Calling All Village People!

Assistance requested immediately to care for small boy. Quite demanding, rather messy, acutely independent child seeking someone with more patience to provide extremely basic services: meals, baths, and dressing. It doesn't seem difficult. At first.


I've been a fool. With Henry's advanced vocabulary, we've avoided many tantrums based on misunderstandings. He is quite good at telling us what he wants. Terrible two's (or even terrible "not quite twos")? Nah. Life had been good. For a while. We followed Mommy's schedule. We'd go to the grocery store, library, visit friends, take walks, and share meals and nap times with little to no resistance. Times have changed. There are more negotiations, additional creative tactics, even bartering required for simple tasks. 


Toddler tactics:
1. The word "no" is your best friend. Use it always.
2. Don't fall for distractions.
3. During requests, use the word "please." Then "please, Mommy." They are suckers for good manners. And calling them by name will tug at their heart strings.
4. Use the most annoying sound in the world. The whining "mm. mm. mm."
5. Ask over and over and over again. Wear them down. Be sure you try each parent individually if one rejects your request. If that doesn't work, wake them up in the middle of the night. Then continue in your efforts to wear them down.
6. Keep pushing boundaries. You never know when they'll cave.
7. With your improved long term memory, hold them to their promises. For example, constantly remind them that they said you could play with your dump truck after lunch.


So, they say it takes a village to raise a child. Please send reinforcements. Tag team needed ASAP!

"Marriage Tips" or general Words of Wisdom

I suppose I'm a blogger. I mean, I have my own blog address and everything. I may not be the best at prose, story-telling, or other creative writing techniques, but I've enjoyed keeping a record of our ordinary or not so ordinary life events. From time to time, I also like to jump around to other blogs. It's funny that we have many ways these days to meet someone virtually. And, sometimes, it's nice just to know there are others out there. Doing what I do. And possibly explaining it with better grammar or writing skills.

So I started the morning reading her Thanksgiving greeting: "Happy Thanksgiving everyone. This year, I've got extra thoughts and prayers for all of those who will be missing loved ones around the table."

I do this by using Google Reader (a handy tool to check for blog updates without skipping from web address to web address to see if there is something new to read). One of my favorite updates is the daily "Marriage Tip" I receive.  This offers me a 5 minute reminder to think about my relationship, or just soak in some general words of wisdom for reflection.

Today's message really struck me, so I wanted to share:

November 25

Whether or not you travel over Thanksgiving, remember those who can’t afford a plane ticket or gas, or worse, don’t have a loved one with whom to share the day. Our bounty is a gift--give some of it away.

Do you ever feel like the universe is sending you a message? And that, at times, it has to be so obviously clearly stated, that you just can't miss it? Uh huh.

The "thankful for" section will be replaced by the "thinking of" section:

• I am thinking of Grandma, and remembering last year's Thanksgiving with fondness. Missing her lots.
• We are thinking of all our friends, family, and extended family (Claire, "out east Leydons" especially those even farther east (like Nicholas in South Africa), Herricks, Grand Rapids Sanfords, Heyings et al in Iowa and beyond) and sending our love and thoughts.
• George and I have a special place in our hearts for the homeless populations we served during our JVC year. May the holidays not be the only time they experience full bellies and friendly smiles.

Something tells me it's all happenin' at the ZOO

Any Simon and Garfunkel fans will recognize the title to this post. It pops in my head every time I think about going to the zoo.

Yesterday, we took an impromptu family trip to the Henry Vilas Zoo here in Madison. It was George's first time to this free zoo, and it was one of the best.  The weather was beautiful, but given that it is, in fact, November, it was not at all crowded. It seemed the animals were ALL aware of the impending winter weather and were also out to enjoy the warm sunshine.  We saw lions, and tigers, and bears -- oh my! (no kidding!). Giraffes, orangutans, seals, river otters, and much more.

Still mindfully aware of our blessings, we are thankful:

1. for family time, even in the midst of an OB rotation
2. for the friends we've made in our new Madison community. We enjoyed a fabulous potluck "friendsgiving" on Saturday.
3. for Skype, a video chatting program that allows us to keep in touch with long-distance friends and family (good to see you, Koch family!)
   

Only 6 weeks until Christmas

Typically, I try to hold off on all things Christmas until after Thanksgiving. This year, however, I've been ramping up earlier because I can see 1. how much fun it's going to be with Henry's increased ability to understand and 2. how much work we have to do on this understanding. And besides, the Madison radio station that plays Christmas music 24/7 has already started. I just love Christmas music, so now I'm in the mood!

Sometimes as a parent, it really hits me how much of a "teacher" role you have to play. I mean everything from typical Christmas characters like Santa and reindeer to simple ideas about winter (such as snow and snowmen! or sledding!) has to be explained. Let's face it, last year he got to hold a piece of snow once. In March, I think. It didn't make that much of an impression (as far as I know...). Given the fact that he couldn't even walk, he was still too young to be out playing in snow, or recall the snow plows working on our street. Last but not least, there is the most important Christmas story to teach, the birth of Jesus. I think I've already confused Henry in this department because he heard me singing along to the song "Santa Baby" on the radio. I heard him in the store later commenting about baby Santa when we saw some Christmas tree displays.

