I just got a message from my son's school. They let us know they did a practice lock down drill. While I am thrilled and relieved that this was a) just a practice and b) they will know what to do in an emergency, it hurts my heart that a child should NEED to know these things. Being a parent is scary stuff. When my parents were kids, all they did were practice drills in case they got bombed. It's scary to think we've graduated to a world were people will come into our schools and harm our children. I don't want that world for my children. I don't like living in a world where I need to teach them to say no to drugs, to hide if a scary person comes into their school with a gun or to scream and make a scene if someone tries to hurt them or take them. I don't like having to teach them that strangers are dangerous. Little by little, their childhoods are taken away from them. I can only hope and pray they will never need the information they have.

Baby steps

When you're ready for change, or getting a fresh start at something, people always say "baby steps". Baby steps turn into toddler steps (a little more steady, a little more confident) and then those baby steps turn into preschool steps (less hand holding, more independence). Just like my mini girl. I feel like we rushed through the first two years. Not by anything we've done, she just seemed to grow faster than her brother.  I'm now entering the world of preschooler. Not that I want too but, it's the natural progression of things. We've come a long way from her first few days on Earth.

Those days were down right scary. She rushed her way into the world- 4 weeks early. I still think my original delivery date was a little off- she spent 4 days in NICU (breathing trouble and a blood infection) and once she got the hang of things, she hurried her way home. I never left the hospital without her (for that I am entirely thankful). She took her time sleeping through the night, and then took her time crawling, and then she took her time walking. She had this sweet little bop (which we dubbed the Woo-bop). She just bopped around on her knees. Then, she got brave. She took her first steps and that was it. She was off. I still don't think she's stopped.

She's turning 3 in a little less than a month. I still can't believe we're on year 3.

I'm not sure if you believe in God but, I do. This morning at 5:30 my mother called to tell me the house we lived in up until 9 months ago burnt down. If we had been there, we would have been killed for sure.

The official ruling is an electrical fire. The thing that gets me with that is, we LIVED in that house, lights on, tv on, things plugged in and it never caught fire. The upstairs pipe breaks in the bathroom and floods the house causing the owner to use 4 industrial fans and it goes up in flames. Angels? Oh, I think so!
Thankfully, the house was completely empty and nobody was living there. It just scares me to think of what could have been.

I'm BAAAAAACK

After a brief potty training hiatus, I've returned to my blogging glory. Potty training is serious business (ha ha).   I feel like this time around, it took forever. Gavin had the potty thing down in a weekend. Teagan, not so much. She would rather play, thank you very much. So, after what feels like a full year of trying (and backing off), we have another member of the ever elite, panty wearing club. THANK GOD. Pull ups are expensive. She took her sweet time and I have to admit, there's a little pang of sadness with this latest accomplishment. She really isn't my sweet little baby anymore. We've stepped out of toddler-hood and raced full force into our preschool years. She's growing up way too fast. I feel like we strolled leisurely through baby-dom and toddler-hood with Gavin. It flew by with Teagan.

On the bright side,  Teagan discovered Tyler-bunnies today. What's a Tyler bunny? Years ago, Fisher Price made these little bunnies with a pocket for your hand in their head, flannel blanket bodies & satin trimming. I loved them. I'm pretty sure I had one in every color. Anyway, they were given to my older sister when she was a baby by my father's good friend Tyler (this big old harley riding guy). She never had interest in them. I however, loved them. They went everywhere with me. I sucked my thumb and rubbed their satin edging against my nose. I LOVED them.  We lost a few along the way (one fell victim to the golden retriever) and some were probably so ratty my mother threw them out. At any rate, Fisher Price discontinued them forever ago. My mother sent every able body on a mission for them. I kept 3 of them for someday, when I had kids of my own. Gavin never had any interest in them, he loved his Blue too much for that. Teagan had no interest what-so-ever. Until today. She's been carrying them everywhere with her. Gavin put them away and she cried. I'm over joyed. I'm so glad something I loved so much is getting loved again. Maybe she can pass them on to her kids someday.

I'll look through Mom's pictures and post them. I'm not even sure what to google them under since Tyler bunnies are NOT the official name.

I'm worried.

It hit me this morning. I know my son is likable, he always talks about kids he likes to play with at school. I'm concerned that his ADHD (along with other little issues) is keeping him from really bonding with other kids. I'm not sure that he actually has "friends". That breaks my heart. I know Teagan will have an opportunity to make lots of new friends when she starts pre-school (and she will cause HOLY COW). I'm not sure what to do. I want him to have friends, I want to have play dates with other kids (our house or otherwise). I'm just concerned that he won't. His lack of maturity is starting to concern me-is it keeping him from making friends his own age and own ability? Is my fault from moving him from school to school? Have we sheltered him too much? I hope he does develop life long friendships and that he does blossom. I hope he doesn't become discourages and withdrawn.

Sparkles & wings (the original entry)

Today, our routine returned to "normal". The boys are off to work & school. It's just us girls again. I've consumed my morning coffee and jumped right back into another day filled with toddler sized fun. And potty training. Teagan is proving to be harder in that category. She'd rather be playing. Or dancing. Potty training is on the very bottom of her pint sized list of important things. M&M's aren't doing the trick. Time to try a sticker chart. Hopefully that will make all the difference. What toddler doesn't like stickers?

So, while I've got a down second- she's currently entertained by dress-up clothes and shoes- I'm blogging. I've discovered I love it. I just needed this outlet. I'm still debating on sharing it publicly. Right now, I'm just building up enough reading material.

As I'm typing away, in strolls Teagan clad in Fairy wings and a sparkly tutu. She announces "Momma, Wickie's so pretty". Yes baby, you are. It amazes me. She finds that even with her wild hair, no make-up and in a t-shirt & comfy pants, she knows she is beautiful. All she needed was sparkles and wings. If only we could see how beautiful we are. The things a toddler can teach you.

One of "THOSE" weekends.

Ever have one of those weekends where you'd either like a redo or a whole other weekend to follow? Yeaaaah. It was one of "THOSE" kind of weekends. Friday was an attack of the ADHD. All day. Saturday was one of those days where you really just want to stay in pj's but, you've got prior obligations that make that a big "no can do". We (and by we, I mean I, signed us up for puppy/nephew sitting) headed over to my sisters house and were there by 12. The kids whined all morning about one thing or another. We're not used to having nothing to do in someone else's house. The kids were bored (well, just the little one since she had no playmate). Let's just say, I am NOT cut out for 3 kids and a dog (well, giant puppy). 2 kids and 2 cats, sure. And, for all you co-sleepers out there, I give you props. I CANNOT share a bed with an almost 3 year old and wake up refreshed.

So, needless to say, I am glad to be home. My children will be going to bed insanely early. They're ridiculously tired. And moody. I'm looking forward to peace and quiet when bedtime arrives.