or with any of our friends and family. We feel good about how we can take them everywhere and know that MOST of the time, we can trust them to behave. But, there are those moments that make you wonder if you should be doing something differently. I think what started this whole thought process was two-fold - Bailey playing t-ball and Jake talking more, but not as much as we would like.
As I've blogged (most briefly), Bailey is growing to enjoy t-ball more and more. She's still not sold on it when we first get to the field and I still have to convince her to go onto the field to practice. I'll correct that... I have to bribe her and threaten her to get her out on the field. Brad has convinced her that she'll get ice cream after every game and practice that she stays on the field for the entire time. When that doesn't work, I threaten to take away the dollhouse. One or the other typically works. But, I feel like crap when I'm doing this. The entire time, I'm wondering if I'm forcing her to do something she cares nothing about. Then, she gets on the field, has a blast, and I think that I'm doing the right thing. It blows my mind how I can go from thinking that I shouldn't bring her back to thinking that she's having so much fun and improving with each practice all in less than an hour. I know that she needs a little push to do more. I was her 24 years ago... not wanting to take gymnastics because I was intimidated by the other kids or the teachers or because I was just as content hanging out with my mom. Thank God that mom made me do things or I would have NEVER had ANY fun. I still missed out on a lot all the way through life because I wouldn't push myself to go and have fun. Heck, I still do it! I want to push her because I don't want her to miss anything. It goes by so fast. BUT... I also hate pushing her. ARGH!!
I hate the second-guessing... and it's already starting with Jake! He's two and he talks some. Not much, but some. He's been talking more and more in the past couple of weeks, but I wonder if I've focused too much attention on work or on making him happy by giving him everything without making him talk or if I've just ignored it because he's my baby. He's not a big reader, so we don't force it on him. Maybe I need to. Or do I need to talk about possibly doing speech therapy like some people suggest? The doctor says he's fine, that we can talk to a speech therapist if we want, but that she thinks he's fine (and is used to Bailey talking too much for him to get a word in). She suggested getting his hearing checked since I worry that he doesn't enunciate. So, I guess we'll try that. It can all just be so worrysome. Instincts tell me that he's fine... slightly stubborn, a little lazy, and very much enjoying being the baby. BUT... do I go on instincts and risk screwing up?! ARGH.
Again, the second-guessing. It's SO frustrating. But, it most certainly is part of parenting. I'm glad I'm not alone (yes, misery loves company!). I know every parent has gone through this... and most of my friends have been saying the same things. So... I guess we'll just be dealing with this for a few more years (or the rest of our lives). :)
Busy as ever...
Thursday, April 16, 2009
These days seem to get busier and busier... t-ball is taking over our schedule! :) In all honesty, I think that the hustle and bustle of it all is wonderful, but between it, work, and a few projects at home, I just have not been able to motivate myself to sit down and blog. So... for all of you wondering where we've been, we're still here. Just incredibly busy.
We've had two kids' birthday parties, Easter, t-ball practice and games (an average of 4 times a week!!), and on top of all of that, we've found a piece of property in Garrard County that we LOVE and are considering building a new home. Of course, that means getting things ready to sell our current house, which means lots of spring cleaning (that needs done either way) and remodeling a few things.
The kids had wonderful birthdays... they were naturally spoiled completely rotten. We had a celebration in Ashland at the YMCA for family and friends for both kids. They enjoyed cupcakes (thanks to my sister-in-law Angela and her newfound passion of cake decorating!), ice cream and swimming. Oh... and just a few presents. Although Jake refused to swim, they had a great time. And, no, I haven't downloaded my pictures, even if it's been more than two weeks. lol... I will... eventually. And then you'll all be mad at me for posting so many! :)
Easter was good, but hectic. We didn't even color eggs this year. That bothered me, but the kids didn't notice, so I guess I shouldn't mind. Brad says it's too bad that there isn't a Easter Egg hunting little league... Bailey would be the best. The kids enjoyed their baskets, filled with candy and junky toys, and had a good time playing with the other kids at church. Later that day... t-ball practice.
