Tomorrow can't come soon enough

So when I leave work tomorrow, I will be off until August 8th. Yes, that's right. I have over a month off of work. It is one of the many perks of working in the educational field. Though I would have rather gotten out when the kids did around June 10th. But I will take what I can get, I am not greedy, and I realize that this stretch of vacation is more than most people see in an entire year. So I won't complain about having my cake and eating it too (cheesecake is now on my mind). Maybe I will grab one of those on the way home, and ditch the child with Auntie Gina for the night and indulge. If that is my plan, then I most definitely need to figure out where to send the husband. As he will really infringe on my indulgences.

So here is a funny thought. On Saturday, I am going to look for bridesmaids dresses with a friend of mine. Know why?? Cause I am going to be a 31 year old bridesmaid in August. Fun? I think not! Want to know what really pisses me off about this whole bridesmaid/wedding bit? I will tell anyway. The girl getting married has 2 children and found out a few weeks ago that she is now pregnant with the third. Now I could care less how many children anyone has. If you are willing to take care of them, have your own baseball team. However, this girl, we'll call her Dawn since that is her name, doesn't take care of the 2 that she already has. And she can carry these babies full term and they come out healthy as can be despite the neglect that she reaks on her body during pregnancy. Me and some of my friends...well we follow the rules and have babies weighing barely more than a pound. Bitter..why yes I am slightly. However, I have tried to convince myself that it happens for a reason. Blah blah blah. Yeah the reason is that Mother Nature has it in for me and likes to taunt me at her every turn.

I must not hit the bride! I must not hit the bride! I figure if I say it enough, I won't do it....will I?????

Adventures with Play Doh

Let me start by saying that Matt has returned home from a trip to Arkansas. So after being a single parent for 3 days, I am ready to hand her over to him upon his re-entry into the house. Of course, this never works out. Of course, I have a mommy's girl. So even though he is home, it is as though I am a single parent. However, today is different. She has missed him something terrible over the last few days, so she wants him to play with her nonstop. As they are sitting in the living room playing, and I sit my ass at the computer (odd as that may sound)I enjoy listening to the conversations that they have with each other.

Someone bought Caitlyn Play Doh for her birthday. Now I do not mind this gift at all, as all of us with preemies know how fabulous it can be for improving sensory issues. So she and Daddy are playing with the dough and making all sorts of animals. Then they begin making finger prints and such. Matt teaches her to make finger prints, elbow prints, foot prints...you get the picture. I then hear Caitlyn telling Matt that he can't do that because it is dangerous. Now, I try to think of what he could have possibly done with play doh that could be considered dangerous. When I ask what the problem is, I am clearly told.

"Daddy made my eye print. And he can't put play doh on my eye because I could get hurt. It is dangerous right Mommy?"

So I then have to tell her that she is correct. Logically speaking, if she gets the stuff in her eye, it could absolutely be dangerous. Chances of that happening, slim to none. Oh but wait a minute, I forgot that this is me that we are talking about. If there is a possiblility of it happening, then it more than likely will.

Moral of the story....do not make eye prints with play doh!

The Birthday Party

Well, birthday party number 4 has come and gone and a grand time was had by the Princess herself. She was so excited about having a birthday party and everyone coming to praise her LOL. Of course it was a Disney Princess Party. Caitlyn got so many wonderful gifts and she loves them all. It was nice to actually get a really good variety of gifts. Not too many toys, not too many clothes. She got a ton of pajamas that can double as dress up clothes, so she loved those. She also got "real makeup" from Stephanie, which has been a huge hit and I have had to clean off wax like purple paint from her face every night...as well as my own.

Stephanie came in from Indiana for the night Saturday to attend the party on Sunday. Naturally she had the babes with her and Collin too. Boy oh boy...I know why she is so tired at the end of her days now...LOL

So the cake was a HUGE success. Yes, I ordered a full sheet. Why you ask? Well, because I am stupid of course. At least that is the only logical explanation that I can come up with at this point in time. See, in my own head, I imagined the size of a full sheet to be what is in reality a half sheet. So needless to say, there was plenty of cake to go around...a couple of times actually. Surprisingly enough, it was all taken away by the time the last guest departed. What they chose to do with it once they arrived home I could care less. But I could not bear to throw any of it out.

