Who's the Softee??

Another four-legged friend has joined our family. Ryan called me last week at work to tell me to check my email. So I did....

To find that he wants to adopt an adorable kitten. My better sense told me NO NO NO. My love of kittens however won this time. So now we have a dog, THREE cats, and a frog!!

She is very sweet. Cuddle bug and loves to cuddle with Ryan. She is also super patient with Skylar wanting to carry her and show her the world. Our female cat Sasha is having some major adjustment issues, our male cat D'mitri could care less (go figure), and Max feels that he has a new best friend. Pashka (the new kitten) feels differently and HATES Max. He's persitent however and is winning I think.

So I am officially an old cat lady.....

Traveling with Skylars

So Skylar and I went on an adventure to "Debbie's House". Ryan wasn't able to come with us due to work but he encouraged me to take Sky while I was on break from school and it wasn't awful hot out there. So I book our tickets. I bought one-way tickets from Columbus to AZ (which sounds silly but I saved $300 doing it this way...and the trip on the way back had a layover in Cleveland. So we just got off!)

Now I have to give you some background into Skylar and our parenting style. Sky is an independant spirit. Something that I completely foster (most of the time) because I don't want her to grow up dependant on anyone. Hmmm.... Anywho, because of this Sky can be pretty stubborn and impatient. She is also 2 1/2. Which catapults things way out of control without warning. Ryan and I however, have no patience for impromtu tantrums for no reason and don't tolerate them. Sky has had time-outs in public on numerous occasions and I have no qualms about that. I would like to think that this is why these tantrums are rare and pass fast. I could be completly wrong--I like to live in my oblivion. However, I know how airports run. Where exactly amongst all of these strangers am I to give a timeout? I can't spank her because it's unheard of to give your kid a swift knock on the rear when they are out of line. So all of our disciplinary actions are out of the picture. Hence my extreme nervousness. I know I am going to have to tolerate actions from Sky that normally I wouldn't and the constant worry is that we will now erase all our progress.

Ryan drove us down and as we get closer I am getting more and more nervous. Ryan must have picked up on this because before he put Sky in the stroller, he looks at me and says "Breathe, be patient, it's an adventure--just have fun.". Thank you honey, I needed that.

So off we go. People in the airport were nice, security was great. Airline people were fabulous. I was so pleasantly surprised, I was thinking "This is nothing. I can do this!" The trip out there was awesome. Sky did amazing except for spilling my water on her lap and then sitting naked for about a half hour on the plane (Sky didnt' care, she loves being naked). The last 20 minutes were a hair rough but that was my fault because I said "We're here!!!" And then we taxi'd for 20 minutes.

LESSON # 1: Don't promise things. There is no such thing as 'we're here" until everyone else is off the plane.

Eventually we get off the plane. Sky is so excited. And sooo tired but we make it through the airport. Now get a visual pic here: I have a carseat on my back like a backpack, a carry-on on wheels with Sky's bookbag and my purse on the handle. Sky is pulling her 'wagon' ((princess backpack on wheels like a suitcase)). She is the star of the airport as she is walking with Purpose...Nose up, Strutting along...until she walks into a wall. And I am sorry to say I laughed. LOL. She gets in stroller--I add another bag to my load and we're off.

There's Debbie!! THANK GOD! My arms are chaffed from the carseat straps.

LESSON #2: Wear longer sleeves when carrying backpack-carseat.

We had an absolute blast at Deb's and Skylar actually started to throw a mini-fit in the car on the way to the airplane because she wanted to "turn 'round, we go Debbies house, I push button".

LESSON #3: This is an ominous sign. Lord, Help Me.

LESSON #4: "Breathe, be patient, it's an adventure--just have fun."
((I forgot this lesson....))

Deb drops us off. I am saddled back up with all of my goodies. I see the Sky look. Breathe Di Breathe.

