Ski Bunny

There are lots and lots of things that make being a parent worthwhile, heartwarming, enriching, inspiring, etc. There are also things that are just plain fun when you're a parent. I've found that it's often things that were pretty fun before you had kids but then once you have them, and you see and experience it through their eyes, the super fun-o-meter just blows up (I also felt this way when I became an aunt, too. I love kids' perspectives...). We had one of those times today -- we took Molly skiing to celebrate her birthday and because we're going to Whistler next week and, let's face it, I wasn't going to lug gear if she wasn't going to be into the whole shebang. Truthfully, I really, really wanted her to have fun and enjoy skiing. I won't lie. I would have been sad had she run screaming from the hill (like she literally ran screaming from the lady in the ski store when she tried to have Molly try on ski boots) or pooped out after two runs. I would have understood, of course; you can't force enjoyment of new activities and you simply have to try again next month, next season, next lifetime. It's one of the cardinal rules of parenthood, I think, to follow your mini person's lead and not impose your standards or ideas of what she should be or what he should like. The parenting handbook also explicitly forbids throwing hissy fits no matter how much you want them to do or like something or other... that's hard for me sometimes. At the same time, we all have images in our heads, I think, of what constitutes family fun and skiing together, for me, is one of them. Thankfully, she loved it. She was hilarious out there and honestly, it made the run I took with her down the bunny slope one of the best  runs of my life (John did the majority of the skiing 101 introduction today). I loved experiencing some of her excitement and it was neat to see her pride at mastering some aspects of skiing a bit and by the end, she was able to do some of the run by herself. I skied with a friend after that and it was good but really, nothing like the fun I had in the two minutes it took to get down the beginner trail. Sometimes we get lucky, as parents, that it all works out the way we hope it might. I don't know if those opportunities are the minority or majority but whenever they happen, I'm happy to sit up, take notice, and relish them. 

I'm ready. Who's coming with me?

This guy? Okay! Still ready!

No, we didn't ski with Jack, although...

There's always the post-skiing relax in the lodge that makes the day worth it, too. 

Stand and Not Deliver

While we were back east, Jack took some steps all on his own. It was so cute! It was so fun! I was so excited! And now... well, now he is no longer interested in any of that malarky. Like an overly enthusiastic pageant mom, I think I got a little too excited for the glory and how it would change my life... so now he reminds again and again that he's in charge and will walk when he pleases, thank you very much. His modus operandi has always been to wait and watch (and probably practice when I'm not looking) and then grace us with his new skill once he's nearly mastered it. Why stray from a winning formula? For now, it's probably more fun to look like he's going to take steps somewhere and then watch me freak out like a crazy chicken because I'm so excited, only to drop down and beeline it on all fours to wherever he wants to go.

Tardy Turkey

Holy smokes, it's been awhile... traveling, blogging, holidays, and various illnesses didn't all mix together very well this time and while I would have happily let the barfing fall to the wayside, the blog was the big sufferer over the past three weeks while we we pretended that we were east coasters again. Team Double Trouble also refused to slow down (even at night... so much fun) so really, I consider myself lucky that I found time to shower every third day. We did have a great trip (with the exception of having to cancel one ridiculously complicated-to-plan play date due to aforementioned barfing and what I believed to be a nail gun being driven into my head but was actually just a really bad sinus infection) and I'm pretty sure that the airline had to throw off a few bags in order to accommodate my ridiculously full belly and expanded waist line on our way home. We also were able to enjoy visits with the Seattle crew on both ends of our trip and their hospitality was, once again, very, very, very much appreciated (I see sainthood in Mary's future). I can't believe no one tossed us out after being subjected to Jack's early morning sing-a-longs and Molly's wandering feet so a HUGE thank you to everyone who gave us food, beds, birthday presents, company, moral support, baby sitting, and rides to urgent care. We, once again, can't thank you all enough from the very depths of our hearts. If the good cheer and open arms that we enjoy on all coasts don't embody the spirit of Thanksgiving, I don't know what does.

Thanksgiving is a lovely holiday, one of my favorites, and it should always look a little something like this:

Who doesn't love a gaggle of cousins?

I thought maybe I had been blessed with only one enthusiastic hugger but no... I've got two.  Hug me, damn it, HUG ME.

Speaking of two sweet boys... not that my sumo wrestler needs any more calories but the two little boys of the cousin bouncy bunch also really, really enjoyed the birthday celebration that we had the day before the turkey.