So now my child is 4 and I am awe struck with this concept. I can not believe that 4 years have passed since that fateful night at Christ hospital. Though I am thankful that she is here to celebrate this 4th birthday, it is so hard to believe that she was once so ill and fragile. It is funny now how I go into her story less and less with people. Occasionally we get the questions about why she is so skinny, but for the most part, people look at her and see a typical 4 year old. And that it what brings tears to my eyes more than anything. I never would have imagined her to be seen as typical 4 years ago. But here we are and on we go.

Enough of the blah blah blah...here are some pics of the princess's celebration and her humoungous cake!

I am sweet and the bestest

Every now and again, Caitlyn reminds me just how sweet she can be and confirms why I love her so much. After her movie was over tonight, she was complaining in the living room that her skirt was untied. I told her to come on over and I would tie it for her. She then tells me...

"Mommy you're sweet. You're the bestest mommy ever."

And that my friends is what being a mommy is all about...to hear things like that!

Geyser?

We are still on the Shrek kick...she enjoys watching the previews that are on the tape before the movie actually starts. One of them is for a Disney movie, some horse, Spirit something or other. Well as Caitlyn was watching the previews the other day in my bed she points something out to me that I had no idea she knew nor do I have any idea where the hell she learned it from either. She points out an image in which there is water shooting up from the ground and proceeds to tell me that it is a geyser. And in case I wanted to know why it was a geyser, it is because the water is shooting up and not down. Who teaches this child cause it sure as hell is not me teaching her these things.

Happy Birthday to my little love

My little girlie has managed to make it to 4 years old! I am in awe that she is already 4...seems like only yesterday she was so teeny tiny. Downside to today's festivities...she spiked a fever last night and threw up a couple of times :( So this morning it has gone down quite a bit and no puking, so I am thinking that we are on the mend from whatever the hell it was that she had.

Happy birthday Caitlyn! Mommy and Daddy love you more than you could ever know :)

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She is a wise one

As mentioned before, Caitlyn's birthday is quickly approaching. It is hard to believe that this time 4 years ago, Matt and I were in marital bliss awaiting the arrival of our first child....and it was all cut so short. I can not believe that she is going to be 4!!!

This morning as we were getting ready for work and school respectively, she asked me how many more days until her birthday. I told her 7 more days, 1 more week, your birthday is next Tuesday. She proceeds to tell me that she will be 4 years old, as she always does. Then she says to me, "Mommy I will not be 3 ever again." And that's when it hit me...and the blubbering started. My Itty Bitty is NEVER going to be a toddler again! Now, I am an intelligent person. I knew that after turning 4, she will no longer be 3 and will never be 3 again. However, to have it thrown in your face by the very person that you are wishing to keep little is so difficult.

Don't get me wrong...I love her getting older and doing more things and learning everday and just being the amazing little person that she is. But it is so difficult for me to imagine her as that little being that she once was. Not to say that those images will ever be completely erased from my memory, because they never could. But this little girl who fought tooth and nail to survive and who has probably been through more medically than some go through in a lifetime is growing up. And she is doing it so rapidly. Her first year obviously dragged because she seemed to be an infant for so long. But since turning 2, there has been no stopping Caitlyn. SHe is just growing in leaps and bounds that I never would have thought possible. It's kind of like when you finally graduate from high school and realize, oh shit, I have to figure out what the hell I am going to do with the rest of my life :P

Okay, enough of the blubbering from the wishy washy mommy. Despite all of these wonderful things, she is still driving me nuts on a daily basis, she is still pushing all of my buttons, she is still testing just how far she can push me.....and I wouldn't ever have it any other way!

Shrek the "Nogurt"

So we are on a Shrek kick this week. Seems that is all that she wants to be watching these days. I don't mind as it is quite the humorous movie. However, the main character has been given a new name.....

Shrek the Nogurt. Appearently she can't say ogre! So he has become a nogurt...

Now that the birthday is approaching, I am flipping through some old pictures of the girl and am in awe over just how far has she has come. Don't be surprised if you see a few more of these pictures popping up between now and her birthday. Borthdays are always a tough time and at the same time something to revel in.



Caitlyn having her first bottle at 2 months old







Caitlyn about 3 weeks before coming home







Caitlyn's first Halloween

The Little Mermaid

Well, summer has arrived along with the opening of Grandma's pool. Caitlyn is absolutely loving having her own personal swimming pool....yes she thinks it belongs to her despite the fact that it is not in our yard, but in one 3 blocks away. So for the last 3 days she has been in the pool nonstop..with the exception of going to school and sleeping.



