This is an excellent and insightful post about autism, well worth a read.
Too Much Information: by Beatrix, aged 8
Black History Month
I meant to post this in February, but, you know. Life.
There was a video released on the White House Facebook page of a 106 year old woman meeting the president. She was so happy, and to think of all she had seen and lived through – from 1910 until now – its moving.
As Super Tuesday has just passed us in the United States and we are gearing up to inaugurate a new president, I wanted to share memories of Obama’s first inauguration in ’08. The first time a black president was inaugurated. A day that will live in history will live well in my memory.
Top 10 90’s Movies, Part One
I have never been a big movie buff – when I was a kid, I was only allowed to watch one hour of TV a week.
You read that right.
A week.
So I didn’t watch a lot of movies, and since I was in a very formative phase of my life in the 90’s, the ones I did see made an impact. This week’s Top 10 is the Early Years countdown, listing the movies from when I was starting to building memories and friendships, some of which I, luckily, still have today.
Weekend Coffee Share #21
If we were having coffee, you would come in with a sunburn. What were you doing?! I’m not sure if I’m jealous or piteous for you right now. You assured me you were having fun riding your bike, and I find I’m still feeling a bit of both. I don’t have a carriage for the Wee One while I’m biking yet, but we did get a Deuter hiking pack for her, which is more structured and puts the pressure more on my hips than the Ergo does. She also sits higher so she can see more and it’s more a kind of pack Cohiba would wear. I took her on a short walk in it while I was trying to adjust it, and I think it’ll be good once it’s set for her.
Legacy, or Writing For Throwback Thursday
I have been thinking about legacy lately, which was the word of this Daily Prompt. (I still hate the one-word thing, but it works for me today.)
I was thinking about the best way to save for her future and then I was thinking about writing up a will (now that I have a child) and who I would name as beneficiaries for my belongings. At first, I was thinking of things like books and CDs, and it was like the Senior Wills we wrote in our last year of high school. “Would I leave certain books to my social work friends and other books to religious friend?”
Continue reading “Legacy, or Writing For Throwback Thursday”
My Top Ten Favorite Things Right Now
This is a list of 10 things I really love right now. I will not say I’m “obsessed,” because I hate the overuse of that word (I have seen obsession, and this is not it), but they are things I really appreciate in my life right now, in no particular order.
- The drive through at Starbucks. I love being able to drive through and get coffee. So easy.
- The pool at the gym I just joined – I joined a gym! I’ve never done that before, but it has childcare, so the Wee One is tended to for up to two hours. I have started swimming thi week and love it. This accomplishes one of the goals on my 52/52 challenge.
- My ergo. I’ve loved it since I had it. It’s quick, easy, and keeps my hands free while I hold and love of my Wee One. (It’s also valuable and useful for Syrian refugees, as used by the Carry The Future organization. If you have an extra carrier no longer in use, I highly recommend this organization.)
- My crothet hooks. I’ve started making some things I hope I can sell with some friends who are vendors in a few Ren Fairs in the Midwest.
- Pens for drawing zentangle. Which I haven’t been doing as much, in favor of doing the above.
- This computer for writing. Which, again, I haven’t been doing much of in favor of crocheting, and of doing the following:
- Candy Mania – It’s one of those Candy Crush-like games that you can download onto your iPhone, but the other week when I was dying with the stomach flu, it kept me company and entertained.
- Giving the Wee One her bedtime bottle. It’s the first part of her bedtime routine and we sit in the recliner and watch something. Since she doesn’t take as many bottles, she doesn’t sit in my lap and eat like she used to. This is one last warm and snuggly little time. For a second, I thought about getting rid of it, but for right now, I’m not going to fix what isn’t broken!
- The Kindermusik class I go to with the Wee One. After about a month, she has become more comfortable crawling around and interacting with other babies and the teacher, which I like to see, and it helps me learn different ways to interact with her, to play with her. And she likes music, so it’s good. The teacher is kind of weird, and I get the feeling that it’s like a posh little club and you’re lucky to get in, but still.
- My mom squad. I have a squad. 38 years old and I have a squad. But we’re an awesome team, particularly for only having known each other for several months and for having four toddlers to look after.
Weekend Coffee Share #20
If we were having coffee, I would talk all about the gym I joined and the swimming I started doing. While I know how to swim, I was never on a team or anything, but I joined this gym that has child care! So I can leave the Wee One somewhere safe and exercise. I started swimming because I know what good exercise it is, and its something new for me. I had to go buy a cap and goggles, but I really like it. I like the meditative quality to it.
Weekend Coffee Share #19
If we were having coffee, I wouldn’t be around for very long, and I wouldn’t be drinking coffee. I would be drinking tea and some sports drink to replenish some fluids I lost last week. I have had the stomach flu all last week, and now I feel like I’m coming down with something respiratory. I couldn’t even do my Top Ten Tuesday, I felt so icky! You groan in commiseration, because its no fun to be sick. I was also really homesick during that time, more than I usually am. I was hurting and didn’t know what was happening, and I wanted my mom to tell me I was okay. I know both my mom and mother in law wished they could be here to help, which is sweet.
Missing The Old Prompts!
Over on The Daily Post page, there used to be a daily prompt of a question or scenario that would challenge us to think about something.
Top Five Best and Worst Things About a Playdate
I hosted a playdate today (yesterday). Several of my friends came over with their daughters T and S. Our kids are all within a few months of each other, so its nice to watch them socialize and grow up together. Especially T, she and the Wee One look so similar, it’s really cute.
Five Worst Things About Hosting a Playdate
- Injuries. Toddlers step on and hit each other. They also take toys while mother’s patiently emphasize, “Share. Can you share?” The injuries are always accidental, of course, particularly at this age.
- Its tiring. In fact, I was so tired yesterday that I didn’t get this post complete. So today becomes Just As Well Wednesday.
- Messing with naptime. Naptime is hard to coordinate between three toddlers, and the more you include, the harder it gets. Someone always sleeps through part of the playdate, and another one goes to sleep in the car.
- Diapers. The aroma wafted through the living room for several minutes as we played “Rock Paper Scissors” guessing whose child it was. We all changed their diapers, and realized it was probably gas. Now that I think about it, I bet it was my friend. 😉
- You’re playing hostess. Does anyone need anything? I vacuumed yesterday; was that enough? Is T putting eating something from my carpet that she couldn’t be? Is T’s mom thirsty? Should I make more coffee? That is just it’s own challenges; I’m not yet close enough with T or S’s mothers to be like: Too dirty for ya? You’re welcome to clean.
Five Best Things About Hosting a Playdate
- Friends come over and play. I remember getting to go to other people’s houses and play with their toys. Even if I had the same thing, it was like completely new at someone’s house. Now, having other kids come over, I get to seem them rediscover a toy we have. The Wee One sees it, too!
- Its nice for me to have someone come over. Even though I’m playing hostess, I’m not doing it alone. Someone else is entertaining the Wee One. I have time to make coffee and I know she’ll be fine. Actually, this is awesome. I get to hang out with a friend.
- Its relieving to be at home if case something happens. If there’s a blowout or mess on my shirt, I’m at home so I can take care of it. Though the Wee One didn’t nap, we had her crib and we tried to nap. And I still got to play with friends!
- I have usually cleaned/organized in preparation of their arrival, and its nice to have a clean house when they leave.
- They share a sweet moment like a hug. Toddlers hugging! Squee!
I Didn't Just Wake Up This Morning With A Craving 