We go straight to security...to the family lane. Thank you family lane. Sky is as usual the star of the airport. She is chatting it up with a rather nice looking guy from Australia (whom I think was trying to hit on me....nah...), a young lady from Canada, and a grandmotherly type from Idaho. I don't know if it was the nervousness written on my face or the carseat on my back but the other passengers were so helpful and friendly. However...the security officers not so much.

We've all flown, we know how this goes. Everything on the conveyour belt. Shoes off. Wait for control-freak security person to wave you through. In Columbus, I was told Sky had to walk through by herself because she had her own ticket and could walk. Did it with remarkable colors in Ohio. However just prior to this Sky is throwing her baby doll on the ground and trying to drive her stoller around. Which of course upsets security guy--"Miss, that has to go on belt." Yes I am aware...do you see me yanking it from her kung-fu grip? "Miss on the belt." Sky is now full-fledge thrown herself down on the floor screaming. I am so embarassed I can't look people in the face. I attempt to get her to walk through. She won't because the security guy is snearing at her. ((At the time I was mad at Sky, today I realize she was smart. Good Girl, snearing men do not deserve to be listened to)) Snearing Security Guard: "Just pick her up Miss." Oh, I'm sorry I thought I couldn't. SSG: "Pick her up". Walk through...BEEP BEEP BEEP. SSG: "Cellphone in your pocket by chance?" Oh yes, in the middle of the tantrum I forgot the phone. SSG: " Take it out". Listen jerk, I will stab you with a Barbie shoe. Back off.

We get out of there. I am so embarrassed. I am near tears. I set down boarding passes to put Sky's shoes on and get stoller back together. OOop. The fan blows my boarding passes away. Tears welling. Nice Australian runs over and picks them up. Thank you so much. Hot Aussie: "You look like you need a drink." I need the bottle. Swallow tears. I go back to business. ((Note to self today: He really was hitting on me. DANG!))

LESSON #5: Relish Hot Aussie. Skylar's a babe magnet.

LESSON #6: Don't pack Barbie shoes. There is too much temptation. Too Too Much.

Now we continue on. Skylar is screaming she wants coffee (which is actually hot chocolate.) She is again throwing her baby doll on the ground. As I am trying to bend down to pick it up...Idaho Grandmother from Security walks by and picks it up for me. Thank you Idaho Grandmother. She says I'm her hero. I say I should be locked up. She giggles. Wait Idaho Grandmother Come Back, I NEEEEEDDDD YOU!

LESSON #7: Other travelers are kind. Be nicer to strangers in airports.

We get to food court. Skylar sees Wendy's "I WANT NUGGETS". Now normally this kind of screaming gets ZERO results but I am desperate and fearing for Sky's safety at this point so I cave. We get in line to find out that they don't serve nuggets until 10am. It's 947am. Do you see the look of desperation in my eyes? Drop them early...please???!! What? No? I tell Sky they're broke. She screams. I glance at oh-so-professional-Wendy's-employee who shrugs. Where's that damn Barbie shoe??

Look Sky there's coffee.....

Cup of Hot chocolate later. Peace has been restored.

Now online the Phoneix Airport says there are playlands in each terminal. I find ours should be near Gate 13. Oh what HEAVEN. Except that at Gate 13, NOTHING. I ask. Oh it's moved to Gate 4. Except that at Gate 4, NOTHING. However, gate 4 is empty...Run Skylar Run. She's running and hollering. I say nothing. I am getting the stinkeye from another flyer....I seriously was thinking "Please say something, I am dying to scream". He sensed the warning signs and shushed. Darn.

It's almost time to board, we stop for nuggets and off to the gate we go. Skylar is again making friends with other passengers to which I am grateful. And then she hurls her half-eaten chicken nugget behind her and narrowly misses a man. I apologize and cringe. This is going to be a long day.

LESSON #8: Benedryl you say, yep Benedryl didn't work for Skylar.

We get on plane. Now I obviously have my hands full. This guy behind me literally reaches over my head and in front of me to put his bag in the overhead compartment I am reaching for. Ok, buddy, calm down...I will put mine next to yours. I try to get stuff together and sit, he sits down next to me. Oh Gee. BONUS. Top it off, he promptly places both elbows on the arm rests and closes his eyes. He was a twirp the whole ride. Let's leave it at that.

