Friday, January 25, 2008

Lo-lo and the Goose

We have such silly nicknames for the girls, it's a wonder they even know their own names. I like nicknames, though, they seem to imply a close, playful relationship. I always wanted a nickname and tried to make up some for myself, but they never really stuck. The only one that really stuck was KK, which Monica started to call me in college. It stuck and I liked it. Even when someone calls me Kris, it makes me feel somehow closer to that person.

I'm flying solo tonight. June offered to watch both girls, and Tyler is at volleyball practice. I don't know what to do with myself! There is plenty that I could do (clean), but instead I'm enjoying a little "me" time and a glass of wine or two. I'm really enjoying working on this class reunion project and I spend a lot of free time contacting people and working out details. It gives me a goal and a purpose other than being a Mommy and being a school counselor.

I guess this blog is more about me than the girls, but that's OK, I am the Mommy after all. I've noticed that I have a really hard time making decisions. Not so much at work but in my personal life. Sometimes I wish I had a decision maker following me around and making all of my choices for me so I wouldn't have to think about it. Like what to make for dinner, whether I should buy this shampoo or that one, whether I should buy myself some new clothes, or what I feel like doing during my free time. I find myself asking Lauren to decide for me, but I really have to watch that, because then she feels like she can make all of the decisions and gets mad if I decide something that she doesn't like. I think I'm rubbing off on her, too. The other day we were looking at Valentines, and I gave her two options and she was about to make a choice. Then I said "or what about this one, or this one or this one" and overwhelmed her with so many options that she wanted me to choose. So I narrowed it back down to two again, made a suggestion and she went with it. (We decided on puppies and kittens because they are gender neutral). I'm also always trying to please everyone, which is impossible, so I'm working on that, too...

Also, I'm surprisingly disturbed by the death of Heath Ledger. I don't know why. It's not like I know him or anything. I really loved his performance in Brokeback Mountain, and a few other movies... Maybe it's because he has a little girl and I think about how much she will miss her Daddy. And because he was only 28 and had so much going for him. It makes me so sad and I think about it a lot and keep hoping that it's not true... I admit I want to think the world is a happy place and bad things only happen to bad people. I guess I just want to think I'm raising my kids in a good place where they are likely to be healthy and safe and it scares me that I can't be 100% sure that they will be...

On a lighter note, Addie is MOVING!! She started really crawling last Sunday and now she can really get around. She does this funny, diagonal crawl where she starts with the right arm and leg and kind of scoots the left arm and leg behind. It works, though! She also pulls herself up to stand and is always babbling. She coos to herself in the crib, and she'll repeat "Mama" if I say it first. She's really growing up by leaps and bounds, which is fun, but a little sad because she's my last baby. I want her to grow up but I don't want her to at the same time. I'm sure Mom knows what I mean... She's had some separation anxiety, and wants me to hold her all the time. She does OK at school, though, because I'm not around and there's always a lot going on. Her class has grown from 2 babies to about 6 or 8 depending on the day. Fortunately she's more independent now, and the teachers seem really great.

Lauren has been much better lately, at home and at school. She loves her teachers, Mr. Hoffman and Ms. Jessica. We rarely get any complaints about her behavior. I think she was not a good match with the teacher from last year. I also think the adjustment to a sibling affected her more than I thought. She's so in love with her sister that I didn't see it at first, but she's missing having my full attention. She asks me to rock her and sing to her like I do with the baby, and she wants to be carried a lot. She's also learning to be a lot more independent, though, and she's really good at keeping Addison entertained for me. Sharing a room has been working out well for them. And we acquired a guest room, which as really just been a storage facility for luggage and laundry and various other items that don't have a place.

Hmm... that's about all for now. Think I'll make some more phone calls before I go over to pick up the baby. Bye for now!

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

New Year

Had a great time over the holidays. The girls got way too many gifts, but of course they we love them all, (thanks to everyone!) Happy to be home, but a little sad about going back to work and daycare. We'll be OK once we get in the groove again.

Had a nice, quiet New Year's Eve with friends, and caught up with loads of laundry today.

Addison is now crawling backward, and can clap! She claps often, it's so cute. One hand is held out in a funny way and the other one claps it. Makes a little noise and everything! She's fascinated.

Lauren LOVES her bouncy house. It inflates in seconds, and actually fits in the basement. It's big enough for 2 kids, we put Addison in there for a little bit and she loved it, too. Great job, Santa...