Saturday, December 31, 2011

Cup of Kindness Yet

I promise to post about a little girl turning one any day now, but in the meantime, as I watch fireworks bursting above my neighbor's snow-covered roof, may I wish all of you a very happy and healthy new year. In Estonia, up until five minutes ago it was appropriate to say "Good Old Year's End," but now I can officially and politely say, "Happy New Year."

So. Happy New Year, and good riddance to any troubles that 2011 insisted on foisting upon you. I trust things will be looking up for you, your family, the economy, blossoming democracies, and humanity in general.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Eventful

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to everyone. I have a post brewing about Girl's first year of life, which we celebrated on the 23rd, but between the chaos of Christmas and the chaos of hosting family, I'm beat. Here are some Christmas photos to tide you over.









Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Mama's Coming!

I'm holed up in our back sewing room, finishing some Christmas gifts. I took a few hours off today to do so, and Boy doesn't know I'm home. He's clomping around the first floor in high heels from his costume collection, announcing "Mama's coming!" clomp clomp clomp.


At some point, Nanny helped him procure a "baby," and he's been clomping around feeding it, putting it down for a nap, and strapping it in a car seat, punctuating each activity with "Mama's coming!" clomp clomp clomp.


This interpretation of mama is a marked improvement over a recent dress-up episode. Boy was donning heels and a necklace and declared, "Watch out! Mama's coming!"

Me: "Oh yeah? What does Mommy say?"

Boy: "'Bye bye!'"

Me: [picks pieces of heart off the floor]

I like to think I'm not alone as an often exasperated mother of a preschooler (and now, of a preschooler and a toddler...aiyeeeee!). There are nights when I review the events of the day and am embarrassed by the sheer number of arguments I had with a three year old. Worst of all, some of my most unflattering Mom Moments are regurgitated back at me by said three year old. I was ordered to "Move it!" off his bed one night when he wanted to make a point and I was blocking his way. Of late he is particularly fond of some variation on one of my perennial favorites: "I'm serious!"

I am serious, Mommy.


Seriously, Mommy.


Or the especially charming:

I am serious at you, Mommy!


I fear that any moment now he is going to spit out one of my more common expressions of utter exasperation: "I'm sick of you [fill in frustrating behavior here]!" That will get a wince or twelve out of me, and possibly an accusatory look from Husband.

So I suppose it's not shocking that he also thinks of "Bye bye!" when he thinks of me. He hears that a lot. After all, "You're driving me bonkers!" would be a lot worse.