What do you mean there are no more cupcakes?

Like ice cream? Who me?

Of the more general type of mischief that we got ourselves into outside of the holiday, it was basically just lots of stuff like this:

Puzzlemania

Next stop: Architectural Digest

You spin me right round, baby, right round

Random scarf wearing while making up a game


And now, this is a face that is excited for what comes next...

Let's Get Our Groove On

 When the little man is asleep, the big girl wants to shimmy. Lots of energy got burned today in a raucous dance marathon, populated by exactly one participant.

One of John's mixes + a mirror = holy foxtrot, Batman.

This is supposed to be a full-bodied tutu but the dancing queen decided that she only wanted to wear it halvsies. I just don't ask anymore.

A little Marilyn...

Some tap dancing (literally, tapping her foot back and forth).

Some shopping cart.

Twirly whirly (it's actually a twirly whirly skirt and not a tutu).

Push it, push it real good.

Ballet (the kind where you make up the moves yourself, apparently). 

A little hula.

Pensive moment... channeling Fame.

Shaking her boo-tay while chanting "shimmy, shimmy, shimmy, shimmy, shim-my".

?????

I may be one of the funniest people I've ever met. 

do you want to play, mom?

Working It

Not sure why Mr. Jack Peter's little expressions were so precious the other night (he's going to love being called precious in 15 years, I just know it), but he was in rare form. He doesn't demand attention in quite the same way that a certain someone else does but he also doesn't want to be left too far behind. He's got his own set of swanky moves, if he does say so himself, and thought it was pretty fun to show off his new winter gear from the Owens clan (sorry for the confusion :)). Thanks guys -- from all of us!

Here I am (and pay no attention to the naked girl in the background)!

Can I make my eyes be any bigger and bat my lashes any more? Nah. 

Doing the robot? Clapping?

I make truck sounds even better when my noggin is toasty warm.

Wowzer, I'm good looking!

Swing it.

Hey Ma, Look At Me

Even on the stressful days and the gray days and the busy days, I get to laugh at what these two nut jobs come up with the amuse themselves (and me). Why does it seem like a good idea to stuff yourself into a baby sleeping bag when you happen to be a tall-for-your-age almost-three year old with a big 'ol mess of curly madness on top? She didn't want to get out, either. Fine by me. Or why does "dressing yourself" with your sister's jammies entertain you for 45 minutes at a stretch nearly every morning for a week? I do enjoy watching your hard work that you show off by repeatedly trying to pull pants over your head. Heck, I don't care why they do it, I just care that I get to watch it. 

This? Now this did not amuse me. Thankfully, my coffee is 2/3 creamer so it wasn't hot, but I still wasn't the number #1 fan of myself for leaving my cup within lunging distance of the jacktopus. I went upstairs for two seconds (it always happens in two seconds or less), leaving behind a clean baby eating toast. I came back down (remember, in two seconds) to octo-arms jack who used one of his appendages to snag and dump my coffee and the others to eat his toast and smear peanut butter all over his ample cheeks. Not a fan. Dislike. Thumbs down. Boo.  

One More Time

Bad mama strikes again and she didn't post pictures from Jack's actual birthday. He reveled in more sugary goodness with some tasty ice cream (we were slightly better at limiting his pre-bed sugar intake with this than if he got his hands on a cupcake because he could inhale that in .03 seconds) and got his mitts onto some funtastic presents. (Not) Shockingly, his good pal Molly helped him open his loot and showed him (and continues to show him) how to use his new stuff. I noticed that another big sibling was similarly helpful with his little brother on his birthday... must be something in the water. 

Being one suits Jack well. He hasn't felt the need to stop going with the flow (thankfully) and he endures so much hugging/nudging/tackling/pushing that I cringe as I see a certain someone getting too close to him but he just gives her a big sloppy grin... and has the bruises to prove that he ends up on the wrong end of things too often. He's not walking on his own but does lots and lots of standing (and then proud clapping). I'm guessing 14 months before he gets around to dragging his booty around on his feet but we'll see. He's healthy, he's happy, he drools... what more could we ask for?

What was that that you wanted me to do, Dad? Can you show me one more time?

Lemme just see this for myself...

Hee hee. Hee hee. YUM. 

Oh look! Bunnies on this paper!

Jack Jack, why don't I just show you. You're taking too long. 

Ohhhh, lookit, wheels...

And blocks. I am very serious now that I have new toys.

Okay, not that serious.