Yes, t-ball is demanding. I think everyone thinks we are crazy because we have so many practices and games. But, we are enjoying it. Bailey is still struggling to go directly on the field and play. We have to convince her every time, but once she is out on the field, she enjoys it. She scored a run in their first game on Tuesday. She was pretty excited about that. We'll ignore that she struck out (yes, it IS possible in t-ball) the first time she was up. They did let her run to first though and then sent her to the dugout, so I'm not sure that she really understood what was going on. Her favorite part is batting and running the bases. She enjoys digging in the dirt and throwing dirt at her teammates, but they seem to enjoy it too, so maybe it's not as big of a deal as we have made it. It drives us CRAZY. But, we're trying to be more patient. She did recently turn four, you know. :)
Jake is enjoying t-ball too. He loves digging in the dirt, trying to sneak away from us in the middle of the game, and he cheers the kids on, yelling, "RUN, RUN" over and over. It's pretty cute. He would love to be on the field playing ball... he gets his feelings hurt that Bailey gets to go out there and he doesn't, but we can usually occupy him with a hot dog or some candy from the concession stand.
All in all, things are going well. I'll try to post more frequently so you guys aren't wondering what is going on... oh and I'll add some video up when I figure out how to download it. Er... when I can get Brad to do it for me. :)
We've had two kids' birthday parties, Easter, t-ball practice and games (an average of 4 times a week!!), and on top of all of that, we've found a piece of property in Garrard County that we LOVE and are considering building a new home. Of course, that means getting things ready to sell our current house, which means lots of spring cleaning (that needs done either way) and remodeling a few things.
The kids had wonderful birthdays... they were naturally spoiled completely rotten. We had a celebration in Ashland at the YMCA for family and friends for both kids. They enjoyed cupcakes (thanks to my sister-in-law Angela and her newfound passion of cake decorating!), ice cream and swimming. Oh... and just a few presents. Although Jake refused to swim, they had a great time. And, no, I haven't downloaded my pictures, even if it's been more than two weeks. lol... I will... eventually. And then you'll all be mad at me for posting so many! :)
Easter was good, but hectic. We didn't even color eggs this year. That bothered me, but the kids didn't notice, so I guess I shouldn't mind. Brad says it's too bad that there isn't a Easter Egg hunting little league... Bailey would be the best. The kids enjoyed their baskets, filled with candy and junky toys, and had a good time playing with the other kids at church. Later that day... t-ball practice.
Yes, t-ball is demanding. I think everyone thinks we are crazy because we have so many practices and games. But, we are enjoying it. Bailey is still struggling to go directly on the field and play. We have to convince her every time, but once she is out on the field, she enjoys it. She scored a run in their first game on Tuesday. She was pretty excited about that. We'll ignore that she struck out (yes, it IS possible in t-ball) the first time she was up. They did let her run to first though and then sent her to the dugout, so I'm not sure that she really understood what was going on. Her favorite part is batting and running the bases. She enjoys digging in the dirt and throwing dirt at her teammates, but they seem to enjoy it too, so maybe it's not as big of a deal as we have made it. It drives us CRAZY. But, we're trying to be more patient. She did recently turn four, you know. :)
Jake is enjoying t-ball too. He loves digging in the dirt, trying to sneak away from us in the middle of the game, and he cheers the kids on, yelling, "RUN, RUN" over and over. It's pretty cute. He would love to be on the field playing ball... he gets his feelings hurt that Bailey gets to go out there and he doesn't, but we can usually occupy him with a hot dog or some candy from the concession stand.
All in all, things are going well. I'll try to post more frequently so you guys aren't wondering what is going on... oh and I'll add some video up when I figure out how to download it. Er... when I can get Brad to do it for me. :)
T-Ball anyone?
Friday, March 27, 2009
Well, it's been more than a month since my last blog. It's probably safe to say that you should hold onto your hat because it's going to take a lot of blogging to get me caught up!