I have portable DVD player ready. Cheetos, check. Water in bottle this time, check. M&M's, check.

SMALL ASIDE: I actually hate when people plug their kid into a movie everytime they are in public because it doesn't teach a kid how to behave in public. So I was against a portable DVD player until the airplane came into the picture. We bought one. Best investment ever. Reason Sky did so well on the flight to AZ. So I am all for whipping that baby out as soon as we sit our fannies in the seat.

LESSON #9: You will be asked to put DVD player away during take-off. Remember this. It's not pretty when you forget.

Thats right, Sky is screaming again. She loves seatbelts...because 'we be safe' just like Dora says---refuses to wear it. I am a half second away from beating her when she passes out. I place seat belt around and breathe. Now tears are falling down my cheeks. I am exhausted. Starving. So anxious I am nauseous and can't stop crying. I have no tissues and can't reach them for fear of waking the monster. I calm down. I breathe. I reach for my book.

LESSON #10: Keep tissues in reaching distance. They are handy for more than one reason.

Sky's been napping in her seat for about a half hour. I now feel it is safe to reach for a couple cold leftover nuggets because my stomach is in a knot and I need to relax. I take one bite--my nose is dripping. Wierd, I wasn't crying that hard. Remember I have no tissus. I wipe with my hand--Ew. To realize, it's not runny nose, it's BLOODY nose. WHAT THE FRICK IS THIS? I haven't had a bloody nose since I don't know...puberty? Maybe once when I was pregnant...but seriously since puberty. I have nothing and I am bleeding like a sieve. I press call light with my only non-bloody finger. She must have known, has tissues with her. I fix bloody nose. Skylar wakes up. SERIOUSLY I JUST WASTED 15 MINUTES OF NAP TIME ON BLOOD....%&#*^@( %^$*(@*%&^ @&#($%. I can't type what I was thinking.

However Skylar wakes up with Angel-Skylar-Face. I feel instant relief. Ok we're good.

LESSON #11: Don't get hopes up. It hurts too much when they fall.

She truely did alright for most of the rest of the flight. Until the end. I actually ended up putting her in time out in her seat (this consisted of turning off Wonder Pets) for 1 minute (1 minute less than usual but I'm in a losing battle here.) Note to Continental: How are you supposed to eat a salad on a plane? Oh wait, my seat buddy did in three bites. Can everyone see me gagging? However the rest was the cheeseburger and a bag of M'M's. Honestly decrease your flight costs and give me pretzels. Skylar doesn't eat cheeseburgers so I say to the flight attendant--don't waste the salad or cheeseburger but can I have the M&M's for her. She rolls her eyes and hands me the salad as well. Yes my 2 year old can manage a salad on an airplane.

Refer back to LESSON #6.

Needless to say, when they come back as sweet as pie, I smile and say "You can save the salads, they weren't even opened." Peanut-brain.

At this point I am counting minutes.

LESSON #12: Don't do this.

Skylar is losing it again and screaming " I Want To Go Down. I Want Off Plane." And kicking. And kicking. [Enter time-out]

I have remembered my previous Lessons and didn't mention "almost there". We played games out the window for all of 3 minutes--she saw cactus in the lake Deb. LOL

We get off plane. Thanks to the help of a couple stewardesses. Who still sucked but at least tried. We get through airport with Skylar again strutting her stuff with her 'wagon' stopping to say Hi to everyone. They are smiling at me...I can't even manage a smile. I grimace at best and scoot Sky along.

There's Mama O. I get in car. I CRY CRY CRY.

Today it's funny. She really is a good girl. And I can't expect much more from a 2 1/2 year old. I take for granted how much of a partnership Ryan and I have at times. He keeps my patience in check and Sky's independance as well. He does things completely different from me but thats what makes it work. If I can give any advice to new mommies out there is to let the guy do it their way so they stay involved. If we become over judgemental of their ways, they back off and stay off. A wise matriarch told me this once. Wonder where she gets her wisdom from....
Love you all :)

Why do I keep this thing going.....

