"If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break...When The Levee Breaks I'll have no place to stay."
-- Memphis Minnie, 1929 / Led Zeppelin, 1971

I've always been picked on by Kim for not having much of any recollection of my childhood, much less the very early years (which by the way, she cliams to be able to recall quite vividly).

This is certainly true of the time spent in New Orleans, Louisiana sometime between 1973 and 1976. I vaguely recall red brick-like tiles on the kitchen floor, wicker barstools, and Mark Weber (a neighbor) pushing himself around our house on some kind of floor cart at Bryan's birthday party because he had broken his leg.

Beyond that, most memories are based directly off of photos from the big albums my Mom used to keep. She's since disseminated a lot of the older pictures to each of us, which segues nicely into my latest find...

Google is a wonderful thing, and the things you can pull up on the net are just plain interesting. Not that we don't have enough going on in our lives right now, but I decided to throw my grandfather's name in there the other night, and sure enough, up came the Colts Neck FD #1 50th Anniversary page



Grandpa's kneeling, 2nd from the right end.

So here we are coming full circle to memories as a young child...

What will Harry remember about his first house? Anything? Granted it was early in his life (okay VERY early), but you never know. Will he remember the stars that Kim spent the last few weeks of her pregnancy painting on the ceiling? The backyard that had the sprinkler running almost all summer? The big front windows that he never seemed to understand that the neighbors across the street couldn't hear him yelling to them through?

I certainly can't remember anything from Freehold NJ... yes now it's actually out there for everyone... I'm from NJ too.

However, I would certainly hope that Harry is building memories now of his new house, and everything that goes along with it. The back patio, his new room with the fuzzy rug, the front porch, the hose out back.....

Maybe he'll get his mother's memory. Mine is apparently shot.

Hello Fair Readers!

I cannot believe it is just over a week until we head to NC. I don't usually count down so much to an ordinary week to the beach, but after this move and my recent job stress, I need a vacation desperately. Harry's cool, but I bet Kevin can use one, and I know Bailey can.

I found an animal communicator for Bailey, so I hope to know the cause of her stress soon.

I have corrected my stress problem. More to come on that later, as it is yet to be announced. I also found out I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, so I am in the process of treating that. Also took a couple of days off to unwind, see doctors, and UNPACK! I know I will feel better once that is underway!

Kevin and I also have Friday off to celebrate 4 years of marriage and 10 years of of "being an item." We used to try to get away, or have big parties, like the weekend of 9/2/01. Since we have little man to contend with, and since the last "official" weekend of summer is usually a fun one with friends in Alex, we will stay in town and enjoy a nice lunch. And maybe buy a minivan.

I feel badly that we will not make it to Cape May, but gas is $3.07 a gallon, we need to get things accomplished, I need to fix my colon...We miss the NJ contingent though! Hope to see everyone soon. We will use this weekend to make some space!

MOJO Rising

Dare I jinx myself, but ever since we moved, or, rather, ever since I went to Memphis for 4 days and Kevin resumed his primary caregiver position, Harry’s sleep has been unquestionably perfect! It wasn’t too shabby before- we, especially Kevin, worked hard and probably got a little lucky. Now Harry goes to sleep voluntarily and hangs out in his crib until we say “Good Morning!” That is, he hangs out in there, but he is often wide awake and either talking to himself or yelling “MaMA!” As you know, MaMA applies to both Kevin or myself. Harry gets SOOOOO excited if he so much as hears one of us coming!

On days when I am home, I pick Harry up around 4 PM. We play in the house or in the yard. The other day we spent and hour in the driveway while Harry locked and unlocked my car door. We wait for Kevin to get home before eating dinner. Harry prefers 5:30 and gets a little bit, well, short with me if dinner isn’t ready by 6. He bit me the other day, but he smiled and hugged me afterwards.

He gets his “Mimo” (my milk) and heads to his high chair and gets his bib on. Usually he feeds himself these days. He doesn’t always use a spoon for his yogurt, so some days he gets a bath immediately, other days he can head back outside. Between 6:30 and 7 he is in the tub. Lately he’s been hanging out in there until he is pruned. He pulled the plug after about 15 minutes On Tuesday, but even without any water, he was happy to stay and play with his tub toys.

After Kevin puts him in his pajamas and hands him his water and Snoedel, Harry hangs out in his room for a bit. I removed all of the noisy toys, so he usually enterains himself with Mega Blocks, his tea set, or ready books. We sometimes count down t o 7:30. When it hits, and sometiems before but not more than 2-5 minutes after, we say “Night, night” and Harry reports it and walks to his crib. Some nights he quietly “cries” himself to sleep to unwind for about 10 minutes. Other times he falls immediately to sleep.

The downside to this bedtime ritual: It has started to put me to sleep as well! By the time we are done with Harry, I am too tired to get anything done! I suppose this won’t be as much of a problem once the house is unpacked and if I ever catch up on my work responsibilities. It is the perfect opportunity for Kevin and me to spend some quality time with each other.