Caitlyn is very mucha mommy's girl. If I am not around, she is always asking where I am and when I am coming to get her. However, thanks to this pool, that is changing at a rapid pace. She is swimming at my mom's today at about 4:15. Around the time that I would normally show up to pick her up. However, today, Mom called me and said to leave her there and Tutti would bring her home. I agree to that plan quickly as it gives me the much needed Nancy time that I so deserve. So mom askes Caitlyn, "Shouldn't mommy be here soon? Maybe you should get out and dry off so that she can come and pick you up."



Caitlyn's response..."No. I think Mommy will be here later, not right now. I think she is working longer today."



Now she is my very own personal secretary. I should ask her where I need to be tomorrow so that I am on time!

She just can't take it anymore

More to the pooping saga....

So for the last 2 weeks or so, I have not had to fight with Caitlyn to poop on the potty. It has actually just been happening when she tells me she has to pee, and then suddenly tells me that she pooped too. Well, for the last 3 days, she has actually told me that she has to poop...and then does! Big improvements from needing a suppository because she was with holding for a week at a time. Now we are up to at least every other day!

So tonight, my child ate more in one sitting that she usually does. She told me she wanted breakfast at 7:00pm becuase she didn't eat her breakfast this morning. Well, if you know Cate and her history, I immediately ran to the kitchen and began whipping up an omelet and pancakes (and if you knwo me and my history, this is a rarity). So I made an omelet of one egg and 4 small pancakes. She also wanted fruit, but I told her she could have that after she ate. This child of mine was cramming food into her face like I have never seen before. I actually had to tell her to slow down....words I thought would never exit my lips. When there was only a few bits of omelet and 1/2 a pancake left, I told her if she was full she could stop eating. She said she wasn't full yet....words I thought would never exit Cate's lips. So then she also devoured some fruit.

Needless to say, I figured she was going to explode on me tomorrow. However, as I am sitting at the computer (shocker I know) she comes up to me, legs crossed and says, "I just can't take it anymore." When I ask her what she is talking about, she tells me, "I just can't take it anymore. I have to poop." So I unfasten her pants and tell her to hurry to the potty. As she is seated on the potty, I hear her repeating to herself, "I can't take this poop anymore. I have to poop so bad." Within minutes, there it is. And of course, as all children like to do, she is sure to describe it to me as she stands up. And wouldn't you know it, this one resembled a banana :P

so I think that we have overcome all of our fears of pooping in the potty...thank God in heaven. We are also expanding our horizoms and learning how to use public restrooms.....when did my life turn into this????

Any boob will do

This was one just too good to pass up and not share. So do you think that it is human nature in babies...or just in the male species??

Time to start teaching multiculturalism???

So I think that we have reached the age where we are starting to notice differences in people. I have to have a talk with Caitlyn and I really am not sure how to broach the subject with her. Or if I even need to have the conversation with her.

We were out for dinner tonight, a little mother daughter time since Matt was at a meeting through dinner. We were sitting next to large windows that face a very busy street and the parking lot. An African American man was walking from the parking lot into the restaurant. My child leans over the table and whispers to me..

"Look mommy it's a chocolate man."

I didn't even know how to respond. Should I have had a conversation with her about it right then and there??? I quickly changed the subject and prayed that when the man was seated, he wouldn't be near us so that Caitlyn wouldn't repeat the phrase in front of him.

So I don't think that this is anywhere in the parenting books. Anyone have any words of wisdom for me?

The dreaded "F Word" has reared it's ugly head once again

Yeah, so all of those sweet little things that I wrote about my daughter the other day...not so much anymore :P

As she is playing with her ball in the living room today, bouncing it off the TV and catching it (yes we have some very enforced rules in this house). I am listening to her talk to herself, actually to her pretend big sister Lena (don't ask me). She is telling Lena to throw the ball this way, don't throw the ball that way, you know, just being her normal bossy self. When suddenly I hear the ball it the TV and out comes....

"This fucking TV." Over and over and over and over. What did I do you ask? Well, I ran to the basement and told Matt that he absolutely must hear his child. By the time we got into the dining room, she had ceased dropping the F Bombs.

Me thinks that we need to have the nice words ugly words conversation again!