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Looking back over the last week since I've last written, its actually been a fairly mellow week....which is Item #1 to be grateful for. :) Bert took Wednesday off work and brought Isabelle to the Twins game. They had a really good time.
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Belle got her face painted and made sure that Bert didn't get to see too much of the game. I don't even remember now if they won or not, but they had a wonderful time. Let's see, what else? Bert and I have been really working on this parenting stuff. Man - they weren't kidding when they said this is the toughest, but most rewarding job, were they? Isabelle is really pushing the boundaries - on everything. She'll ask for a cookie, I'll say yes. She'll ask for two cookies, I'll say one is enough. But, Mommmmmmaaaaaaaaaa! I REALLY, REALLY want two cookies!! And on and on. Ohhh, but its not just cookies, it is EVERYTHING. Not wanting to go to bed, not wanting to eat dinner, walking V-E-R-Y, V-E-R-Y slowly when I'm in a hurry - you name it. If it is likely to drive me nuts, she does it. So, I'm learning, that I need to figure out a way to keep my emotions out of it and be consistent.....all the time....with everything. You know how hard that is?? Its another one of those things, though that "they" all say....and it works. So, as long as Momma can do what she needs to do, things really do run pretty darn smoothly. Grrrr...I don't like having to be so dang responsible.
Audrey, on the other hand, is asserting herself more and more all the time. For the most part, she is a pretty calm and patient 1-yr old. She'll sit in her stroller just looking around, or she'll walk around the yard while Bert and I are getting stuff done. She'll wander around the house in the morning while we're getting everything ready to head out the door.....but when she is ticked, this child is not afraid to show it! She does the classic "stiff as a board" body trick when I'm holding her and she doesn't want to be held anymore. She'll holler and cry if the gate is up and she wants to get to another room. She'll throw her food on the floor when she is done eating. She'll flip her body over when I'm trying to change her diaper. And she is strong. Oh yeah, and she pinches! These tiny little "this is what you get for not clipping my nails sooner" pinches that actually hurt! She bites, too! She's done it to me twice where she's left a mark. Its usually when she's really excited....not a malicious thing at all.....but it still hurts! I really, really hope I don't have "that one." The biter. Urghhh...I can see the disgusted looks of parents now. Hopefully she'll grow out of it, or we'll be able to get through to her that this is *not* cool.
Her giggles and sweet, soft jibber-jabber make all these trying times worth it, though. It is so cute when we wake her up in the morning to get ready for daycare.....she rolls over a couple times and tries to go back to sleep. When she realizes that this isn't an option, up she stands - barely even awake yet, but she stands up right away, huge smile on her face. She'll usually grab her baby or kitty - hug it under one arm and reach up for me or Bert with her other arm. Its these little things that make all those challenges seem so small. And lately, we've been getting the "cheese" smile. Have a look for yourself. How can you not be in a good mood when you see this?
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One of my really good friends, Jessica, is in town. I went to high school with her and we became immediate friends while discussing the Violent Femmes and other common interests when we were bunked up for an "away" volleyball tournament....I think that may have been the summer before high school....and the friendship continues 16 years later. Who woulda thunk it? The Violent Femmes of all things! Anyway, she is in town from Brooklyn, where she is currently stationed (assigned?) as an FBI agent. She's home because her mom is pretty sick. MaryAnn has cancer - and in late May they were saying she may have 30-60 days. I'm crying as I write this. It just seems so unfair. Jessica and I were so close in high school, and MaryAnn was like a second mom to me. It makes me so sad to think of her getting this awful disease. And then to think of Jessica, her 3 sisters, and Jerry, her dad and MaryAnn's husband....not to mention the grandkids and other extended family. It just breaks my heart. No one should have to go through this. It is just so sad. Tough to not ask "Why" when something like this happens.
Anyway, Jessica and I were able to get together last Friday night. It was bittersweet. We went to a great little restaurant on St. Anthony Main called Aster Cafe. It was great. I usually am not too fond of eating outdoors, but they had a great patio and the weather was perfect. We talked for hours. A lot of it was about her mom and my dad, and the struggles they, and we, have had over the last year or so. We talked a lot about the "why" questions. Ultimately coming up with no answer, but the conclusion that its about really living every day that we've got. Not compromising. Not letting fear get in the way. Having open and honest relationships. And loving like there is no tomorrow....cause none of us knows when our time will come.
Our night wasn't all so serious, though. We reminisced about "the good old" days. Lots of memories were created in those 4 short years. One thing that I love about Jessica is that no matter what has happened, no matter how long its been since we've seen each other, when we get together, its like we've never been apart. There is no competition, no jealousy, no judgment. Its just a great, great friendship. And I'm so grateful for it.
OK, so that was Friday night. Saturday night was the 2nd Annual BenKinley Bash. A couple of our neighbors put on a little neighborhood shindig for the residents of Benjamin and McKinley Streets, between 34th and 35th Streets. Last year, Isabelle made a name for herself by falling into Jerry's (one of the organizer's) coy fish pond. It scared the crap out of her, but it was sooo funny! We told her this year she should just wear her swimsuit. She didn't think that was so funny. Last year, Audrey was just a couple months old, so we didn't stay too late, but this year - oh boy - we stayed and saw stuff we probably would be better off not seeing! I'll omit the names, but by the time midnight rolled around, we'd seen two dogs got in a fight that was luckily broken up before either got hurt too badly, one neighbor dancing on the roof of the garage giving us an underwear "moon" and another neighbor managed to fall 2 separate times, but escape any significant harm. Its kind of like the work Christmas party.....don't these people know that they just shouldn't get THAT drunk in these sorts of situations? Although, it was pretty funny.... and I must say, I'm looking forward to the 3rd annual BenKinley Bash.
On Sunday Isabelle, Audrey and I met Diane, Ashley, Alyssa and Amiya at the Maple Grove Community Center. They've got a really great pool area....very kid friendly. It has an indoor area and an outdoor area. It was a beautiful day and we had a blast. Audrey is my little dare-devil. She loves water slides! I couldn't believe it. She'd climb up the steps and practically dive down the slide. I'd grab an arm before she went flying down the slide and she'd laugh and laugh as she went down by herself. She was loving it! Isabelle is a little more cautious. More like me. She's getting really good in the water, though. She is putting her face in the water now and learning some more swimming basics. I think the swim classes we took are really helping her comfort level. Time to sign up for the next round.
It was great to see Diane, Ashley, Alyssa and Amiya, too. We've been hanging out a bit, outside of daycare, and I'm really enjoying their company. Audrey and Amiya are basically the same age.... separated by just under 3 months. I hear they are "besties" at daycare. They are soo cute together. They are gonna be trouble when they get older! This picture is one from daycare.... I was too busy and wet from swimming with the girls to get any pics from the water park! We had a blast! We'll definitely go there again. So much that I want to do - just wish I had the time to do it all. Wish the balance was a little less work and a little more play!
Another great week was had by the McDonough family. And it worked..... My mood is lifted! Off to read in bed for a bit. I just got the first book in a series I've been hearing a lot about...the Prey Series, by John Sandford. This one, I think, is called Rules of Prey. My expectations are high on the enjoyment factor and low on the quality factor. Just what this tired woman needs....a little mindless reading to lose myself in for a while!
Good night!
Mary
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