In other news, I got word that Harry bit “Sid” yesterday. Kevin was appalled. Having been the victim of a pinching/biting neighbor when I was a tyke, I can sympathize. I have also experienced my own Harry bites, so I sympathize even more! But, I know that there is not much you can do about a 1 year old who bites. They do so out of excitement or anger. It is difficult to discipline a child who is not yet 3. We will continue trying time outs, and may even bite him once (gently!) to see if that works. It did for Bailey. In Harry’s defense, Sid is a really annoying kid. I have seen him do things to Harry, like pull on his legs when I hold him. He also must immediately have ANY toy that Harry decides to play with, even if he did not previously know it existed. Even more annoying, he whines and cries about it and screams. I want to bite him myself sometimes. Harry has never had any issues with the other kids there, but I have witnessed at least one altercation between Sid and mild-mannered Susanna (who reminds me of Olivia Newton John for some reason---mini-sized!). We will work on it, but I am not too worried at the moment. By the way, I eventually whacked that neighbor in the head with my metal lunch box.

Some of you may know that I have been a little stressed this past week. Could have been the boxes, could have been annoying work issues. I was able to get a massage that helped a little. Last night I was able to watch Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Now I am pre-occupied with why we are all not Angelina Jolie. What a lucky lady! For oh-so-many reasons! The one thing I have in my favor in that arena is that I’m not Jennifer Aniston. I try to avoid the headlines, but I am usually unsuccessful. But, seriously, poor Jen. It is one thing to know that someone like Angelina exists, but to have her as actual competition…Ugh!

While I had my mind on this one, I finished up my day super early and was able to get an early flight home out of Duke country. I also got the call I was waiting for while en route to the airport. I have lots of energy after going to sleep at 9 PM last night. And since Avis and Hertz were both booked, I got stuck with Enterprise Rent A Car. What great service they give! At least in Raleigh-Durham! I got a free water bottle, they checked the car for scratches before I got in, they delivered my bags from my car to the shuttle bus, and they cancelled the pre-paid fuel service I got since I didn’t use much gas! Not sure if they are this good everywhere, but I may have to look into it! I even lucked out with the hotel last night. Again, everything was booked for back to school week. I had another hotel many miles away, but forgot there was one across the street. Millenium Hotel. Never heard of it, but it was as good as a Hilton, and saved LOTS of time. It’s nice to get my MoJo back. Dare I jinx myself again?

Harry is 16 Months Old today!!!

Finally starting to catch up to the age people think he is...which is usually 2 or 3.
I sometimes even forget he is not 2. All of those teeth and that hair. And the things he does are just so funny!

I like to hear him make his car sounds which I thought were "Meow" at first, but then I paid attention to how he was using it in context, like on his bike. Plus, he's never seen a cat!

It is also funny to see him navigate off of the little step on the back walk, or back onto the potty. He gives himself ample room. We're talking a good foot and a half of sitting down and backing off of the step!

We had a great time with him this weekend. Now that he is older, we don't need to be on top of him every second (only every 15 seconds). Not to mention, the house is very well baby proofed. One drawer he can get into in the kitchen is filled with paper plates and tupperware. Naturally, he took them all out while I was making salad for dinner. But, when asked, he put them all back in the drawer. Every single one!

I actually could have spent another day (or more) entertaining him today. Usually I am EXHAUSTED on Mondays.

Anyway, in honor of his 16 months, let's see what the folks at Sesame Street have to say:


YOUR 16-MONTH-OLD
Crib Notes From Sesame Beginnings
Posted by Grace Bennett

**************************************************
***Those Little-Monster Moments
***Teaching the Rules
***Building Your Toddler's Confidence
**************************************************

***THOSE LITTLE-MONSTER MOMENTS

Who is this toddler? This sweet little son of mine who sometimes grabs a clump of hair from the top of my head and pulls as hard as he can? (especially when I am doing yoga) I've had to pry his chubby little fingers open one by one to gain release from his iron grip. Certain observers have dared to crack up at this spectacle (my husband is the worst offender!), but wait till it's their scalp Ari is after!

Naturally, we're not the only parents I know dealing with a pain-inflicting tyke. Luckily for my friend Sue, but not for her cat, her toddler, Jeremy, channels most of his aggression toward the cat's tail, no matter how many times she admonishes, "Gentle! Be gentle!" (yes, we go through this as well. I keep telling Kevin we need to stop yelling at Bailey in front of him. He says "No!" and then hits her...often while she is sound asleep! But Menike teaches them when you hit someone to give them a hug and say sorry. I think this is backfiring to some extent...but I am enjoying the "free" hugs). Other friends tell of usually adorable children who have discovered actions like hitting, biting, or throwing things.

If you're having trouble reconciling this kind of behavior with your little angel, it helps to try to understand where he's coming from.
Remember, he's grown accustomed to your anticipating his every want. But now you're expecting more from him, and he doesn't necessarily have the words to express his frustration, so he gets angry and vents.

