And later that day...

One step forward...

and how many steps back? Archer likes the show "Maya and Miguel," and I was singing the theme song, but changing the words... "Its Maya & Miguel, brother and sister and best friends as well! Its Archer & Shell, brother and sister and best friends as well, brother and sister and best friends as well!" Archer's response: "She's not my best friend when she takes my toys away from me." Back to being Mom the Referee...

Flower Power

Star Power

Abominable Snow

Thank goodness we finally get a reprieve from the snow and rain and ice and snow - ENOUGH is ENOUGH!

Bottoms Up

Why is it that little kids like to sleep on their tummies, with their knees tucked up under and their bottoms sticking up in the air? Maybe getting all scrunched up is comforting, the feeling of cuddling up close, staying in a little bundle to keep warm. There is something so intimate, so personal, about sleeping in the same space with someone else. When you fall asleep, you're vulnerable and unaware, I think its a matter of trust when you allow someone to see you in that vulnerable state. Children are the most vulnerable, but also the most innocent, most trusting. Sleeping next to my children, with their mouths open, breathing softly, trusting - I truly value this intimate time with my family, our bodies leaning against each other, breathing in the same rythms...

Genius

"David, do you think our daughter is a genius?" I asked him last week. I could tell when I saw the look on his face that he was not sure how to answer the question. This is one of those questions - there is no right answer. "What makes you say that?" he asked me back.

Here's the truth - all children are geniuses. Not in terms of reading, or math, or knowing all the constellations. But when it comes to manipulation, they've got it down. With Archer, I think it took me a little longer to realize when he was manipulating me. But I recognize it now, and I see it already in Shelly. Actually, it started a month or more ago. And I'm not talking about the crying because she's hungry or tired or cold, like all babies do from the beginning. I'm talking about contrived manipulation, with a little plan that they know will get results.

"Mom just walks out of the room after she sets me down, she makes me follow after her, she doesn't pick me up right away. But Dad, he'll probably pick me up..." And she walks over to him. When he's not home, she has no choice but to follow me out of the room, I don't have the energy to carry her every second, and she can walk, so I walk away and she follows after. I know the wheels are turning, she's figuring out what she can get away with, and with who. When Grandma Sue says "No no Shelly, don't touch the Christmas tree," Shell throws herself down, flips onto her back and looks right into Grandma's eyes and starts to cry. When Grandma Sue was telling me about the drama, Shelly heard the words "no no" and demonstrated the act for me, just as Grandma had described. When we call Shelly to come over here, she gets just close enough that you think she's going to do what you've said, and then suddenly veers away with a big smile on her face, waddling away as quick as she can on those short little legs.

Can you imagine learning as many new skills as babies do in their first two years? If anyone over the age of two picked up even half the new social, verbal, and physical skills that babies do, they'd be a miracle. But we somehow expect this from babies, and constantly think about the next milestone they're going to reach, and the next... What an amazing experience, to witness this happening in my own home, with my two kids!

I need my sister!

Mom's best friend: the vacuum that cleans not only the floor, but also the table, the chairs, the high chair, the crumbs out of my bed... (WHY are there crumbs in my bed when the kids are only allowed to eat crackers in the kitchen?)

Mom's next best friend: the older brother who can entertain his sister for five whole minutes so Mom can get the vacuuming done and about two other quick things before he gets bored and they come back to hang on my legs again for attention.

Surprise of the day: Todd came over for a visit and asked Archer if he could take Shelly home with him. Archer said no. "I need my sister!" It makes my heart swell with joy to hear my son say that about his sister.

When Shelly sees that she's about to get what she wants, she squeals and claps her hands.

Its the little moments, day by day, that keep surprising me, and making this parenting thing one joy after another.

Eat Responsibly

We bought some cookies and on the outside packaging were the words SUGAR FREE!

It was printed HUGE, in letters about two inches tall. Little did we realize the consequences these harmless, tasty little cookies would have...

Later that day...

David and I were desperately trying to figure out why our kids were going through diapers like I don't know what... but mess after mess, we kept turning to each other and saying, "Its your turn," "I did the last one," "Yeah, but the one I did was twice as bad as the one you took care of." I don't want to be too graphic, but just imagine that both kids were having problems that extended up their backs and down to their ankles every hour or so. Very unusual. They must have some kind of flu. I hope I don't get it, but how could I NOT pick it up from them, when I'm cleaning them up, mess after mess?

After about mess number six I suddenly have a flashback to something I read earlier that day. After feeding a cookie to Shelly and eating one myself, I wondered how something that contained no sugar could taste so good. So I read the list of ingredients. And at the end of the list, in small, fine print, I read

Excess consumption may cause a laxative effect in sensitive persons.

WHAT????? Laxative effect???

When I suddenly had this flash of remembering the cookie package David could not believe what I was telling him and had to read it for himself. Sure enough, as we laughed about cookies having that effect, we were also horrified to realize our children were obviously "sensitive persons" that had indulged in "excess consumption." Had we poisoned our children with sugar free sweets? Now the package of cookies sits, only half-eaten, abandoned on our kitchen counter.

Cookies, anyone?

Half Way

We're half way through our 100 day countdown, how's everyone doing on their goals? I have to say I'm doing ok, but not as well as I'd like. But I've got 50 more days to get in line with my goal.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, click here to read about the 100 day countdown, and look at the countdown timer up on top of the page, in orange.
http://archerandshelly.blogspot.com/2007/10/ten-thousand-days.html