Those who live in harsher climates understand my next effort. To avoid hanging lights outdoors in the freezing cold, I got a couple of strands for our bushes to hang now, and plug in later. We tested them indoors to be sure they worked. Henry, of course, went crazy. In hindsight, using only a "oh no, what have I done?" mentality, this may have been jumping the gun a little. Now he gets up every morning asking for the lights. Then we have to convince him they're on the bushes, and can be seen at nighttime (but not from our windows...hmmm). Oops! I hope our neighbors put some up soon, so we can see Christmas lights without going out in the dark and cold.  On the plus side, it did help him in his effort to learn his colors. 


Also note the jammies. It's early, but we only have a few pair of fleecy ones to choose from. Might as well use them as long as we can!


I am thankful that:
- during my last shopping trip to Shopko everything I purchased was on sale. $5 winter mittens for Henry that I couldn't find at JC Penneys - check!
- George got the snowblower all set for our first snowfall. A note to Mother Nature: just because we're ready, doesn't mean there has to be any action on your part.
- Henry is a well behaved boy at restaurants. The interview season for residency applicants has begun. This year we can take advantage of the "night before" applicant dinners and enjoy a few meals out on the town!

A Front Row Seat

We've had a lot going on in our neighborhood. Along with regular trash and recycling pick up, which is extremely fascinating - "gobble gobble garbage trucks!" - we've had seasonal leaf pick up and branches wood chipped, but we've also had gas line replacement. This means big equipment and trucks have been readily available for our entertainment. And generally, this doesn't even involve dressing up to go outside. It makes the inconvenience of extra noise and road blocks much more tolerable!

Diggers, dump trucks, mini loaders, trucks and trailers, oh my! It is Henry's dream come true!

Thankfulness for:
- a handyman husband (remember the TV antennae? It works great!) 
- warmish days to go without heat while our gas was off
- our public works system! Bye-bye leaves and branches!

I love it when a plan comes together

Frankenstein home project.
We were using rabbit ears for our TV reception. We don't have cable or anything. It's been terrible. Horrendous, actually. Constantly adjusting the 'ears'.
So, with most things, I google it so see what there is to do. The amount of information is crazy. So, instead of buying an outdoor antenna (50-70 bucks) and hooking it up where the previous owner's dish was on the roof, I built one out of coat hangers and scrap wood - junk in our garage. Thanks youtube. Screwed it onto the old dish. At least the grey eyesore was good for something.

And how does it work? You'd swear we had cable tv with how clear it comes in.

Best $3 we ever spent.

I'm thankful for
* sunny warm weekends for home projects
* the sharing of information on the interwebs
* extra sleep

Father Before Fodder

November tends to draw me a little more inward. The month starts with All Saints Day and All Souls Day and ends with Thanksgiving and a kick off of the Advent season (a personal favorite). Additionally, after daylight savings time, it gets dark early, weather is chilly, so evenings are spent indoors. A shift from playtime with Henry to cuddling and reading books together occurs. I've been cooking again. Soups, breads, fresh applesauce, spiced cider and things that warm the body (and soul).

Here are some of the more inner thoughts that have been spinning around my head:

• Somehow George and I fell out of the habit of praying before meals. Although I grew up with a standard recited Catholic meal blessing, I've always enjoyed alternative methods (like songs, poems, thankfulness lists, or ad lib prayers). Truth be told, the best way to be reminded of this important moment in time, is to teach a toddler. Henry doesn't forget. For a while, before meals, he was running to the table with his hand on his forehead shouting "Father" (which sounds like fodder) so that we could start the prayer before we ate. In the early days, we prayed a lot. We would pray if something new came to the table, or before second helpings, or before dessert. And sometimes, at random times (at the table or not) he shouts, "bless us, Oh Lord." It makes me laugh and catches me in the throat at the same time. He is so sweet and to hear his tiny voice form the words reminds me that we are, truly, very blessed. On a lighter note, he almost became Tiny Tim for Halloween because it reminded me of the line from a Christmas Carol "God bless us, everyone!"

• This year I thought about my grandma a lot on All Souls Day. We had the blessing of her presence at last year's Thanksgiving, and she was doing so well. It's hard to believe that one year later she is no longer with us. It hits me hardest when I'm cooking, gardening, or sewing. All of these were her specialty, as the matriarch of the family. While studying in Mexico during my undergrad years, we learned more about El Dia de Los Muertos (or Day of the Dead) and it always seemed to me like a great way to set aside special time in our lives for remembering our loved ones.

Each November blog post will wrap up with a "thankful for" list:

*sunny (and slightly warmer) days

*CSA veggies that store a long time (leeks, carrots, squash, etc.)

*that Henry doesn't know how to climb out of his crib!