He doesn't yet have the language to tell you he's hungry, or tired, or under some other kind of stress. Often, your toddler's aggressive acts are simply cues for you to address some basic need.
(I think he has the skills now, so things have improved. Except with Bailey. We did warn her she needed to listen better!)

TEACHING THE RULES
At the same time, this second year of your toddler's life is part of a long, ongoing process in learning social rules, such as "Don't hurt the kitty," "Don't bite," and more. He's looking to you to set positive boundaries and let him know what he can and can't do. But how do you help him get the picture? Here are some thoughts:

*Be clear. One morning, after a particularly rough night's sleep, Ari rammed his fists into a bowl of warm cereal and proceeded to hurl glob after glob across the room. I launched into a gentle monologue about why this behavior was inappropriate. But just as I was congratulating myself on what an incredibly patient and sensitive mom I am, a fistful of mush landed on my chin. Exasperated, I blurted out, "Ari, cut it out. You're making a mess. And it's making me mad!" Mission accomplished. The lesson here? Because toddlers have a short attention span, they respond best to concise and straightforward language that honestly conveys what you're feeling.

*Let him experience consequences. Following the cereal-hurling fiasco, I took Ari out of his high chair, handed him a napkin, and told him to help Mommy clean up the mess. He resisted. I insisted. While your impulse may be to immediately clean up after your child, it's best if he begins to feel the effect of any havoc he wreaks.

* Redirect. If one thing is making her go bonkers, move on to something else. When she was this age, Anna used to get particularly irked whenever I tried to turn off the television. At first I'd explain that she'd had enough TV for one day (so other kids DO like TV at this age?), at which point she'd throw a tantrum. One day, instead of fighting that battle, I simply got out her play dough, started playing with it, and exclaimed how much fun I was having. It worked! She forgot about watching TV and started to play with me.

* Try a time-out. When the above strategies fail, and she keeps repeating this behavior, she's really testing her limits and yours. One to two minutes in any designated time-out spot is perfectly adequate for this age.(We had one of these this weekend. Harry was in the mood for wine and I said no. He still disagreed so we sat in a chair for a minute. He turns on the charm though. It's difficult to resist). Set a timer. Another option is to give yourself a time-out.
Sometimes you need two minutes away from your child to cool off and collect yourself. Remember, just because you have a 2-year-old, doesn't mean you have to behave like one.

***BUILDING YOUR TODDLER'S CONFIDENCE

Your toddler always craves your approval. Here are a couple of constructive ways to give it to her:

*Show her how to "help" you. My friend Sally has an ironclad rule in her
house: Everyone helps clean up, even her 15-month-old daughter, Nadine.
Interestingly, Nadine always seems eager to do so. I'll bet that's because Sally is so thoroughly effusive in her praise for Nadine's efforts. "I just loved the way you put the dirty clothes in the hamper,"
she'll croon to Nadine, who beams back an angelic smile. "Look how shiny you made that table!" Plenty of praise and positive feedback go a long way when you're trying to influence your child's behavior. Also, Nadine gets a confidence boost from the feeling of mastery she achieves. The point, of course, is not to teach her how to do a chore correctly, but to show her that she can be an effective little person.

*Show him how to be resilient. One time, when Ari fell going down the little slide at the playground, I could not stop myself from screeching in horror. When he began crying, I had the distinct impression that it was more about my reaction than the pain in his bottom! (Duh!) Toddlers in particular look to their parents for cues as to how they should react in a situation (something experts call "social referencing"). Assuming it's a minor fall, I now try to appear relaxed and say, "You seem okay. Why don't you try again?" After hearing you be cool, calm, and collected, your child is more likely to feel the same. If your child is hurt, of course take the time to administer the appropriate first aid and hug and kiss the boo-boo away. But then send him back out to play.

Sure, there are moments when you can't wait to hand your child over to your spouse and say, "Here's, it's your turn. You deal with her."
Fortunately, nature has seen to it that our toddlers' cute, loving, isn't-she-incredibly-smart moments outnumber the difficult ones by a mile!

One of the most delightful parts of having a toddler is how he makes you laugh. Next month I'll tell you about how Ari transformed my flannel teddy bear nightgown into his personal blankie. His toting it everywhere, from the library to the doctor's office, makes not only me smile, but nearly everyone we encounter!

Best wishes,
Grace Bennett

Grace Bennett, a frequent contributor to Sesame Workshop, is a mother of two living in New York.

Visit Sesame Beginnings for personalized information just right for baby and you.
http://www.sesamebeginnings.com

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Ou(t), Ou(t), Ou(t)

Harry is really talking up a storm these days! And if you listen carefully, you can totally figure out what he is saying!

New words include fully saying Bailey, which often sounds like Bailey but sometimes sounds like Ba-Ba.

He says Ma-MA! when he wants my attention...and sometimes Daddy's attention, as well.

"Mimo" for some reason is his soymilk---I think mostly because that is what I have started calling it because I thought it was a cute word!

