Just because I am a girl....

...Doesn't mean I know how to do girl stuff.

I had 2 boys first. And boys are SO EASY.  Slap on a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and some tennis shoes, and you're good for virtually anything. If the hair is getting out of control, put on a hat... good to go.

 Then I had a girl. And everything is different.  Even if I dress her in jeans, I have to be sure that her hair-ties match her shirt, and that she has a pair of shoes for every situation.  I find it exhausting.  On top of that, she has CURLY HAIR!  If you know me, then you know my hair isn't just straight.  It is the kind of straight people pay good money for at the salon. I can laugh at myself now because I care less about those sorts of things.  Anyway, I digress.  She has curly hair, and there is not a cheap product on the market that helps me take care of said hair.  AND, I have tried just about every expensive product on the market with limited success.  So when I'm out with her, and people compliment her hair, I just smile and say thank you. I don't bore them with the details of just how long she sits in the bath with her hair slathered in conditioner.  Or the 20-30 minutes I spend trying to comb out her hair while bribing her with TV and DS. Never mind the intense fear that I should just go and get my cosmetology license because in the end, her hair is going to cost us ALOT of money.  No, I just smile and nod.

That said, having a girl means there is never a dull moment. Not even one.  And watching her grow and learn things that girls should know is amazing.  Some lessons are easier taught than others. :) She made Double Chocolate Banana Bread with me this morning, and she reminded me so much of myself.... Asking for a taste of the batter, wanting to eat straight sugar... a girl after my own heart. I try to treasure every minute.. even the sucky ones, because I know they pass all too quickly, and then she will be a teenager that hates me and thinks I am stupid.  (I remember exactly when that switched for me, and I also remember when it switched back and I knew just how smart my mother was)

Now if she could just learn to tie her own shoes... LOL

It's The Little Things

First time they sleep through the night

First time they smile at you

First time they roll over

When they take their first steps...

Life is full of milestones. As parents, we keep track of these things... At first, it is to make sure they are eating, sleeping, and pooping on schedule.  Then it is to make sure they are not falling behind little Susie down the street.  (We all do it, so don't judge me lol) 

But I think that some of the more important "milestones" are the little things. First time they tell you NO! First time you feel safe letting them take a bath without you hovering. And today - first time my six year old tied his shoes COMPLETELY unassisted. Seriously, it is GLORIOUS! And the look on his face was priceless. Of course the first thing he said was "Wait til Dad sees how fast I do that" ...the man has only been gone one day. Geez! ;)

When I think about how many "firsts" I still have to experience, I get a little lightheaded. Here are just a few I am looking very forward to:

• First time my oldest "understands"... Oh how I cannot wait for that! 
• First time my youngest goes one day without screaming... (you aren't here.. you don't know) 
• First time the hubby and I can go out for the night without calling in Grandma, or hiring an overpriced babysitter. lol
• First college acceptance letter coming in the mail. :)

On the other hand, there are many firsts that I am not looking forward to happening:

• First child learning how to drive
• First dates
• First child to move out
• First college rejection letter coming in the mail. :(

Now the "Facts of Life" theme song is stuck in my head.  But there is some truth to those words. We do have to take the good, take the bad, take them both and then you'll have...well, you get my point. ;)

For now, I will just bask in the glow of J's first time tying his shoes completely on his own. I wonder how long that'll last. :)

Can I have wine with that?

I am annoyed today... seriously annoyed. There were many contributing factors, but at this point - kids in bed, wine in hand - I have decided to write it all down.  


I am not one of those moms. You know the ones I mean - and don't get me wrong, I am friends with some and love them and their parenting - but you know.. the ones that for them, everything is perfect. Even if they are walking around with spaghetti in their hair (haha...like they ever have a hair out of place), they still think their little darlings are perfect, motherhood is perfect, life is PERFECT.  


That is soooo not me. Today sucked. It started out ok.. Oldest got out of bed without a second light flickering. Little 2 woke themselves up. No one was running behind - it was a really good start to the day. I even went to the gym.  And that's when it all started to go downhill.  Dinner was being debated (at no point did I let them think we live in a democracy) Normally complacent middle child was pulled into a vote (again..not a democracy). No one listened when we got home, bath time was a mess. I yelled at everyone ..everyone! Finally get them all in bed, turn on American Idol, only to have the smallest one get up an hour after her bedtime to tell me she has to pee, and "can I come hold her on the potty cuz she doesn't need the potty seat anymore". Then I must've scared her because she forgot pink bunny downstairs and she came back in tears because she can't walk 2 feet without him.


So all I can think at that point is... "Can I have wine NOW?"


update:
I came back from a wine run in the kitchen to almost sit down on a tinkerbell DS stylus and think to myself... aww...