Thursday, January 27, 2011

Sugar & Spice, and Everything.... Scary??


When a 3-year-old is asked what she wants her birthday theme to be, you typically don't expect to hear Princesses AND Monsters.  But why the hey not?? This kid likes scary stuff... already. Hey - she's a girl after my own heart! :) When she was up until 1am with the stomach flu, we found the old re-runs of He-Man and She-Ra on Qubo Channel... She exclaimed amidst her fatigue, "LOOK! A scary guy with a red face. My love the scary guys!" And when I kiss her goodnight and tell her to have 'good dreams' - she replies, "My want to dream about monsters..." Hey, there are no laws stating that a kid can't have monsters and princesses at her birthday bash. I'm certainly not going to hold back that imagination - and why stifle her joy?! She was giddy with glee when she awoke from her nap on the afternoon of her party to find mini stuffed-monsters dangling from the chandelier, pink cupcakes bearing monster suckers, and monster cake-plates saddled next to princess napkins. Mission accomplished. I love a creative challenge - and I have to say, it was a scary-good time!

TIP: Why set limits when it's innocent and doable? Let that creativity flow!
A QUOTE: “Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless.” ~Jamie Paolinetti
WHIDFML: Taught myself some new tricks in Photoshop! WOW- time-savers and fun stuff... I take pride in being about 98% self-taught in that program, and how I'm able to 'finish' a photo, to enhance or create a mood that truly fits the captured moment. JOY!

Lyrics for Life


One of Addie's birthday toys was an adorable pink 'monster' that plays a current hit-pop song (think regular beat, but with a chipmonk voice.) The girls play it over and over, and groove to the tune... It goes like this:



Lyrics: 
Don't stop, Make it pop, DJ blow my speakers up....
Tonight, I'mma fight til we see the sunlight....
tic-tok on the clock, but the party don't stop, no...
woah woah woah wooooah, woah woah woah wooooah.


Then, there are ADDIE'S LYRICS:
Don't stop, biggy-bop, My no like my piz-za!
Woah wooaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!



 Can't.... stop.... laughing!! I seriously keep thinking she can't get any cuter... and then, WHAM!

TIP: Sing together.... It sparks something creative in 'em.
A QUOTE: "Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." ~Berthold Auerbach
WHIDFML: Went with my MIL to the SAL (Salvation Army) for some half-priced shopping! Leather jacket - looks like new - $5.  Need I say more?

Doctor, I'm Going to Be Brave...

The title above are the precise words of my 3-year-old when she learned that she was going to need an update to her vaccinations. AMAZING! Wasn't expecting that - though I knew it should be less traumatic for all of us than it would have been if the older sibling were in need of an injection. But,  I didn't expect NO crying. WOW. Then, the solution entered her skinny little leg, and out came the wails. Can't blame her - it's a painful one... much like that flu vaccination. .... ..... ..... ..... .... ..... .... Oops! Sorry about the dead-air... I passed-out just thinking about it! Yes, I'm a wuss. It gets worse the older I get (should be the opposite, wouldn't you think??? But no.) For years now, I've had to lie back or recline to have blood drawn at the lab. Now - wouldn't you know it - I need to lie down following... the flu shot? Good grief! So - my 3-year-old was brave, and only shed a few tears from the resulting pain. She then proceeded to watch as the lab techs tried twice before successfully extracting a vial of blood from her tiny little arms for some tests, without skipping a beat or even wincing. My 4-year-old held my hand while I was given my flu vaccination... But me? The one who is supposed to be setting an example? The one who preaches why it's important for us to receive shots - to keep us healthy? The one who encourages her little'n's to "be brave" if they need a shot the next time they go to the doctor - in valiant preparation for the inevitable?? I freaked a bit, then I turned whiter than a sheet, and cried... I tried to keep it together, but I just couldn't. Then, the woozies started in, and I had to lie down on the examination table in the PEDIATRICIAN's office for several minutes before the fuzziness subsided and the chirping birds flew away. I swear there were birds in that room~
As we left the lab (and I nearly passed out again from the sensation of that lingering 'ache' upon moving my arm) - The 3-year-old concluded, "My glad my had nice nurses to give me my holes!" I wish I felt the same!!

TIP: Practicing by playing pretend doctor - and allowing the kiddos to give the "shots" during play-time - does seem to make a positive impact on future shot-receiving experiences - - for THEM.
A QUOTE: "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. " ~Nelson Mandela
WHIDFML: Stayed out late and hung out with a fave friend one Monday eve... laughing my butt off 'til the wee hours. [Night-owl instincts, forcefully overcome due to that parenting schedule in the A.M. hours...] Thankfully, the girls opted to sleep-in that morning as well!

Boo-Hoo to the FLU!

So... not until ages 3 & 4 did we experience a bout of the stomach flu 'round here.... AND, not until the week before my only winter-wedding this season did it emerge. Of course! So needless to say, it was a stressful week. I mean, I've been good - I mean really good - at avoiding that bug in past years - even living at home back when it circulated through 4 out of 5 of us - me being the 5th - and the non-sickie. But - I would wash my hands more often, leave the house more often, maintained my own toothpaste and separate toothbrush-storage... and I certainly wasn't holding the buckets and hands of the ill during their grocery-regurgitation. Neither was I laundering the the soiled clothing and bedding multiple times a day... Oh - the joys. 
Surprisingly, I handled it exceptionally well. Even Joel made a point of complimenting me numerous times - (and still does weeks later!) regarding my handling of the situation. [He pretty much fears puke or anything associated with it like many people fear death itself.] Ironically - I'd always maintained a strong stomach, and during and following pregnancy - my body said bye-bye to my inner abs-of-steel. So at first,  I feared that I too may unwittingly join in with the chunk-laden chorus. Low and behold, mommy-mode kicked in, and I mustered up the necessary composure to deal. I figured if it weren't for the timing - just days before a wedding shoot - I'd have handled it with even more grace. Oh well - my prayers were answered, and I made it to that wedding, and beyond. YAY! Thank you Big Guy. I've always been diligent about hand-washing and general germ aversion... Now? Now I'm a new-found, bonafide germaphobe! Those holiday pocket-pack size hand sanitizers at Bath & Body Works went on major clearance (try 37 cents per) - I have approximately 6 of those finding their way around with me. Don't leave home without it. It's everywhere you want to be.

TIP: Hand-washing is good. VERY very very very very very good.
A QUOTE: "The trouble with always trying to preserve the health of the body is that it is so difficult to do without destroying the health of the mind."  ~G.K. Chesterton
WHIDFML: After doing laundry every day for the week of the Flu, I took a lovely sabbatical from it for nearly 2 weeks. No worries -- It was still there when I returned. (dang!)