A Birthday Message to Kibi

Dear K.,

You'll see by the date of this letter that I'm a little late in composing your birthday message.  A lot of external events contributed to that -- you got sick, then I got sick, we had your birthday party to plan and oversee, we went to the train museum -- and before I knew it your birthday weekend had come and gone.  

In any event, now you are two.  Congratulations!  You are so different from the baby you were one year ago.  You don't just walk; you run.  You don't just talk; you speak in full sentences.  You don't just observe; you ask questions about the world around you.  You are so interesting and engaging and... well, alive.  It is truly a joy to see the wonderful and complex machinery with which God blessed you come to life in so many exciting ways.

You're becoming a big boy every day.  You're no longer a baby, fully dependent on your parents to care for you.  We still do that, of course, but now you have become more of a companion - someone to engage in conversation, someone to help with projects (and how you like to help!), someone to spend honest to goodness "quality time" with.  And there isn't a day that passes without you surprising me or your dad with either a new word, a story you've dreamed up, or some recollection of something we never thought you'd remember or retell so vividly.

I love you, my sweet K.  As I have since the day you were born, I thank God every day for bringing you into my life.  And on this, your second birthday, I pray that God helps you to continue to grow, and thrive, and learn, and explore every single day -- and have fun all the while -- because that is what being a "big boy" is all about.

Love you always,

Your Mom

Bear With Me...

I caught Kibi's cold a few days ago, and I'm slowly recovering, but still feeling a little sluggish. Combine that with a Washington, DC-area pollen count of 1770 (zoinks!!) and you have one miserable mama!  

I'll be back as soon as I can this week with more pictures from the 2nd birthday festivities, but for now, I'm going to slink off and vegetate with a box of Puffs Plus.

Thomas!!

As part of the 2nd Birthday Weekend Extravaganza, we took Kibi to Baltimore this morning to meet "the real Thomas," as K. affectionately calls him.  It was a blast!

Here are some great photos from the occasion.  

We all really enjoyed ourselves, and (warning - what follows is indicative of my Type , try-to-control-everything personality:) I was particularly pleased with the timing of it all, because we did the train ride first, then we ate lunch, then we had just about seen and done everything when Kibi started to (very politely) melt down, pre-nap.  We popped him in the car and enjoyed a peaceful ride home.

Thanks, Thomas!

Getting Ready...

We are gearing up for a weekend of fun ... Kibi's 2nd birthday, which is this Saturday!  My mom arrives tomorrow and we have lots of activities planned.

The only bummer is that Kibi has contracted RSV, which, faithful readers may remember, he's had before (way back when he was only 8 months old).  He's got it again - was diagnosed yesterday, which happened to be MY birthday.  (A great present - ha!)  Anyway, we're hoping he handles it a little better this time around since he's a bigger boy, and stronger.  And hopefully it won't put a damper on the forthcoming festivities.  I notice a bit of a scratchy throat myself and and am fighting it with all I'm worth.

So, my posts may be sporadic this week.  For now, we're all resting up and trying to get healthy!

He's Not That Into ... Me?

We recently got accepted into a local co-op playgroup.  My friend had joined it long ago and she encouraged us to apply.  Understanding that there was a waiting list, I applied, figuring it might be a nice transition to preschool when Kibi turns 3.

When they contacted us to let me know we got in, I was pleasantly surprised.  We started this week, and I wasn't sure what to expect.  But now that we've experienced two sessions, I am really feeling optimistic about it.  

It's two mornings a week.  Each parent commits to working in a variety of supervisory roles 4 times per month, and so if you're not working on a particular day, you have the option to stay with your child, or drop them off.  I'll admit that I feel quite hesitant to drop Kibi off -- despite the fact that he stays with his grandma usually 2 times per week when I'm working or running errands.  I dunno, I guess it signifies to me that he is really not my little baby anymore.  Call it the "first child syndrome," I guess.  

Anyway, he LOVES the class.  I mean, really loves it.  As in, I have to drag him home when it's time to go.  That was a nice surprise.  I had visions of him being shy and clinging to my leg the whole time.  

Furthermore, imagine my surprise when, after the second day of attending with him, it dawned on me that ... well, he just didn't seem to even NOTICE that I was there for the entire two hours.  (Except for one time when a bigger kid snatched a toy from him and, without crying or protesting, he came over and plopped into my lap to sit quietly for a little bit.  But sure enough, soon he was off again, exploring another set of toys.)

I guess my boy is more sociable than I knew.  It's not that he plays WITH the other kids; I think he's still a little too young for that.  But he definitely notices them.  It's mostly that the place is FILLED WITH TOYS, which he loves.  And, during the "gym" time, which involves about 15 minutes of running around the community center gym hopping on one ride-on toy and then another, he was in such a state of bliss that I couldn't believe it. 

This all makes me think that I might be able to start dropping him off at this class earlier than I had originally thought.  Which will do wonders for my time management throughout the week, but... how difficult will it be for ME? 

Sniff, sniff...

 

A Good Read

Not a lot of time to post today, so for now I'll leave you with this great article I read on WebMD. Parents of toddlers in the "terrible 2's" phase in particular should find it helpful.

Enjoy!

Hoppy, Happy

Not much to say today ... I'm running around trying to prepare for our Easter weekend extravaganza.  We're only entertaining one family member - my mother in law - but it's going to be nonstop good fun, starting tomorrow.