I guess I should start by telling about Bailey's newest adventures in sports. About a week or so ago, Bailey started t-ball for the first time. We decided to sign her up in February, taking into consideration that she loves to play with boys, really enjoys athletics, and that she is so competitive. After researching some of the area teams, I decided to sign Bailey up in perhaps the most competitive league in Lexington. Most of the leagues don't keep score, and to me, well that's just silly. I am a firm believer that you have to teach children to win and lose with dignity... that it's better to understand how the world works from an early age. Learning that you have to work hard to accomplish a goal is a trait that I really want my children to value from an early age. So... our thought process in selecting this league (aside from the fact that the field is right beside of the kids' day care) was that Bailey is ultra competitive and that she throws serious tantrums when she loses. Now is as good a time as any for her to learn that you win sometimes and you lose sometimes and it's all about how you deal with it that matters. With this in mind, we began this new adventure.
The first practice was a little interesting. Bailey, the only little girl on the team, seemed really quiet and insecure. She came to us several different times and asked when we could leave. She had a good time digging in the dirt while everyone else was playing... she enjoyed batting, but fielding wasn't her thing. After practice, she told me she was never going back. So... rough start. We talked long and hard about it and I told her that I really thought she'd like it if she would give it a chance. Again, I know how she felt, I've been that child. As hard as it is to push her, I know it's what she needs. So, we returned to practice the next day. She was not interested at all in going on the field. I begged and pleaded... even bribed her with toys, junk food, you name it. She wasn't going. Of course, it would have been easier to handle, but I'm trying to talk to her rationally, make it fun, and chase Jake, who is chasing every dog he sees, trying to get on each field with a ball or bat, and picking up candies off the ground to eat. It was not a good day. A few minutes into the practice, Coach Tucker and I were able to convince her to go onto the field. Moments later, she had to go potty. By the time she was able to get on the field, practice was more than halfway over. But, she went on the field and the coaches were able to get her attention and make it fun for her. After that hump, she figured out that baseball could be fun. The next couple of practices went much smoother.
Now, I'm saying that practices went smoother. What I'm not saying is that Bailey doesn't have a clue about what's going on. She is in her own little world, checking out the grass, dirt, or whatever else she can find to interest her. Everything except t-ball. Brad and I, being the wonderfully competitive and easily frustrated parents we are, spent one whole practice pacing behind the backstop of the field, fingers running through our hair, half laughing, half shaking, ready to "jerk a knot in her tail" as my dad would say. She was literally doing everything but paying attention. Apparently, the dirt was fabulously fun. I had to refrain from yelling at her at least a half dozen times. I did, on occasion remind her (loudly) to listen to the coaches. I was really trying not to be THAT mom. lol...
So, this past Tuesday, she had her first scrimmage game. We were prepared for the worst, almost dreading it. The parents all laughed when I told them that Bailey would certainly provide entertainment for the audience since she didn't know what in the world was going on. They were all so sweet. They told me funny stories about their kids and one lady even laughed when I told her how frustrated we were because of our competitiveness. She could totally relate and told us that no one would pay any attention to us for being competitive. After all, we did select the most competitive league in Lexington. We were not alone. :)
It was not as bad as we expected. Of course, she didn't really know what was going on. She did hit the ball really well... and chased after it instead of running to first base. She runs completely like a girl and very slowly. But, she did run... to the pitcher's mound... twice. She walked the rest of the time... taking her time to get everywhere... driving me and Brad nuts as we yelled, "Hustle up, Bailey... hurry to the dugout... hurry to the outfield." She looks at us and waves, happy to be doing her own little thing, in her own little world. As she plays outfield, she twirls in a circle a few times, doing some kind of dance. Or she pretends that she's doing some kind of karate kick moves or she leaves the outfield altogether and comes to see us, telling us that she's really tired and needs a "little break." I remind her that I've been chasing Jake for the past 30 minutes in heels, as he makes every attempt to run away or to run on the field or dugout, and that I believe as a 4-year-old, she can make it through the game without a break. She looks mad at me and begins to protest. I remind her of the ice cream cake at home and tell her she can't have it unless she gets back on the field. Out she walks to her spot, stopping to pick a piece of grass or two on the way, but not even noticing that the ball has been hit or what anyone does with the ball when they get it.
