Thursday, January 29, 2009

Swimming

Maya in her zucchini. 

I think I have found our winter playground. 

It's the new swimming pool I wrote about earlier this week. We went again today and Guillermo and Maya had so much fun, and so did I. We swam for more than an hour this afternoon. They threw boats in the water, and diving rings too, and then jumped for them. Guillermo started to put his face in the water a little bit. I'm trying to teach by example to Maya that water in your face during swimming is no big deal so she doesn't develop the same anxiety Guillermo has. 

I packed shampoo in my bag and after we swam I gave them quick showers in the locker rooms. I think they had just as much fun playing in the shower, which is surprising because neither of them like the shower at our house. 

As we were getting ready to head to the pool today, Guillermo developed an interest in Maya's swimsuit.

"What is that called?" he asked. 
"A bikini," I said.

Suddenly, Maya started shouting, "I want my zucchini" over and over again. I'll post pictures tomorrow.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Lovely Days

Guillermo and Maya, after the Gustafer Yellowgold show. (Yeah, yeah, I bought them their concert souvenir. For what it's worth, he still sleeps with his.)

We had a fun, busy weekend, and today was pretty good, too.

On Saturday, I took Guillermo and Maya to see Gustafer Yellowgold at the Arts Center. It was Maya's first concert and she loved it. She was all smiles during the first few songs and at the end, she was bouncing in my seat. Guillermo proved again that he is his father's son. Between songs, the singer would ask the audience questions about their favorite foods, their favorite hobbies, etc. Guillermo anxiously answered the first few times but by about the fourth set of questions, Guillermo folded his arms across his lap and said he didn't to answer any more. He wasn't grumpy about it, just matter of fact. 

Later that day, Will and his friends took Guillermo and Maya on a hike. 

On Sunday, I took Guillermo and Maya swimming at the new aquatic center and they had so much fun. Guillermo really needs swimming lessons, but he wore his life jacket and did fine. (he also was so excited to go swimming that he immediately dressed himself for the pool, and ended up wearing his underwear under his trunks!) I held onto Maya, in her navy polka dot bikini, and she was all smiles. We swam for about an hour and by the end of it, she was jumping into the pool and I would catch her. A few times she even told me that she wanted to swim by herself. 

Today the kids were wonderful. I had to do some work on a freelance project so I took them to a friend's house, where they jumped in her bouncy castle, which she has set up on the third floor of her house, while I worked downstairs. We came home to make "Secret Agent" chocolate chip cookies (we got the recipe after playing Backyardigans "Super Spy") and then went for a bike ride on the trail by Community Park. They were awesome. We stopped on the trail on the way back from our ride to climb up a big hill covered in leaves, and stopped on the way down the hill to play space man. I can't wait to take them again.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Today is a Great Day

I couldn't let the day go by without at least mentioning what a fabulous day today is. Barack Obama took the oath of office today.

"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

"On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

"We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."  
_ President Barack Obama

A Day in the Snow





We woke up to snow today! I am not sure how much, but it was enough for sledding and snow ball fights. 

We went sledding first, and Guillermo loved it, but only with me. He went down the hill with Will once and I think they went too fast because Guillermo said he didn't want to go again. I persuaded him to go again, and again, and again. 

We took a break after about 45 minutes and then went out later for a giant snowball fight. Guillermo loved it, Maya not so much. But, what she did like was standing in the snowy forest, underneath the trees in our cul-de-sac while my mother shook the branches and snow fell on her hair. 

We went out one more time later in the day and I pulled Maya and Guillermo around the house on the sled and then we raced around the house. By the end of the day, they were exhausted, which likely explains the meltdown Guillermo threw, which resulted in him losing his Legos and playmobil ship and TV privileges for the week (I am in so much trouble!)

Monday, January 19, 2009

We're ready for a Snow Day



Living in the South is so funny during the winter. Tonight, for instance, forecasters were projecting that tomorrow we will get between 2-4 inches of snow, the first (and likely only) snow of the year. My father, who is visiting for Guillermo's birthday, was at the grocery store when someone announced on the intercom that sleds were on sale at the front of the store. My father chuckled and then came home with the ingredients to make his famous pizza with the kids tomorrow. We laughed about it too, then sent him back to the store after dinner to pick up the sled (We don't have one). 

The kids piled in the car with him and when they returned, they were pulling a green, yellow and orange tie-dyed looking plastic sled. Guillermo pulled Maya around the living room for a bit and then I pulled them around. Later, we got into a "snow ball" fight with balloons in preparation for tomorrow's snow. They are so excited!!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Superhero Super fun


Today was Guillermo's birthday party. For months, at least since Halloween, he has been so excited to have a Superhero costume birthday party. (A year ago, after his space-themed birthday party, he was set on having a knight-themed birthday party. Today, he hasn't said what he is planning for next year.)

Eight kids, including Guillermo and Maya, most dressed in Superhero costumes, came to our house. We didn't plan anything extravagant, and the cold weather forced us inside. We "tested" the kids to see if they had what it takes to be super heros. One test was for them to put on Guillermo's boxing gloves and punch targets Will held. We also stacked up cardboard blocks and had the kids kick them down. That game later turned into all of the kids throwing blocks at each other, but we quickly substituted balloons. Later, my father and I put on black masks and ran into where the kids were playing and stole the balloons. The kids' job was to capture us and tie us up with toilet paper. Before cupcakes, they played "pin the web on the bad guy." 

Guillermo had so much fun, and Maya, too, even though she chased one kid's sister around for a bit to tell her "you aren't my friend any more" because the girl was wearing Maya's mardi gras beads. They later reconciled. By the end, Guillermo was curled up next to Will reading a seek-and-find book from the goody bag while some of the kids played in his room. 

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Big Girl Bed

This week has been a week of milestones.

