Waiting for dance class to begin.

Sorry about the red eye!

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So many of my photos of Francesca are fuzzy.  She moves all the time and never stops!  This session of Dance is over for now but she loved it, so we will definitely sign up again.  She loves to wear her dance outfit and routinely wears it around.

I dislike backhanded compliments.  I dislike ambiguous comments even more.  Francesca and I were at her gymnastics class recently.  It was the first class and we were early.  She ran around a lot while we were waiting to get into the room.  No biggie - she didn’t bother anyone or act destructively, she acted…well she acted like a 2 year old.

Inside the gymnastics room we introduced ourselves and then waited again for the instructors to set up all the pads and pieces to an obstacle course.  All the children were sitting on the sides with their moms (not a sexist comment - just noting that there were no men in the room - just women - I’m guessing some nannies and a grandmother or two) some were sitting better than others.  Francesca does not sit well.  She was wiggling and squirming and was vocal about the fact that she did not like waiting and sitting.  Mercifully, the obstacle course was quickly set up.  As we were waiting our turn, one of the moms turned to me and said “I know you.  We saw you in church on Easter.  I thought it was interesting how you just watcher her.” 

Gulp.  How do you respond to this?  Easter Mass was not one of my fondest memories.  We typically attend “lower mass” on Sundays which is basically the basement of the church.  The upper church, the actual church where there are pews and the alter are no place for children who do not sit well.  I learned that lesson early when Ross was a baby and upon finishing his bottle threw it and it landed in the pew ahead of us.  A man who was less than thrilled with this occurrence turned to hand the bottle to me with a glare you would not believe.  I know it was inappropriate to throw the bottle, but heck he was under a year old.  Doesn’t this man remember what it’s like to have children?  Little children?  Needless to say since that day we have attended lower mass, a family friendly area in which no one thinks twice if little ones run around, the church even has books for the kids to read and a Church Bulletin made specifically for kids with games and pictures to color.  They even have the children come up and sing “The Lord’s Prayer”.  It’s Catholic Mass lite. 

So Easter Sunday, we ended up at the 10:30 Mass apparently a very popular choice as the upper church and lower church were filled to capacity and we were directed to the school Gymnasium otherwise known as the Parish Life Center.  People sat on the bleachers and in folding chairs.  We stood on the side, by choice.  Multiple times ushers directed us to open seats to which I declined.  Ross would sit, Francesca is just too young.  Now I must point out that we were not the only ones standing on the side.

During mass, Francesca proceeded to spin, she spins and spins until she gets dizzy.  I would stop her before she did, and she was right by me and causing no harm.  Then the dressy patent leathers came off.  I tried to get them back on but she started to scream “no shoes”.  So there she was in tights on the floor.  Again, with 4 kids, you just don’t sweat the small stuff.  Towards the end she started to walk down the corridor.  I watched her, knowing if I tried to keep her still she would cry and scream.  She didn’t go far, always turning back.  When she did get a little further I would then go and retrieve her.  The other mothers comments made at gymnastics took me right back to the moment.

Most mothers can empathize with other mothers.  We have all experienced those moments when your child will not behave.  It would have been easier to just stay home from church.  But putting our children in social situations helps to teach them how to behave appropriately.  It’s not that I didn’t try, I did.  But she didn’t listen.  I did reinforce to her that she misbehaved, there in church and then again later as we talked.  As she gets older she will get it.  I don’t think that mom will.

In the end, I decided to shake it off.  I responded that “watching her was the appropriate thing to do in that moment”.  It was a civil response.  Because really, I wanted to say how I found it “interesting that she had an opinion on my parenting”.

I think when a two year old takes her own diaper off because it is wet that it is time to start potty training.  Lately, Francesca has taken to stripping.  She takes her clothes off wherever she can.  She has never liked shoes (who can blame her - I’m a barefoot girl myself in the house) so she has always whipped off her shoes and socks at every opportunity.  Pants and shirts are optional too.

We have been at the park district and she has started to pull her pants down.  Now she undresses and takes her diaper off when she had wet herself.  We were by Nicole and Brandon yesterday visiting little Eleanor and were all in the backyard.  Francesca started with her shoes and socks and was running in the grass barefoot.  A short time later her pants and diaper were off in a flash and she run squealing through the yard.  I wish I had a photo but we were all too busy laughing.

I think it’s time to pull out the old potty chair and begin the potty training.  Goodbye Huggies size #3, hello training diapers and potty chairs!

This evening we were at the Park District for Ross’ swim lesson and as usual, after his lesson he joined us over in the kiddie pool which is where I keep Francesca occupied for the duration of his class.