Here's wishing you and yours a wonderful weekend!

- Kibi and His Mom

P.S. Please only focus on how cute Kibi is while dyeing his Easter eggs, above, and ignore my messy kitchen.

Um, Never Mind

After all of my ranting and raving yesterday, and my general feelings of ickiness all day, sans shower, imagine my surprise when, upon collecting the mail last evening, I noticed that .... the County HAD, in fact, sent me a notice that the water was going to be shut off all day. Unfortunately, it had fallen behind my mailbox and under a bush.

It would've been so much better if I had someone to BLAME for my agony yesterday.  Oh, well.

Things We Take for Granted

You'll recall my recent post about the construction truck fiesta in front of our house. Well, they are STILL WORKING.  This has to be the longest public works project in history. 

Anyway, for the most part, it's been a real pleasure having insta-entertainment for the toddler pretty much every day (save for when the weather is bad).  And, because they've been working on our water pipes, I haven't even minded when we'd receive the occasional notice that they would need to turn our WATER off for a period of time.  

On those days, the water would usually be shut off between the hours of say, 9 and 3, and I'd simply make sure that everyone in the household got their necessary showers, made coffee, washed dishes, and did all of the other things you need to do with... well, duh, with water.  I'd also be sure to store some extra pitchers for cooking, brushing teeth, etc.  A minor inconvenience, but, since we were forewarned, not an insurmountable one. 

But today it all went sour.

With NO warning at all, today they SHUT OFF THE WATER BEFORE I HAD A CHANCE TO SHOWER.  And I've been feeling perfectly grody ever since.

Now, I don't mean to sound like a prima donna, but when's the last time you've needed to take a shower ... and you just couldn't?  See what I'm saying?  We are admittedly a spoiled society, taking the presence of clean and plentiful water for granted 24/7, but really, when you can't wash that morning ick off, let's face it -- you just feel grumpy and out of sorts the rest of the day.

We have plans to meet up with friends this afternoon, and I was almost tempted to call it off due to my general feeling of filth.  But then I sucked it up, put fresh makeup on, combed my hair, changed underwear and socks, and now I sort of feel better.  Not really, but it's mind over matter, right?

Anyway, having been stranded with no water for who-knows-how-long, I panickedly looked around the house for any semblance of water sources that might be used in case of dire emergency (namely, me needing to brush my teeth before going out in public).  I only found two: 1) the cat's water bowl (and believe it or not, realizing my plight, I dipped my hands in there once to wash them after being outside this morning - I know, GROSS!) and 2) the above little cup of water from my bedside stand last night.  HALLELUIAH!  I feel like the Westerners mining for gold at the beginning of the century - EUREKA, we've found it!

I've been rationing my little teeny cup of water in amusing ways, from allowing myself a few meager drips to wet my toothbrush ... to dribbling a teeny bit of it on a paper towel to wipe up K's high chair tray (that was before I remembered some antibacterial wipes I had stored under the sink).  If I get really desperate, I'll use a couple of tablespoons of it to heat up some frozen vegetables for our dinner tonight.  I feel like a pioneer!

ARGH!  I'LL NEVER TAKE WATER FOR GRANTED AGAIN.  I promise!!

So, my friends, for the foreseeable future, the above teeny, tiny cup of water is all that stands between me and sheer insanity.

Why, I Oughtta Slug You...

No, I'm not promoting child abuse.  That headline is a quote that's stuck in my head after taking this cell phone photo of Kibi in the bath the other night.  

In a burst of creativity (and a bit of boredom), I carefully crafted his tendrils into this lovely, early 20th century style.  

Can't you just picture him as one of the Little Rascals?  Isn't that something that the mean one, Butch, used to say: "Why, I oughta sluuuuuug you...." in that sort of whiny high pitched radio voice?  

Better yet, can't you just picture him bobbing around (preferably wearing an old fashioned men's bathing suit like this one), with fists raised and circling. for a fight over a damsel?

Maybe I need to get out of the house more.

Wrapping Up the Week

Thanks to everyone for your comments, emails and kind words about the Emily post.  I have been feeling sad about it for a few days now, and just think: I'm not even part of her family.  I can't even imagine what her parents and extended family must be going through.  My prayers are with them, and I know so many others are thinking of them as well.

On a brighter note, my parents came for a visit on their way back up to Ohio from Florida this week.  They just left a little while ago.  (Another reason to feel a little bit sniffly today.)  

We had a great time.  Here are some fun pictures of Kibi helping his grandma and grandpa with various tasks this week -- namely, dying Easter Eggs (Thursday) and replacing some rotten wood panels on our front porch (Wednesday).  Talk about a productive week!

Have a great weekend, everyone.  

RIP Emily

My heart is heavy upon hearing some very sad news yesterday.  

My friend Christie's 2-year-old neice, Emily, died this week after a year-long battle with brain cancer.  I first posted about Emily's situation here.  

For the last 12 months, Emily and her parents fought - and I mean fought HARD - against the disease.  As Emily's Aunt Christie has said, she was the bravest little girl we've ever known.  In the end, her little body couldn't hold up against the aggressive cancer.  She passed away surrounded by family and friends, in peace.

Please take a moment today to pray - or meditate, or whatever gives you peace - for Emily and her family and keep them in your thoughts during this difficult time.  And be sure to hug your loved ones and tell them how much they mean to you.

Rest in peace, Emily.