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Took the girls to a Winter Festival tonight. With temps in the low 60s, it wasn’t feeling exactly wintery, but nonetheless we strolled around seeing what was to be seen. It was busy – crowded even – and offered some activities in the way of bouncy houses, cook your own s’mores, etc. It seems nearly all the activities were free, and so as you might expect there were lengthy lines (and waits) for pretty much everything. The girls were pretty easily dissuaded as we passed by the bouncy house and other things – they also didn’t want to wait in line. We made a circuit through the grounds and before deciding our next action, Mallory decided she wanted to go check out ‘one more thing.’ It’s an inflatable bouncy course, with obstacles, crawling, climbing up stairs/ladder and then a steep and tall slide down. Immediately the girls decide they want to do it. They’ll wait in line for this one. So, we get in line. Already I’m thinking, what if they get scared, what if they want to back out, what if… It’s pretty much a closed course so once you go in, you have to finish. As we wait, we talk all these things through with the girls, making sure they understand what they’re getting in to. I’m still a little anxious for them. Especially Mallory, who can have some moments of timidness. I can just imagine her getting to the top of the stairs/slide and deciding it wasn’t for her. But I know my job as a parent is to not allow my anxiety to transfer to them. So we go forth. We see the sign that says you must be 36 inches to ‘ride.’ We figure we’ll just generously round up for Hannah. We get closer, start taking off shoes. And then, they’re in. Adrienne circles around the outside just in case help is needed, while I get ready at the bottom of the slide to take a photo. It’s dark and so I spend some time figuring out how to get the best capture. I’m still mucking with the iPhone when Mallory pops up at the top and without hesitation slides down. Hannah is soon behind her. Here I’m figuring I’ve got time, since they’ve gotta get around the obstacles, etc. But they were so quick I didn’t even get the shot! Of course they had a blast, and we’re back in line to do it again.

(That white blob is Santa. Nearly took out some bystanders with the candy he was throwing.)

And so staring at me under the streetlights at a 60-degree winter festival, was a reminder to let go, to let joy happen.

These kids are the best teachers.

(random photo from August 16, 2015)

Tonight’s win: made curry for dinner, figuring the girls would eat mac and cheese or something else. Then Mal wants to try the curry as I’m finishing making it. She likes it and gets very excited about eating “big people food.” Hannah had earlier said she wanted mac and cheese, so that goes in front of her. Of course, Hannah, not to be out-done by her older sister, says she wants curry also, without even trying it. I give her a sample and she’s full speed ahead as well. (This makes me think – I was the youngest of four… how much did I push the limits emulating my older sibs, and how much did I annoy my parents as a result of it….)

Hannah ultimately liked eating the plain rice more, but we got some curry in her. So tonight’s win was all four of us eating curry. I call that a success.

On the other front: Hannah has been a potty-training superstar. She’s recently given up diapers at naps, and will soon be done with diapers at night as well – she’s always dry in the morning. And then tonight, after drinking 3 sippy cups of milk (there’s a lesson here somewhere), she’s playing in the sunroom after dinner. And with no warning, lifts up her dress and lets the pee fly. Or drop, at least. I’d say about 3 sippy-cups worth… Got some train tracks drenched, easily rinsed off. The area rug caught the rest of it, and it’s a cheapo that should be relatively easily cleaned up.

Here’s hoping that’s the worst we’ll deal with!

The last month or so has been challenging: a short while before then, we moved Hannah from a crib to a full size bed. At the time she was able to crawl in to her crib by herself, so we figured it was time (if she could crawl in, she could likely crawl out, with less than favorable results, due to a lack of a mattress on the floor). But since then, we’ve had a very hard time with Hannah staying in bed after lights out. She was bugging Mal so much that they slept separated for some time, which went well. But then back together, Hannah could stay up partying for up to 2 hours.

Then a couple days ago I saw the idea of using ‘get out of bed’ cards. Each kid gets one card (which I hastily made one night right before bed), which they can use once to get out of bed for whatever reason – potty, water drink, diaper, whatever. When they use it they give it up, and from then on they have to stay in bed. The theory being that it gives them control over their situation. So the last few days have gone pretty well. Every night Hannah comes down, card out in front ready for presentation. One night for the toilet. One night needing a diaper change. Etc. Mal has yet to use the cards, which we expected (but didn’t want to leave her out).

And then tonight… Mal comes down from bed. Hands her card to Adrienne, and says she wants more snuggles from Mom and Dad.

These are the things to remember. And after hugs and “good nights” and “I love you’s,” Mal asks that from now on, I leave by wishing her “good dreams.”

Happy to oblige kid, happy indeed.