He says "Pease!" when he wants something. Kevin made the mistake of telling him "if you say please, you can have almost anything you want." Needless to say, I had to change his clothes everyday before dinner because he asked so nicely to play in the water pump in the backyard.

"Out" seems to be his current favorite word. Also "up." Both words can be used for a great many things. Out can be for out of the crib, out of the house, out of the car seat, taking Bailey for a walk...Up, well, pick me up. But usually he will grab your hand as though he has to show you something, and then he wants up. Sometimes up means he wants to get in his highchair.

Nigh(t), Nigh(t) is still used appropriately, and lately we say "Night, Night" just before 7:30. He scoops up Snoedel, heads to the crib, and spends about 10 minutes unwinding before he is out for the night.

Today he was asleep until nearly 7 AM. Tonight he was out cold by 7:04.

Some people worry that our sometiems frantic weekend travel schedules overstimulate Harry. I would have to disagree. I would have to say that quiet weekends at home spent doing "nothing" tire him out more. Today we did very little, and he passed out once in the car (not just napped but PASSED OUT) and was falling asleep in his dinner.

Today started with strawberry pancakes made by Chef Kevin, followed by some play time and some quiet time in his room (no nap, just quiet time).

We headed out to the post office and bank,
than hightailed it out to a strip mall in the suburbs to return a cable box, look for furniture at World Market, look at some cheap shoes, grab lunch at Panera (Harry ate almost his entire PB&J as well as a lemonade and a fruit cup while a group of "Old Guys" made faces at him).

We then headed across the street to pick up sand at Toys R Us and check out the play houses. We were planning to go with a Little Tykes Town & Market (or something like that) for a nice price, but we found an even better Step 2 for half the price that also comes with a floor so we can put it on the flagstone instead of the grass. Harry loved it, and was heart broken when he had to leave. Luckily there was a Geoffrey Jet Ski ride for $.50 that distracted him. He then got to check out some train tables and LOTS of books while I picked up SIZE 6 (can you believe it!!!???) sneakers (blue coudoroy for the fall) and baby soap. Moving on, we found that old school Fisher Price Popcorn Popper toy that you push/pull. Harry got his serious face on while he proceeded to take it all over the store. $9.99---what a bargarin! I think he likes it better than the play house.

All in all, I guess he got about as much out of this day as he does at Disney World or the beach. Sidewalks and people are the same as far as he is concerned!

He got to snooze in the car while we headed over to visit Dan. Dan wasn't home, but the people who bought our house had two cars in the driveway. I wonder whether they have moved in already? Hmmm...

Had to wake Harry up after a brief 42 minutre nap so we could pick out a picnic table. Got a great wrought iron model that will arrive on Friday. Yaaaay!!!

Stopped in Delray for some ice cream.

Headed home and played around the house and outside in the yard.

Played with chalk on the front porch.

Played with the front door for quite some time.

Spent a long time in the bath for the second night in a row. I think he likes the tub again!
Very exciting stuff. Watching the Ultimate Fighting Championships at a bar in Arlington with my Krav class woudl have been exciting too, but you can't be a day with Harry!!!

I do need to find some more baby sitters though. Lots of offers from the 8 year olds in Hannah's class who live across the street, but as with most things in Alexandria, they are just being sure to sign up early. I need to chat with the hockey guy next door. Surely this 16 year old has some girlfreinds who might be interested?

Wow.
I’ve had so many various drafts to blog about, and I have done nothing. Well, not entirely nothing. We did move. And I did have CRA days. And then I needed Harry time. And then I had to go to the pool and do nothing.

I was in Memphis for Elvis week (well, not for Elvis Week, but there by chance). I had a bit to write about teh soothing effects of baggage claim (except at National). More on aneurysms. A lot about our awesome new neighbors (almost Stepford like the way we’ve been greeted and baked for). Less mosquitos at the new place too!

I guess I will get to all of that in good time. Meanwhile, thanks to Meg for the awesome running motivation! I received in the mail today a very cool picture of me and Harry running 26.2. His hair was right on and I was wearinng my cool running skirt! Thanks Meg!

And let us not forget, a big shout out to the newest member of the team, Tyler David Lynch, born this week (what day is today?) and weighing in at 8 pounds! Yeah, Tyler!!! And way to go Mikki and Lynchie!!! Big babies with giant heads are the greatest :-) It seems Tyler may be an only, but we will look forward to lots of play dates!

Our most favorite toddler bibs:

http://www.samandbellie.com/site/toys/

Ah yes... So this is what this place looks like.

funny, it still has that new paint smell.

I know it's been a while, but as you may have heard, things have been incredibly busy the last few weeks... Not an excuse, just an explanation.

A co-worker passed along the following email this morning, which I can particularly relate to after my Weekend with Harry:

On Being a Mom
by Anna Quindlen

If not for the photographs, I might have a hard time believing they ever existed. The pensive infant with the swipe of dark bangs and the black button eyes of a Raggedy Andy doll. The placid baby with the yellow ringlets and the high piping voice. The sturdy toddler with the lower lip that curled into an apostrophe above her chin.