Guillermo turned five yesterday and Maya moved into a big girl bed this week, without fuss. In fact, after months of talking about it, all it took was a promise that once we took down her crib and added shelves for her toys and a table to her room, we could hang up some pictures she drew that I have framed. She loves the pink and green IKEA picture frames I bought for her more than a year ago. 

She was so excited about the prospect of sleeping in the big girl bed, in fact, that I had Will pull Guillermo's old safety rails out of the garage about 10 minutes before bedtime on Monday. Thirty minutes later, at least, we realized they were broken. Maya and I bought some the next day (she chose the rails that have a sippy cup holder, a night light and pockets for her books) and she wanted me to put them together right away when we got home.

Later, at bedtime, I told her to tell everyone good night. She was so excited she shouted goodnight and waved over her shoulder as she ran down the hall to her room. 

Good night, big girl. Sweet dreams.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Happy 5th birthday, Guillermo



Happy birthday, Guillermo! You are five today. 

To be honest, I've had a hard time getting to this point over the past few weeks. I'm not one for marking milestones, as you'll discover if you ever ask to see your baby book. The book, I'm sorry to say, is filled in only to about 9 months, and most of those days are fudged. 

But five, well five seems like a long time to have been around, and it hit me about two or three weeks ago. Five means that soon you'll go to kindergarten and then our days, our lazy days of pjs until 11 a.m. or long mornings in the park will soon be finished, forever.

Two years ago when I took you to your 3-year-old checkup, I think I surprised the pediatrician when he asked me in earnest: "Can you believe you have a 3 year old?" and I responded "Yes, it feels like he has been here forever." (You did the terrible twos pretty well, my son, though I'll be the first to admit, I had, and still have, a lot of parenting lessons to learn, too.)  Well, that's still true, it does feel like forever, except now I get what they say, it does go fast, even if some days seem to drag on for months, because last night and today I replayed the day you were born as if it were yesterday, and I have to tell you that it was the greatest day of my life. 

Now, I'm going to save the tears (until you go to kindergarten) and instead tell you how proud I am, we are, of you. You have grown so much this year. Three to four is a big change, toddler to preschooler, and we love the way you've grown. You are witty, independent, tolerant, sweet, silly and inquisitive, plus you can now get yourself dressed in the morning.  Even your new choice of entertainment, playing battle or bad guys, makes me laugh because it's you. I love that you value our time and I love that you have me figured out enough to know that an extra hug or even a kiss, goes a long way. 

Guillermo, your father and I love you so much. Happy birthday!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

A Missile and a Gun

Guillermo was building spaceships with his Legos tonight as I was starting to get him ready for bed. Will walked in and Guillermo handed him one of his creations. 

When Will left, Guillermo said to me: "Papa is ... I really like papa, that's why I gave him one with a missile and a gun." 

That's true love from a 4-year-old boy. 

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Terrible Twos?


Maya has been a bear this week. 

She's had lots of morning meltdowns, evening meltdowns, and midday defiance. Yesterday, during lunch at Pat's house, she started crying and when I asked why she could barely get it out. "Pat called me a baby." Pat did call Maya a baby, but in an affectionate way. 

There could be a few reasons she's acting up. First, Big Papa (Will's father) and Tia Jen left Monday. She adores them both and loved all the attention she got from them. Will was back at work more, too. And, I was busy with some freelance work this week so I couldn't give her the extra attention she could have probably used. 

Second, she's 2.5 and so far hasn't put us through the terrible twos. I'm afraid it's starting. Thursday, for instance, I picked out a dress for her wear because she loves to wear "dancing dresses" these days. "No! Princess dress!" she demanded, pointing to her dress up clothes. I told her she couldn't wear a princess dress to drop Guillermo off at school. She started crying and screaming. 

Yesterday, she was eating crackers while she sat on the counter next to me while I was preparing dinner.  (Yes, I know it's not safe.) I picked her up, danced with her in the kitchen, gave her a kiss and then put her on the ground. She immediately started crying because she wanted back up. I handed her the crackers and she threw them on the floor. She picked them up when I asked her to, but then broke them in her hands and threw them back on the floor. She stopped her tantrum only when she saw that I was looking at a cake decorating book that she loves. 

Guillermo's terrible twos lasted two years. I hope these don't, but at least I know what to expect.  

Thursday, January 8, 2009

The Ozone Hole

Will is the narrator for the infographic "The Ozone Hole," created by UNC senior Wilson Andrews. The infographic won second place in the William Randolph Hearst Foundation's Journalism Awards Program. Check it out. Will sounds pretty good. (It may take a minute to load.)

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Power Outage

We had a family bed night last night, and I loved it. 

The power on our street went out last night, shortly after I put Maya down to sleep in Guillermo's room (where she had been sleeping while Will's father and sister were visiting).

Guillermo and I were in my room and sort of froze for a minute. I hate the dark. A bit scared of it, really, but I am the mom and I had to take charge (Will was out of town). I found the heavy-duty flashlight and warned Guillermo to be quiet so we didn't wake up Maya. Instead, we heard her crying "Too dark." The nightlight no longer worked. 

The lack of power at my house energized my kids. For the next 45 minutes, they were wired as we tried out flashlights and candles and camped out on my bed, reading stories and being silly. Neither of them would sleep in their own rooms because it was too dark so we slept in mine. Before we fell asleep, I flipped off off all the light switches so that when the power did come on, we wouldn't wake up, but I forget to check the switch in my room. About five minutes after we finally fell asleep,  the light in my room came on, along with the computer.  

"Do you guys want to go back to your rooms now?" I asked my sleepy kids. They said no, fought over the covers a little bit more and then we fell asleep. I'm actually a little glad Will was out of town. He would have kicked the kids out of our bed for sure. :)