As the kids were playing in the kiddie pool, I issued the 10 minute warning that we would leave soon. Francesca wanted to go down the slide and as she was leaving the pool and going over to the slide she slipped and slammed down hard on her arm.

As I rushed over to her - a whole 3 feet away or so, she was screaming and holding her left arm.  I picked her up and tried to see if I could get her to move her hand with no luck.  As I was excidedly telling Ross to come out and that we had to leave - (most likely to go to the hospital since her arm was bruised and looked swolen to me), one of the moms who had just dropped her daughter off for lessons and had her younger son in the kiddie pool calmly asked me to sit down and put Francesca on my lap.  I didn’t even know her name but we’ve engaged in small talk over the last few weeks.

She proceeded to place a towel on my lap and another over Francesca’s body and then started asking Francesca to tap her fingers on to her hand.  By now Francesca had stopped crying and was starting to move her hand a little.  As the mom continued to worked with Francesca, having her move her hand, her elbow and her shoulder - asking her to squeeze her finger and tap her hand, I asked if she was a nurse.  Turns out she is a Physical Therapist.

After some good time was passed  it was clear that she likely didn’t break anything and that I just needed to keep an eye on her for any problems most likely, she was fine.  I thanked this mom and asked her name - we finally introduced ourselves - which normally would have happened already - I guess we were both wrapped up in watching over the kids.  I also told her how very lucky for me she was there and that she was a Physical Therapist to boot!

She very politely said that if the roles were reversed I’d have done the exact same thing.  I wish I could say I was more calm and purposely reactful but I was not - I was scared and not sure exactly what to do.  After 4 kids, you’d think I’d have it down but none of my children have ever broken a bone (or almost broken one) before.  We’ve had stitches and blood - and for some strange reason I reacted more calmly and knew what to do. 

 I hope I don’t have a situation like this again although I know I’m lucky everything was just fine, but I’m going to need to brush up on my emergency first aid.  Julie, I know you are not reading this but thank you from the bottom of my heart.  Not just because you knew what to do but because you knew how to be so very calming for Francesca and for me.

Easter has passed and it was a very busy, very wonderful time for all of us.  The children went to Soldier Field for the candy grab, we had our own Easter Egg hunt at Nonna’s house and went to mass Easter Sunday and then had the family over for dinner.

At Soldier Field

Coloring Easter eggs

Nonna’s Easter egg hunt

checking out the candy

Yum, chocolate!

Easter Bunny brought baskets and Wii!

Hope your holiday was wonderful.  As for me, NO MORE CHOCOLATE!

Francesca had her first pre-ballet class this week.  She has been so patient over the past year going with me to all of the classes Ross has been signed up for and waiting patiently (well, sometimes patiently) .  I thought she might be a little apprehensive about me leaving her in the dance studio with the teacher and the other kids but she was all “see ya” to me.

The class description included the suggestion that the children could wear dance clothes or comfortable clothes.  I brought Francesca in shorts and a t-shirt.

She was the ONLY one that was not in dance attire, more specifically; the only child not in a pink leotard, pink tutu and pink tights with ballet slippers.  Not this mattered one bit to her.  But it did to me.   I’m all for self expression and individuality but right after class we ran to the store and pinked up picked up proper ballet attire.  Only fitting for a tiara wearing princess.  And only fair anyway since Ross started karate and will soon be wearing his new karate uniform.

General Ramblings today.  I’m slightly unfocused and scrambled today.  So you get some Random Thoughts.

We have sprouts!  The Roma Tomatoes, Beefsteak Tomatoes, Basil and Shasta Daisies are sprouting.  Ever so slightly and probably not even picture worthy.  Once they’re poking up a little more, I’ll post photos.

Favorite part of Barney (and I.do.not like Barney - but alas, Francesca does) is at the end when he sings his “I love, you, you love me” song” where he says “with a great big hug and a kiss from me to you” - Francesca walks up to everyone in the family (including the dog and cat) and gives us each a big hug and a big kiss!  So very sweet - it makes Barney appealing.

Want to see a five year old boy smile ear to ear?  Get him a bicycle helmet and knee and elbow pads.  Long after he was done riding his bike today with his brand new safety gear, he still had the knee pads and elbow pads on.  He finally removed them shortly before bedtime.

Why oh why do cats like to eat houseplants?  I am a much better nurturer to my children and to my outdoor garden than I am to houseplants.  That is why I never have any.  Ross received a spider plant from his old daycare way back before Pre-Kindergarten started, so back in April or so.  I finally got around to removing the rooted plant from the container with water and putting it in a pot and placing it on the kitchen windowsill.  The cat promptly nibbled on it and ate most of the leaves.