I hear a lot of grief from my big sister about my inconsistent blogging....I really do want to be better at it. My sis recently created a book of blogs between some family members and it is so great....my cousin actually does this every year to put their year in review in writing. I love that idea! Now where to find the time!

SO much has happened in the past year that I am not sure where to start. I changed jobs and now teach fulltime. I no longer take call or work the weekends except one Sat a month and therefore have much more time to explore the world with Sky. I enjoyed my first Christmas without call with Sky---but I am on call this Christmas so I guess we will see how that goes. Sky and I took our first trip to AZ to visit Aunt Debbie which has resulted in endless questions of going to 'Debbies house'. She had such a great time. Maybe I will just repost that experience in the airport! LOL

Sky is now almost 3 and quite a bundle of craziness. She is still super-independant, still not potty trained (mommy isn't crying about that), and still the center of our world! She is quite dramatic these days and really should be in acting classes. She loves to sing and one of these days I will get her rendition of 'Part of Your World' from the Little Mermaid on video--it's priceless! She is now in swimming lessons and to the instructor and my own horror...has ZERO fear of water and would prefer to JUMP in without Mom catching her. We are still working on water safety!

Skylar also believes she's a princess (which in all honesty, she is!). She must at all times be wearing a dress, skirt, overflowing shirt when at home. If you tell a story, the girl in the story must be named SkylarMartin. All one word...and she will correct you. She talks a mile a minute and now refers to me as Diana---a Skyism that will be corrected!

So here is my attempt to update the blog....

Who has bets on how long until the next one! LOL

Meaning of Motherhood

This was an essay contest for Parenting magazine. I am still not sure I am going to submit it but figured....HEY IT'S A BLOG! LOL


Well the meaning of motherhood carries different meanings depending on the time of day and who is being asked.

To my commander-in-chief: In her 2-year old eyes, Mommy is the all-knowing keeper of the Goldfish. I am the rescuer from the crib, the genie who takes the poopies away. I keep the boo-boos from hurting with my magic kisses. I can sing any Diego song known to man and I can make up a song to cure those tears on the spot. My make-believe stories are sub-par but as long as they contain animal sounds, they are golden. I rule the day with ‘night-nights’ and ‘nummies.’

To my partner-in-crime: I have an ultra-sensitive nose to poopy diapers. I can get naps accomplished within 5 minutes flat. I can make lunch, sing songs, feed the dog, and give time-outs while still dancing around the kitchen to entertain the masses. I am not always looking beautiful, not always happy, and usually tired but I appreciate all the help my partner contributes. And more than anything, I love the giggle in our daughters’ eyes when Daddy walks through the door.

To my co-workers: I endlessly sing children songs. As a healthcare worker, I can ease any little ones fears with my endless knowledge of Disney cartoons and songs. I am an intelligent member of my workforce, all the while humming Go, Diego, Go.

But most of all, I begin the run most mornings before 7am. Most mornings before I have coffee in hand—I have provided nutrition for the munchkin, loved on all our four-legged children, and read (or sped-read) a book. I get up exhausted before the day starts but all it takes is that exclamation of MOMMY when I walk through her door. I am instantly revived with every smile, giggle, new word, and “2-3-JUMP” that I hear. It’s probably not good that my little one relates Mom to a certain coffee shop with that green symbol---referred to as “fawffee” in my house. I am brought to tears knowing that one day soon, my little jumping bean will wake up saying “coffee”—she won’t eat crayons anymore—but I will still have magic in my kisses and a song on my lips!

Tattle Tale

Skylar told on me yesterday.

We really encourage her to talk and 'use her words' but yesterday I was rethinking this philosophy.

I took Sky to the grocery store for a couple items and although she insisted on sitting in the big cart and directing me through the store, it was uneventful. Until we left. That is when she caught sight of the "choo-choo's".