As I sat across from Mal at the table this morning eating breakfast, I couldn’t help but think back to the what must have been hundreds of hours I spent, eating cereal and reading every last bit of text on the box of cereal; ingredients, nutritional info, how to win a prize, etc.

Of course, Hannah is cute even if she’s not staring at a cereal box.

Mal’s birthday was a rather understated affair. In the morning we got some fancy balloons courtesy of Nana and Bapa. Then we drove out to the New Hope, PA children’s museum. Spent a couple hours having fun playing doctor and other things (we’d been there once before), then had a decent lunch at a nearby brewpub. After a scenic drive home along the Delaware river (trying to give kids a chance to nap, though it didn’t work), we got to the important work at hand: frosting the homemade cake and letting the homemade chocolate ice cream soften up a bit. Oh, and presents. Mal loved everything and had a great time. She says it was her best birthday ever. And I suppose that’s true for her. For her parents, maybe it was just a nice reminder of the best birthday ever, 4 years prior, and all the richness we’ve shared since. And the cake and ice cream? Pretty darn good.

That’s what parenting is, right? If we do it right, we work ourselves out of a job. And so it’s both with joy and sorrow you wake up one morning and literally see a part of that job fading away.

I got up early this morning and went running. Afterwards I took the trash out and watered the garden, then began stretching on the front sidewalk. As I’m stretching, I hear some commotion inside the entryway. I figure it’s the cats – they get a little anxious when I’m outside and they want breakfast. But then I look to the front door and there is Mallory, looking out the side window. I walk to the door and try to open it, but it’s caught – on the chair Mallory brought to stand on so she could see out the window. She moves the chair and lets me in. I ask how long she’s been up, then realize a better question is what has she been doing. And she says she came down from her bedroom, went to the bathroom by herself, put on her slippers, and then was looking out the sunroom windows when she noticed me. I guess we better teach her how to pour herself a bowl of cereal…

And then Hannah: Two days ago Hannah upgraded from a crib to a real bed. It’s high, and currently has a roll-off protector. Hannah slept in a bit this morning, but as Adrienne was going upstairs to get her, Hannah was already at the top of the stairs – she’s gotten down from bed and was already on her way down.

These girls!

Adrienne had to work in the City today, so I had the pleasure of staying home with the girls. It was a great day: zoo in the morning, an ok lunch, Hannah napped well and Mal had fun playing by herself during quiet time. We painted and then went to the playground, where Mal really wanted to show me how she could climb the ‘spider web’. She does a great job, and Hannah’s no slouch either! Then we come home and I start making dinner. They both ask for some granola to tide them over, so I give them a small bit each with milk. I’m in the kitchen making pasta with shrimp and mushrooms (and a butter/Parmesan sauce). Mal loves shrimp, so I figure it should be a good dinner, even if Adrienne isn’t home yet – which I figure she’s running late. No problem. The girls start making some spitting noises and laughing – they are known to do this – so I remind them not to and go on with my prep. They continue making the noises but I don’t think much of it. A minute or two later I go back to the dining room, and there’s Mal, drinking milk out of Hannah’s bottle, then spitting it out – on to the floor and table. After which Hannah takes a cloth and wipes the table. Needless to say, both went to bed immediately with no dinner, about 6:45pm vs. their normal 8pm bedtime. Adrienne still wasn’t home, so I got a dinner alone by myself. Some would be ecstatic about this, but it really made me sad – a bad end to a great day. And I really like eating with and just generally spending time with the girls. Probably because I don’t get to, in the grand scheme of things. And then comes the hard part – sticking to your guns. Hannah screaming from her crib after she’d thrown her pillow and blanket and babydoll out. Mal coming down the stairs and saying she’s hungry. That’s the hard part. The good part is I know I’ll remember the spider web climbing and the carousel ride at the zoo, but the dinner alone will quickly fade.

Mal wearing momma’s shades:

Mal’s first double braid. Done by Dad, no less!

The artist…

Sisters.

Sharing.

Working out.

First s’more.

Big girl washing up.

As you might know, Mallory and Hannah’s room is on the third floor while our bedroom is on the second floor. Also Mal sleeps in a tall adult (non-toddler) bed.

This morning Hannah starting making noise. As I was walking towards the stairs to get her, I hear the door to the stair creak open. It’s Mallory, at the foot of the stairs. She says to me, “Hannah is crying, please go get her.” That’s the first time she’s gotten out of bed herself AND come down the stairs. So much for having the girls isolated upstairs (and us isolated downstairs!).

Also, a little later this morning: Hannah is in the office playing while Mal and I are in our bedroom. Mal lets a big fart rip. I say, “Mal, what do you say?” (with the correct response being, “pardon me.”). Mal says, “it was Hannah!”