Sisters can be so loving and yet so cruel to each other.  I met an old friend and her two daughters for lunch today and then we stopped in Target.  Her girls are 11 and almost 10.  The ten year old wanted to buy a purse.  When her mom told her it was a little too expensive and we pointed out that it was an “evening bag”, her sister said “Yeah, it’s for going out on a date and you’ll never do that!”  The 10 year old proceeded to sulk for the rest of the shopping trip.

If you stand close enough to Ross when he is in a toy aisle, you will hear him say every so often “Santa, Can you get that?, Santa, can you get this?”  Apparently, since Santa can see you all the time, there’s no need to actually make a list - he’ll just tell him what he wants through the year.

Planted the rest of the flower seeds today.  Hopefully those too will be sprouting soon.

Day three of constant watering.  I reseeded the back yard on Monday and have been watering like a fiend.  Trying to get the grass to grow before all the birds and animals eat all the seeds.  Sam said to me the other morning “You should have heard all the birds chirping this morning when I left for work!”.  Yeah.  I bet they were telling all their friends.

Francesca is finally talking more and more.  She does not say alot but then every once in a while she surprises me.  For the child who barely says one word here and there, today she said “No, it’s MINE” at the top of her lungs when Ross tried to take her ball.

I can no longer take a shower by myself.  Pretty much the last place I could go for privacy was the shower.  Francesca loves water so much that when I grab a towel she starts taking her clothes off and wants to take a shower with me.

And lastly, perhaps it’s time to start potty training Francesca.  At 27 months, she is now in the habit of removing her own diaper when she pees in it.  I always catch her in the act, but maybe it’s time to get proactive (haven’t used that word since I was working - My God, how overused of a word that was at work) and start sitting her on the potty.  Her pediatrician wanted me to start at 18 months.  Yeah. Right.

Okay, so those are my many ramblings today.  Will return with a more cohesive post soon.

What a difference a few days make.  The other day it was 70 degrees outside and now it’s 20 degrees out again at night.  Here are the kids taking advantage of the 70 degree weather.

I also took advantage of the weather by bagging up all the leaves that were left in the backyard after we fenced it off and seeded.  You can see how patchy it is, the grass is missing from all the spots where the leaves fell.  I cleaned it all up and will re-seed again - maybe this weekend.

I also planted peas in the garden - first time planting them.  I  started our vegetable/herb seeds indoors too.  I planted Italian Parsley, Roma Tomatoes, Super Beefsteak Tomatoes, Genovese Basil, Cilantro and Oregano.  I’d also like to plant some lettuce and peppers.

We used egg cartons last year for the basil and it worked just fine.  I also have some flowers to start from seed.  I already started  Shasta Daisy, I still have seeds for Italian Aster, Sweet William, Oriental Poppy, Gailardia and Foxglove.  I’ll get those going by the weekend.

The only thing we started from seed last year was pumpkin, some basil and sunflowers.  I am anxious to see if I can be nurturing enough to get each of these varieties thriving and able to be planted outdoors come time.  Worst case scenario, we’ll have to but the plants at the garden center but I think we’ll do ok.  I’ll keep you posted!

Oh how I love a bargain - especially when it’s on something I have to buy anyway.  I went to our local shopping area specifically to look for a toddler bed.  This particular area has a large baby store and a large mass retailer directly next to each other so I thought  I might be able to price compare and save a few bucks.  I was wrong, instead - I saved a TON.

I’ve priced toddler beds online and they ranged from $55 to several hundred dollars.  I was looking for a plain white one since I’d rather put the money into Francesca’s big girl bed later one.  The large mass retailer had a white sleigh bed at what looked like an inventory reduction price of $27.50.  It was the only white one there - score!  When I got up to the register it rang up at $13.50.  I think my mouth dropped open and hit the floor because the cashier reiterated the price and then asked if there were any more.  I’d be lucky to pay that for a used one at a garage sale but this is brand new.  I love it when things like that happen.  It’s not that often, but when it does it sure is nice.

I put the bed together with Ross’ help and it’s cute.  I can’t wait to get the room painted and prettied up.  Here is the new toddler bed….

And here it is today - being used for the first time at nap time!

Now I need to get some new bedding - which I am sure will cost more than the bed itself!  I’m good with the sheets since it’s the same crib mattress but now I need some bigger blankets - ones that are NOT character licensed.  So much more work to do in Francesca’s room but it’s coming along.

Literally.