It's going to be a great season. :)
I guess I should start by telling about Bailey's newest adventures in sports. About a week or so ago, Bailey started t-ball for the first time. We decided to sign her up in February, taking into consideration that she loves to play with boys, really enjoys athletics, and that she is so competitive. After researching some of the area teams, I decided to sign Bailey up in perhaps the most competitive league in Lexington. Most of the leagues don't keep score, and to me, well that's just silly. I am a firm believer that you have to teach children to win and lose with dignity... that it's better to understand how the world works from an early age. Learning that you have to work hard to accomplish a goal is a trait that I really want my children to value from an early age. So... our thought process in selecting this league (aside from the fact that the field is right beside of the kids' day care) was that Bailey is ultra competitive and that she throws serious tantrums when she loses. Now is as good a time as any for her to learn that you win sometimes and you lose sometimes and it's all about how you deal with it that matters. With this in mind, we began this new adventure.
The first practice was a little interesting. Bailey, the only little girl on the team, seemed really quiet and insecure. She came to us several different times and asked when we could leave. She had a good time digging in the dirt while everyone else was playing... she enjoyed batting, but fielding wasn't her thing. After practice, she told me she was never going back. So... rough start. We talked long and hard about it and I told her that I really thought she'd like it if she would give it a chance. Again, I know how she felt, I've been that child. As hard as it is to push her, I know it's what she needs. So, we returned to practice the next day. She was not interested at all in going on the field. I begged and pleaded... even bribed her with toys, junk food, you name it. She wasn't going. Of course, it would have been easier to handle, but I'm trying to talk to her rationally, make it fun, and chase Jake, who is chasing every dog he sees, trying to get on each field with a ball or bat, and picking up candies off the ground to eat. It was not a good day. A few minutes into the practice, Coach Tucker and I were able to convince her to go onto the field. Moments later, she had to go potty. By the time she was able to get on the field, practice was more than halfway over. But, she went on the field and the coaches were able to get her attention and make it fun for her. After that hump, she figured out that baseball could be fun. The next couple of practices went much smoother.
Now, I'm saying that practices went smoother. What I'm not saying is that Bailey doesn't have a clue about what's going on. She is in her own little world, checking out the grass, dirt, or whatever else she can find to interest her. Everything except t-ball. Brad and I, being the wonderfully competitive and easily frustrated parents we are, spent one whole practice pacing behind the backstop of the field, fingers running through our hair, half laughing, half shaking, ready to "jerk a knot in her tail" as my dad would say. She was literally doing everything but paying attention. Apparently, the dirt was fabulously fun. I had to refrain from yelling at her at least a half dozen times. I did, on occasion remind her (loudly) to listen to the coaches. I was really trying not to be THAT mom. lol...
So, this past Tuesday, she had her first scrimmage game. We were prepared for the worst, almost dreading it. The parents all laughed when I told them that Bailey would certainly provide entertainment for the audience since she didn't know what in the world was going on. They were all so sweet. They told me funny stories about their kids and one lady even laughed when I told her how frustrated we were because of our competitiveness. She could totally relate and told us that no one would pay any attention to us for being competitive. After all, we did select the most competitive league in Lexington. We were not alone. :)
It was not as bad as we expected. Of course, she didn't really know what was going on. She did hit the ball really well... and chased after it instead of running to first base. She runs completely like a girl and very slowly. But, she did run... to the pitcher's mound... twice. She walked the rest of the time... taking her time to get everywhere... driving me and Brad nuts as we yelled, "Hustle up, Bailey... hurry to the dugout... hurry to the outfield." She looks at us and waves, happy to be doing her own little thing, in her own little world. As she plays outfield, she twirls in a circle a few times, doing some kind of dance. Or she pretends that she's doing some kind of karate kick moves or she leaves the outfield altogether and comes to see us, telling us that she's really tired and needs a "little break." I remind her that I've been chasing Jake for the past 30 minutes in heels, as he makes every attempt to run away or to run on the field or dugout, and that I believe as a 4-year-old, she can make it through the game without a break. She looks mad at me and begins to protest. I remind her of the ice cream cake at home and tell her she can't have it unless she gets back on the field. Out she walks to her spot, stopping to pick a piece of grass or two on the way, but not even noticing that the ball has been hit or what anyone does with the ball when they get it.
It's going to be a great season. :)
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