ALL MY BABIES are gone now. I say this not in sorrow but in disbelief. I take great satisfaction in what I have today: three almost-adults, two taller than I, one closing in fast. Three people who read the same books I do and have learned not to be afraid of disagreeing with me in their opinion of them, who sometimes tell vulgar jokes that make me laugh until I choke and cry, who need razor blades and shower gel and privacy, who want to keep their doors closed more than I like. Who, miraculously, go to the bathroom, zip up their jackets and move food from plate to mouth all by themselves. Like the trick soap I bought for the bathroom with a rubber ducky at its center, the baby is buried deep within each, barely discernible except through the unreliable haze of the past.

Everything in all the books I once pored over is finished for me now. Penelope Leach., T. Berry Brazelton., Dr. Spock. The ones on sibling rivalry and sleeping through the night and early-childhood education, all grown obsolete. Along with Goodnight Moon and Where the Wild Things Are, they are battered, spotted, well used. But I suspect that if you flipped the pages dust would rise like memories.

What those books taught me, finally, and what the women on the playground taught me, and the well-meaning relations --what they taught me was that they couldn't really teach me very much at all.

Raising children is presented at first as a true-false test, then becomes multiple choice, until finally, far along, you realize that it is an endless essay. No one knows anything. One child responds well to positive reinforcement, another can be managed only with a stern voice and a timeout. One boy is toilet trained at 3, his brother at 2. When my first child was born, parents were told to put baby to bed on his belly so that he would not choke on his own spit-up. By the time my last arrived, babies were put down on their backs because of research on sudden infant death syndrome. To a new parent this ever-shifting certainty is terrifying, and then soothing. Eventually you must learn to trust yourself.

Eventually the research will follow.

I remember 15 years ago poring over one of Dr. Brazelton's wonderful books on child development, in which he describes three different sorts of infants: average, quiet, and active. I was looking for a sub-quiet codicil for an 18-month-old who did not walk. Was there something wrong with his fat little legs? Was there something wrong with his tiny little mind? Was he developmentally delayed, physically challenged? Was I insane? Last year he went to China. Next year he goes to college. He can talk just fine. He can walk,too.

Every part of raising children is humbling, too. Believe me, mistakes were made. They have all been enshrined in the Remember-When-Mom-Did-Hall-of-Fame. The outbursts, the temper tantrums, the bad language, mine, not theirs. The times the baby fell off the bed. The times I arrived late for preschool pickup. The nightmare sleepover. The horrible summer camp. The day when the youngest came barreling out of the classroom with a 98 on her geography test, and I responded, "What did you get wrong?" (She insisted I included that.) The time I ordered food at the McDonald's drive-through speaker and then drove away without picking it up from the window. (They all insisted I included that.) I did not allow them to watch the Simpsons for the first two seasons. What was I thinking?

But the biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make while doing this. I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of the three of them sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages 6, 4 and 1. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had
treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less.

Even today I'm not sure what worked and what didn't, what was me and what was simply life. When they were very small, I suppose I thought someday they would become who they were because of what I'd done. Now I suspect they simply grew into their true selves because they demanded in a thousand ways that I back off and let them be.

The books said to be relaxed and I was often tense, matter-of-fact and I was sometimes over the top. And look how it all turned out. I wound up with the three people I like best in the world, who have done more than anyone to excavate my essential humanity. That's what the books never told me.

I was bound and determined to learn from the experts.

It just took me a while to figure out who the experts were.

Harry and I decided (okay... HE decided, I simply obliged) to literally run around Best Buy yesterday morning, shortly after it opened, so only a few customers, and he actually stopped dead in his tracks when he came tearing down one aisle, and another toddler was quietly gazing over Goodnight Moon in her stroller.

He quickly halted, did a double take, and looked back at me with a huge dimply grin on his face, pointing at the book.

Needless to say, it's one of his favorites!

On a related note, the story above really sums up quite well my original intention for this site. To be able to jog the memory of what was going on in our lives a year ago or more. So that Harry can someday see how he ended up the way he is, at least from his parents' perspective...

hopefully some more insights to come as time is "available"

Peter Jennings died last night.

.

He's been a part of many of our lives for so long. Even though we may not personally know people, we grow to depend on them as constants. I grew up watching ABC news, but felt an even bigger connection to Peter Jennings after 9/11. He was our link to home, as we watched the Pentagon burn behind him on ESPN, not registering what was happening and confused as we waited to hear news of Michael Jordan becoming a Wizard. Jennings brought comfort. He gave us world updates, while we spent hundreds of dollars collecting our own friends via cell phone.

It's been a time of loss all around us this month, for both friends and family. For some their time had come, for others it seems way too soon. While sad, my Uncle Bill's mom was ready to move on. Knowing how much she loved her dog, I am sure my Aunt Pat made the best decision for Kelly. Frank's dad's passing was unexpected as far as we knew, and certainly Janie's brother. While death is the most natural part of life, it is still so hard to accept.

