I wanna be...

As my previous post showed, today was not one of my better days and I will be glad to start over with a new tomorrow in the morning. I've decided to use my catastrophe of a day to give a shout out to a few people who inspire me to keep on going when my less than better days leave me wallowing in self-pity.

My children are a given. Whenever I am feeling my sickest if sick, I can always master enough energy to provide for my children. But they are so much more to me than that. They are absolutely the root cause that drives me to be a better person. I cook more, I recycle more, I mind my manners more, I show my appreciation more, I take better care of health. I even return the shopping cart to its rightful place after use and pick up litter I find on the streets during our walks. My husband of course is the source of many inspirations. He is my rock and is the glue that keeps me all together in my most vulnerable moments. His faith in me is insurmountable and is evidenced everyday in some of the most seemingly insignificant ways. Without him I am only one half.

Now, with all the sappy lovey duvey stuff out of the way. I will move on to some other significant others who inspire and motive me, people who probably do not realize their impact. My dear friend "D" who has recently become a new mummy is certainly one of them. She is one of the most charitable persons I have ever met. She has a huge heart and a string of strong and meaningful friendships she has developed through her life -- truly a testament of her kind nature and balanced sense of right and wrong. She is selfless and centered women. A rare gem of a gal.

Then there's some blogging mommies that have been complete strangers to me but are willing to share their life's in blogosphere to one and all. Ceci at mychaosmybliss writes with astute comical honesty in the happenings of her household. You get the naked truth with Ceci and she's not afraid to admit to her own perceived misgivings and mummy guilt. If her posts don't make me laugh, I empathize in gratitude.

Tonya at a day in my life is another gifted blogger I came across in reading my sister-in-law's blog, janstaseggis. It is rare day that Tonya does not post a blog entry and she never ceases to amaze me with her energy and spunk. I am quite sure she is a friend and confident to many. I can only wish that I had a tenth of her energy. Lisa, my-sister-in-law, has a wonderful blog going at janstaseggis and I am addicted to checking hers everyday, several times a day. She is the mother to my neice and nephew who are as sweet and pure as they can be and I am so glad to be part of their growing years. Whatever the occasion, Lisa has her little ones dressed in the cutest outfits and her car, her house, her whole being is always immaculate. I'm hoping if I hang out with her for long enough, some of her good housekeeping skills will rub off on me. Did I mention that she always looks so darn classy?

Dominca Catteli is absolutely a source of inspiration for me, without a doubt. I picked up her cookbook for my birthday back in January and already have it splatted with cooking ingredients. Her recipes are easy to follow, realistic and tasty. She has organized her book with the busy overwhelmed mummy in mind and offers up a mom-a-licious manifesto which I try to live by. Appropriately so, she asks that you tell someone when they inspire you.

So to those mentioned here and to those who have been guided here by my not so subtle hints of "... check out my recent post about..." considered yourself an inspiree. You have inspired.

It's One Of Those Days

Haven't quite made it to lunch time yet and I'm all in a frazzle.

House is a mess (still), water has been turned off (something to do with not receiving payment), Maggie woke up tired and didn't want to go to pre-school, cereal ended up all over the floor, I don't know what to have for lunch let alone what to cook for dinner, and a house visitor that I thought was coming today will not be here 'till next week.

So yeah. Today is one of those days.

Looks like Jewel will get a good walk today so I can clear my mind and come back refreshed and de-frazzled.

Pax Is Just A Stuffed Toy

There was once a day when I could talk my way in and out of almost anything with short and age appropriate explanations and reasoning. I could even use my child's personification of inanimate objects to get her to do something. Not so much these days.

Now all I hear is, "Why's that?" or "what does that mean?" While these can be answered one right after the other with ease at the beginning of the day, patience starts to wear thin at the end. But, we are working through them and I'm learning a new parenting skill on how to say anything but the ultimate mummy mantra "...because I told you so" or "...just stop with the questions already."

When she told me Pax (a huge Panda the kids get to home from her pre-school as part of a group exercise) was just a "stuffed toy" I was stunned into silence. For years, since she could first talk, all her "stuffed toys" had names with their own personalities, likes and dislikes. Now Pax is just a "stuffed toy" without emotions or a care in the world of where he sits, eats or sleeps.

This afternoon she initiated a tossing of "stuffed toys". We filled up a whole laundry hamper of stuffed toys. At the beginning of the project I was quite excited that we would be finding new homes for them, but as the laundry hamper bag started to overflow I quietly and silently protested some of her choices.