'Choo-Choo' refers to the shopping cart with the steering wheels for kids. Whoever invented these do not have children because they would have realized their mistake. Great distractor, yes. Good for shopping, NO. They are impossible to steer (I hit displays everytime). Their cart is too small so you can't fit anything in the shopping cart. So everytime we have to go to the store...I secretly say a prayer that Skylar won't see them.

This time was fine until we left. And then she saw them. And she started. "MY CHOO CHOO", "MY CHOO CHOO". "ME GO CHOO CHOO" "ME GO CHOO CHOO".

I happened to be dialing Ryan as we walked so I handed her the phone and she proceeded to tell on me. " MOMMY NO CHOO CHOO DADDY" " MOMMY NO CHOO CHOO" "I CHOO CHOO DADDY I CHOO CHOO". Now pic this sweet little thing screaming these words and shaking her head with attitude as she walks.

GOOD LORD....WHAT HAVE WE DONE!!!

Almost Two!

I am just sitting here watching Skylar eat her lunch---unsuccessful at the lasagna so now it is apple slices and string cheese---thinking how different life was 2 years ago.

Two years ago: I was waiting impatiently for the next 4 weeks to fly by. I was sweating to death, my toes were so swollen I didn't have spaces between them--but I felt healthy and strong. But I was impatient.

Today: I want the next four weeks to crawl. To think my little baby is a toddler. My sweet 9 lb angel is now a full-of-energy 26 lbs of love and hormones.

Two years ago: I couldn't wait (impatient again) until we could go to the park and swing, read a book together, and have lunch of apples and cheese.

Today: I miss that little baby who was happy to cuddle with Mom all day. When my body produced all she needed. When I wondered which she would like better: Swings or Slides.

Two years ago: I wondered who she would become. Who she would look like. I wanted a cup of coffee and couldn't wait until we could go to Starbucks and I could sip my mocha while she drank a cup of chocolate milk

Today: I can't even fathom expecting my Skylar-bug to sit still long enough for me to sip anything. I know she is full of boundless energy that she would prefer to expel outside. She loves to laugh and talk and read (but not with Mommy). She is an independant spirit---and I couldn't be prouder.

I think about how the last 2 years flew by, how the next 3 will fly as well and then she will be in kindergarten and not need/want her Mommy as much. She will have friends to hug and talk to. Teachers to kiss her boo-boos and read to her. And I think I won't take those 3 years for granted. I know Skylar will always need her Mommy (I still need mine!). But until then...I will live for and love every second. I will cherish the moments of sweet love....and even the moments of tantrums and hormones. Because life is too short---and too fast.

It's almost your birthday Skylar-bug---but you are still my baby until then! I love you!

HAPPY FOURTH!!!

Hello gang! Happy 4th of July!

We ended up having a cookout this year since it was my first without being on call in 3 years and Elyria cancelled theirs for budget reasons. We felt like it really wasn't the 4th....you see every year on July 3rd (because E-town is cheap and doesnt want to pay the police officers holiday pay)....we all gather on THE hill in Cascade Park and hang out. At some point, we all stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance together. Then once it's dark enough---they start the fireworks and play music to go along with the display. The fireworks are right above your head and with the music---it's the best! So needless to say, when they were cancelled---we felt lost.

So we decided to do a cookout! Nothing extraordinary happened...Skylar had a rough day but she was so cute in her Mayan dress that we bought for her last year in Mexico. That all being said, I like to think I will remember it forever as one of the best, most complete moments of my life.

Since Sky was having a rough night---trying to put her to bed was unsuccessful we decided to stay home and away from the crowds. The neighborhood was setting off fireworks---so we set out our chairs and watched. It was so sweet to see the surprise on her face! Then she settled in and fell asleep in my lap as our little family of 3 hung out at our home watching the colors spread the sky. I even sang Proud to Be An American! (sorry to all who heard it!)

These are the moments I live for. The moments of peace and realizing how blessed we truly are!