I remember when Reagan took office when I was a child. While born under Nixon, Carter was the only president I had ever known. I was used to hearing his name. Surely, I could do with less of him now, but back then it was a comfort to know that certain things remained unchanged.

Now all 3 of the big anchors are gone. *Jennings, Brokaw, Rather. To a great extent, these were the voices that brought us a huge part of our history. They narrated our lives and were always in the background. These men brought us the news.

On the eve of our current space shuttle's return, it was Jennings who told me of the loss of our last. His calming voice is now gone.

.

*Note for Harry should he read this down the road...Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather retired earlier this year.

Thai Peanut Sauce - Creamy

This would be Kevin's fancy title for my brilliant veggie idea for Harry: mix in peanut butter to get him to eat more! Must have worked, because today's diaper was the foulest of foul! Loaded with carrots, too! But back to the peanut butter...instead of cheese on veggies, which I refuse to do to my son, I mixed in organic creamy peanut butter. The mixed veggies were warm, so the PB melted nicely. He especially liked the carrots. We might need more PB for the broccoli. But it gets some proteins and fats in him, and gets the greens down (or at least the whites and oranges!).

I am listening to Kevin sing and sign ABC's over the baby monitor. It is barely 6:45, but Harry had a long day today. His grandmom got to push him in the jogger while I ran 4 miles with Lola. He saw ducks and boats. We then did our daily drive by of the new house and headed over to the new Tot Lot, which we both loved. I like that it is fenced in and the equipotent is better suited for little guys. My mom got to push him on the swing for about 30 minutes. For some reason pushing him on the swing makes me very dizzy, so it was nice to just sit across from him and make loud "zoom" noises. He leans back and giggles the whole time.

Harry also got to walk around Old Town and get a bite to eat, play with the hose (the pools are packed until we move), play with the empty boxes in the house and head back out to Generous George's Positive Pizza. Paul used to take his nieces there, and Lola mentioned it today, so I thought we'd check it out (I know, I said no pizza, but I found a new daily lactose pill! I haven't puked since I got it!). Harry had fun. They had Ms. Pacman and some animal rides, which he liked.

As for the rest of us, Cookie Monster wags his tail for food, Bailey has been begging more than ever, Kevin and I packed a LOT! We also made it out to The Front Page in Arlington last night to see SML (Stan, Matt and Lars...Matt is Festus's person, Stan is Tracy's husband, Lars is a formal pro band guy!). SML sounded better than the band they opened for, and I'm not just saying that. It was good to get out, but we didn't stay out late since we were so tired from packing and knew little man would be up at the crack of dawn. I also had not slept tea night before. Harry's grill kept sizzling (batteries dying) and I was convinced, in my drowsiness, t hat it was Inferi from Harry Potter coming to get me!

Little man made it until after 6 today, but BAILEY slept downstairs. I have high hopes that once Harry and Bailey sleep on separate floors, he won't hear the ear flapping and wake up at 5:30, and she won't hear Harry and she will go back to sleep as well. Starting Wednesday, 7 AM.

Oh, and we are ending temper tantrums by 18 months. Harry and I have already discussed this. He's a reasonable guy, and he's been given ample warning.

Well, back to the boxes, and my last two overdue reports...or maybe back to Baby Laughs by Jenny McCarthy (second in her series). I just finished the chapter where she buys a new house because of the neighbor's dog barking.

Birthdays, Balloons and Bubbles!

Today we celebrated Sage and Aisha's 2nd birthdays at Menike's. Aisha turned 2 on Tuesday, and Sage on Thursday. Turns out they are also next door neighbors!
Renee also turns 2 this month. Susanna was not there today, so I didn't get a chance to meet either of her parents. I guess she will be turning 2 also.

I thought they were all already 2. Regardless, they are still a year older than Harry.

Menike had everything under control by the time I arrived 10 minutes late due to traffic. The 4 kids were all sitting at a picnic table. Sage's dad was there. His mom, whom I have met before, arrived later. Aisha's mom was there and so was Renee's. I have met them both in passing.

Sage's dad served up ice cream cake, and the kids all fed themselves out of bowls. Harry used a spoon, but also his hands. He keeps up well with the older kids, but by the time he finished his cake, there was a noticeable age difference across their shirts! He tries though!

We are all amazed how well Menike keeps 5 of them in line. And she never seem sto raise her voice. Only kisses and I-Love-Yous. From what I gathered, the other kids don't even nap well when she is not around, yet all she does is tell them it's Night Night. Harry even tells her when it's Night Night now!

Sage helped pass out gifts. He seemed to recognize that he got the blue bag I brought, and Aisha got the pink! Both got Mr. Potato Head sets. Aisha's card was Dora the Explorer, of course, since I know little dark haired girls worhsip Dora. Apparently all the kids at the park call her Dora, and she just loves her! (I feel the same way about Kim Possible!)

Aisha's mom passed out balloons and gift goody bags. Harry and Sage struggled over a pair of sunglasses. Sage broke the side of of his as Harry held them, so I gave Sage Harry's pair. The gift bags were chock full, so even though Harry is partial to suinglasses, I don't think he will miss them.