I couldn't toss "Birthday Doggie" away -- a toy we picked out together on her third birthday. It was just the two of us and it kinda felt like a last hurrah before sweet Ryan arrived on the scene.
I couldn't toss "Blue-e" -- her first dino that sat so proudly on top of her presents for her second Christmas, blue-e was loved so much in his first few years. It was a favorite for quite sometime.
I couldn't toss "Julia-Gulia", her first dolly from Grandma either. Way too sentimental.

My baby girl is growing up. I am sad. I am happy. And I am all the things in between. She is still Maggie though. Complete with all her classic Maggie observations and continuous throng of questions. In the car today we were talking about germs and why its important to wash hands when she said something to the affect of, "... oh I know. The sperm gets us sick, then leaves us and gets other people sick. That's how it happens." Thinking I had heard her wrong or that she had misspoken I said, "Do you mean germs Maggie?" Her reply --"No mummy, I mean sperm. Sperm is what makes people sick."

First Kiss

I dropped Maggie off at pre-school today and was seriously running on low batteries due to my lack of sleep. I was in need of a caffeine boast, something --anything. I managed to watch Ryan fall and bruise his temple and lose my car keys (that seems to becoming a habit). Fortunately, the car keys were found and I managed to leave her pre-school without any more major happenings.

I got my something, my boast when I saw Maggie receive a sweet little kiss from one of her playmates , Oliver. Oliver is such a sweet, friendly and very happy boy. His hair is, more often than not, always a tousled mess and he has big hazel eyes that look at you with wonder and curiosity. He's the kind of kid with one sock up and one sock down that no sooner is your back turned he's in the dirt getting his hands dirty. The most overarching part of his personality however is his kind heart. He shows a lot of empathy and loves his friends in the kindest way I have seen a child love. Not too pushy, childishly honest, and protective.

Today, Maggie was not fairing well was being a little clingy to me. When I was distracted with Ryan, Oliver had come over to Maggie, put his arms around her, held her hand and gave her two sweet little kisses on the lips. After that, they were of running a playing together. It was a lovely thing to witness and I was very appreciative that he was able to help Maggie out of her funk.

I wish I could tell Oliver how sweet he is and how much of a difference he makes to Maggie's little world. How every morning I drop Maggie off I look out for him, not to hook him up with Maggie, but to watch him play and interact with everyone around him. He really is a lovely little boy, any parent would be proud to claim their own.

Beautiful Durban

I've hardly slept. Correction. I have not slept --but for very good reason.

I had the privilege of being present for the birth of beautiful baby boy named Durban, his mother a good friend of mine. He was born at 12:55 am on the 16th of April (he made it past tax day) and weighed in at 6lbs 20z and was 19 and half inches long. He has really long legs, long fingers and the cutest little nose. I can't wait to go back to see him and his mummy later this evening.

Congratulation mum and dad! And congratulations to the grandma, aunts and uncles. You have a keeper.

Brush Your Teeth

Most parents know the angst tooth brushing can bring to bedtime and morning routine. I am no exception to that and in my early attempts to make a somewhat unpleasant experience more fun, I came up with a song as I as brushing my daughters teeth.

Four years later I'm still singing it to her, as well as her younger brother. I imagine in time, I will forget that I ever did this so feel it warrants a blog entry before old age betrays me. I sing it twice through to the tune of "row, row, row your boat" which seems to last long enough for me get to their "upstairs teeth" as well as their "downstairs teeth".

So, without further ado -- the lyrics.


Brush, brush, brush you teeth,
Brush them everyday,
Brush, brush, brush your teeth,
Brush them twice a day

Brush, brush brush your teeth
Brush them everyday
Brush, brush, brush your teeth
Brush the food away

Pork Tenderloin

I had a major success with dinner tonight with Pork Tender with Savory Fruit from Domenca Catelli fantastic family recipe cook book mom-a-licous.

Ryan (19 going on 20 months) requested for more, more, more as if it was cookies. Maggie (4yrs and 3/4) sung praise for it and hubby announced that he was halfway through it before I even got to sit down at the table myself.

It was so exciting to see everyone enjoying a meal together with such enthusiasm. A meal that I had put together. This is one I will be sure to do again -- especially when all it took was twenty minutes of my time!

pictures courtesy of mom-a-licous website