After the gifts Harry turned on some tunes and we all danced to Sri Lankan music. Well, I took pictures, everyone else danced. Harry danced on his own for a while while wearing more Mardi Gras beads. He and Menike then decided it was group circle dance time, so he grabbed Sage's dad's hand and they all danced in a circle.

By 4:30, Harry was partied out. He was cranky on the way home. He's not usually so tired, but he fell and scraped his face a bit, so I gave him Motrin. He ended up eating most of his dinner (the Boca nugget portion at least, as he is still anti-broccoli). By then the AC guy was here, so we played outside, running through the sprinkler and blowing bubbles. Harry tries really hard to blow them himself, and he makes that puff of air sound that kids make when they try to blow out candles.

All in all, a good day.

I don’t even know why I am thinking this. I cannot seem to get it out of my head though.

It could be because I passed by Emory and decided it is such a pretty school. Or maybe because I read articles about Alexandria schools switching to all year school (just 2 elementary schools so far). I honestly cannot trace this train of thought. Usually I can. Anyway, I started thinking about how good the girls side of the hall always smelled in college, while the boys side reaked. The guys side never had screens in their windows. Half of them didn’t have sheets on their beds.My dad even told me that the guys bathroom freshman year had the stalls labelled “Sitting,” “Standing,” “Puking.” Girls puke too! But no one ever left it all over the bathroom!

I have just suddenly decided that it is vitally important that Harry not smell when he goes to college.

He should be able to afford hair cuts (maybe they will have gift cards to hair places?)

He should eat some healthy stuff while he is there.

And he should have clean sheets! At least every couple of weeks! I will mail them if I have to!

For some reason, mailing Harry things at school is something I cannot wait to do! Or, at least, camp…

That’s, what? 9 more years or so? Plenty of time to stock up on sheets!

Kevin’s very appropriate quote of the day:

QUOTE OF THE DAY - One's destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things. Henry Miller (1891 - 1980), American author

I have changed my way of looking at running, and perhaps because of the running, I think I am now capable of really changing that negative attitude of mine that has been lingering. I think it will really change once I move, but I should be capable of changing my outlook on my own. And so I have.

Over the years, people have mentioned that what they liked most about me was my positive, optimistic attitude. Ha!

I would never consider myself a negative person. But I guess once you get to know people…well, you aren’t always as perky as you were from day one.

I saw another quote at Pilates today:

The optimistist sees opportunity in danger. The pessimist sees danger in every opportunity.

I’d say in almost every situation, I am cautiously optimistic. I don’t see the point in stress. Sometimes that makes me feel like I am a slacker, but I am actually a productive member of society. By some standards, I am pretty lucky. I don’t have Paris Hilton’s cash, and I don’t get to sleep as much as I want, and, well, there is always those last 10 pounds, but I am 90% happy with the person I am and the life that I have chosen. The other 10%? There is always room for growth.

So, as a lucky person, there is no reason why I should not reflect happiness. If someone annoys me, I should just give them the benefit of the doubt. Usually, when you understand why someone is the way they are, there is often a good reason for it.

My first boss, Gideon Rath, from the ice cream stand, used to tell me that if costumers were rude, instead of slamming the window in their face they way I might want to, I should smother them with kindness. The fact that this sometimes annoyed them usually made me happier than if I had acted aggressively.

Gideon was an interesting person. A bit of a pervert, but he lost a professional (soccer) career in Hungary when he was put in a prison camp. He had his number tattooed on his arm and everything. If anyone had a reason to be unhappy with life, it was him. But, in typical Viktor Frankl fashion, he kept a positive attitude. And he made out like a bandit on those Mister Softee stands!

If Gideon didn’t take out his bad luck on others, there is no reason most other people should. So I think I will just keep smiling.

Ah! I missed runner’s high!

See Mommy Run

It occurred to me yesterday, after about a dozen emails from my SeeMommyRun marathon group, that the reason we (the group, at least) run is to set a good example for our kids. Since I know from my texts how important the developmental years are, and since I know from my childhood (and adulthood) that having positive role models is more important than anything, and since the SeeMommyRun.com website actually states this, I am not sure why it took me so long to figure it out. My mind decided to add to it though. If we are running to set a good example, isn't it even more important to get out there if it is an effort? Show the little guy that we don't just do things because they are easy. Stepping up to a challenge builds character, and muscles. And all of that combined helps you to lead a longer, happier, fuller life.

And once you climb the mountain, there's a great view from the top!

I'd much rather Harry grow up to be a hardy Outward Bound guide than one of those morons from MTV's That 70s House!

New things Harry can do:

• He can dance around in circles
• He can draw lines and circles
• He can stand up on his picnic table bench (although we discourage this!)
• He can brush his own teeth
• He can follow simple directions (if you catch him in the right mood!)

Harry has another birthday party invite for Friday, so we may get to Dana’s a bit late. As luck would have it, the party is at Menike’s for Sage and Aeisha! Their names were spelled out, so I didn’t have to bother emailing anyone! I still prefer the name Sid, I think, and Kevin and I will probably always call him that.

I guess Harry made Sid/Sage cry a couple of times today. Know what? Susanna did a couple of tiems before I left the house! I think Sid/Sage cries easily. Harry is not so much a bully after all!

August is always such a sad month. It just seems to signify that summer is coming to a close. I know we still have a beach vacation to look forward to, and I always even looked forward to the first day of school, but it just feels like freedom is coming to an end. It is something that is engrained in me.

It seems the Sleep Lady is on the same page as me. Let's see what she has to say:

Welcome to this month's Snooze Week!

Welcome to August! As the dog days of summer continue, August always makes me want to speed up and squeeze out every bit of fun summertime has to offer. As my race to beat the back-to-school clock continues, I must always check myself towards the end of the month and remember the importance of slowing things down as we get closer to returning to our fall schedules. Whether it be preparing for school or work, remembering to ease back into a healthy sleep routine is paramount to changing seasons successfully.

As parents, we often forget in planning the schedules and activities of those around us to schedule time for recharging our batteries. August is the perfect time for that. It's the time to reset our minds, adjust our pace, and get back to a healthy sleep schedule. Begin making slight adjustments for earlier bedtimes and earlier wake- ups throughout August to prepare our bodies and minds for all that fall brings. As the thermometers on the east coast tops 100 degrees, my wish for you this month is to find a cool spot, a good book, and a "piece of peace" before fall falls into our laps! Happy recharging!

Transitioning from Naps to Quiet Time

What?! What is this about??? When does this happen? It sounds similar to Harry's Zone time so far. I am optimistic…

Naps to quiet time can bring a big transition for the whole family! Many families ask me at what age do children give up their naps. On average children give up their afternoon nap at 4 years old.

Whew! That buys us some time!

That being said, I have worked with many 3-3 1/2 year olds who successfully give up their daily afternoon nap (these children are sleeping through the night). Watching your child's behavior is of course more important than averages.

Oh. We probably have about another year left then.

With the two-and-a-half- or three-year-old, you still need to be vigilant about daily naps. He can skip an occasional one, but put him to bed earlier that night. Naps also remain essential for older children who aren't sleeping through the night or who are obviously tired during the day. Even when your child stops napping, quiet time in the late afternoon or before dinner is a must for three and four-year-olds, and a wise idea for five-year-olds, unless you actually like watching your child melt down.

Nope! Harry and I are both good "zoners." Kevin can nap, and Harry has learned to on most days, though he still seems to prefer "the zone." I am hopeless.

The simplest way to tell whether a preschooler or kindergartener needs a nap is to watch him. If your child is getting about eleven hours of unfragmented sleep at night and seems well rested, cheerful and easy going during the day, it may be time to go from naps to quiet time.

Harry gets that now. The doctor said he is a good sleeper. I still wish he slept until 7. A person I ran with yesterday has a child who sleeps from 7PM till 8AM when she has to wake him up. She said she used to be a zoo keeper. Do animals have bedtimes?

You might want to cut out naps every other day, rather than eliminate them completely, or you may find that he naps great on the days he's with his sitter or at preschool but won't nap on days he's with you (or vice versa). If he is cranky or teary or frequently melting down, he probably needs at least a few naps a week. Car behavior is also a good clue. If he conks out every time you start your engine, he probably still needs that afternoon snooze. Children who were good nappers but who now take a very long time to fall asleep in the afternoon may also be ready to phase out the nap and start quiet time.

Quiet time is exactly what it sounds like, about forty- five minutes of structured, solitary play, preferably at about the same time every afternoon. It's a time for children to rest their bodies and, to a lesser extent, their minds. It helps pave the way for a peaceful dinner hour and easy bedtime. Good activities include looking at books, watching an age-appropriate, calm children's video (leave fast-paced, action-packed cartoons for another time), coloring, or playing in their room with dolls, trains, trucks, or the like. The activity should not need a lot of adult interaction or supervision, so make sure the child is in a safe place. Some parents use a timer or alarm clock in their child's room or in the hallway so their child knows when quiet time is over.

Remind your child that in all-day preschool, all children have to lay down on a cot for quiet time- to read, relax their body and brain or snooze if they need to! Don't forget quiet time can be a powerful tool to recharge parents, too! Make sure you take time to practice what you preach and enjoy the quiet time away from your child. Dishes and laundry do NOT recharge our minds and bodies no matter how hard we try! Find a quiet space to go to and enjoy your own piece of peace!

» IN NEXT MONTH's ISSUE: Potty Training Tips!

Oooh! Looking forward to this one. Certainly not rushing into anything though. Harry is not ready yet. But I did see on A children's Hospital commercial today that we are supposed to start changing him in the bathroom so he learns that that is what bathrooms are for. I think we will start that after we move. This also stops the question of where to put the diaper genie/champ.