Hunger Strike Makes One Cranky, Tired Boy

A few day ago my little boy woke with a grade fever. The fever has gone but a loss of appetite remains. In the last few day he's had very little to it, or so it seems. This makes his days long and tiring and thus mine too. He is one cranky boy and is not napping well either. I'm slowly going out of my mind. I hope he gets out of his funk, and soon.

Six Word Memoir

I was tagged by Tonya at A Day In My Life inviting me to partake in a six word memoir. The Meme originated over an idea that was prompted by the book written by Larry Smith and Rachel Fershleiser, Not Quite What I was Planning: Six Word Memoires by Writers Famous and Obscure. It's a compilation based on the story that Hemingway once bet ten dollars that he could sum up his life in six words. His words were- For Sale: baby shoes, never worn.

This was an interesting exercise to do. I had unwittingly did this a week go when I was inspired by a board post on babycenter.com but it was directly related to "life as a mom" not life as me per say. I considered the adjectives which could describe who I am and the nouns to describe what I have done or desire to do. It just turned into a long list of things, near impossible to whittle down to a mere six without missing a small shade of who I am or who I want to be.

For inspiration, I recalled a novel of Hemingway's I read once. A Farewell to Arms. The story moved me to tears when I first read it eight years ago. I believe it was based on Hemmingway's own life and knowing this gives a powerful view of his choice of six words. There are many things in life which define, shape and alter you; the big ones are life and death. Hemingway's six words represent both of those. I wonder how difficult or easy it was for him to choose just six words for such a profound experience such as his.


So, without further ado, my six words:

Loved, birth, life, learn, freedom, chance

Pausing to take in Hemmingway's message, I choose to base my six words in recognizing my privileged life. Loved represents significant others in my life who have shown me unconditional love and those who I have loved without pretence and expectation. Birth represents the birth of my children who very much define who I am today and who I will be in the future. Life represents the longevity of my life and the loved ones around me, a reminder to me to live and not wallow in self pity. Learn represents my passion for learning and belief in that you should always strive to be open to new ideas. Freedom represents that I live in a free state and pays tribute to the men and women who have fought before me and shall fight after me for the freedom of all people. Chance represents the opportunities that have come knocking and the calculated risks I have taken in life. I have been blessed.


In response, I tag some of the few people I follow on blogsphere (I'm a newbie at this game).

Amber at Real Life Begins for her love of words, book and a challenge.
Lisa at Janstas Eggis because I love her so and I'm pretty sure T has been strategic in her selection (sneaky T) with the hopes that I will tag her.
Ceci at My Chaos, My Bliss because she always has a good story.

For the last two I have selected some random blogs by linking from my profile to see what comes up. It will be interesting to see if anyone takes up the challenge, and if you do -- I thank you. I shan't post your blog link here for the sake of your own privacy but please, join in the fun and remember to post your blog and six word memoir in my comments.


Here are the rules: 1. Write your own six word memoir. 2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like. 3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere. 4 .Tag five more blogs with links. 5. And don’t forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!

Summer Kick Off

This afternoon I took the kids off to Mother's Beach in Long Beach, California. Maggie and Ryan had a great time and despite my dragging feet (putting my post twenties, post baby bod on the beach is not high on my list of things to do) it turned out to be a very good way to spend the afternoon and was a great kick start to the summer holiday fun.

Ryan was asleep when we first arrived and I managed to put him in the stroller without waking him up which gave Maggie and I some decent quality one on one time. She was so much fun and really helped me relax and take in the surroundings. We dug in the sand splashed in the water (she went in up to her knees), found a few muscle shells and dug out a moat together. Shortly before Ryan woke up we found a shady spot in the grassy area under a tree and Maggie ate her way through two pluots, some fish crackers and a lollipop I had stashed away as a wee little surprise for her. When Ryan woke up, he took in his new surroundings and looked briefly bemused before crunching his way through a juicy apple and running off in the grass and then down towards the sand. He was quite eager to get his feet wet, wading into the water past his belly button before lunging forward into a belly flop -- his belly flop took me quite by surprise. I think he was after the buoy that he was mistaking for a ball and maybe trying his first hand as swimming (he's watched Maggie at her swimming classes many, many times).

The Mother's Beach in LB is really a great place to take tots and nervous swimmers. There is no tide and the only waves are ones created by boats moving by. The beach is not that long either so there is less area to loose sight of your child. The added bonuses is that parking is close so there's no lugging all your gear and there is grass and shaded area near by with restrooms and your traditional park with slides and swings. I spent a good two and half hours there with my little ones, maybe longer and I'm quite sure if it wasn't my curtailing them to get in the car we'd could have spent another hour or two.

On getting the kids back to the car the standard half hour exercise turned into a game of chasing the pigeons. Maggie found this particularly exciting, requesting to get out of the car one more time to try and catch one while Ryan was happily flicking through his Matisse book and I was putting all the beach gear back in the boot (aka:trunk). During rising frustration (on both our parts) Maggie and I had a conversation about pigeons; how sometimes they're called homing pigeons, how they are sometimes used to send messages and really belong outside to fly free in the sky and perch in the trees. However, she was quite insistent that we could take one home for a pet and that she just needed some help in catching one.

She requested a phone call to Daddy and I indulged her in the privilege. She talked to hubby on the phone while I started the drive home. The conversation went something like this -:

Maggie: Daddy!
Daddy: Hi Maggie.
Maggie: I went to the beach today.
Daddy: You did? Did you go in the water?
Maggie: Yes. I went all the way up to my knees and Ryan went in up to his belly button!
Daddy: Chuckles. Wow. Did Ryan love being in the water? Was the water cold for him?
Maggie: Yes, but I have longer legs now.
Daddy: Oh. Wow. You went in the water. That sounds like so much fun.
Maggie: Yes. Daddy can you help me catch a pigeon? I can't catch them.
Daddy: Yes, you have to be very quick don't you?
Maggie: I want one for a pet. Can you help and come back to the same beach?
Daddy: I would love to go back there with you. We have to be very fast to catch a pigeon
Maggie: Yes, but I don't have enough gas in my body to be fast enough. I need your help.

Maggie only has on pair of legs

This morning Ryan was in Maggie's bedroom opening and closing her draws one by one and having a whale of a time. Maggie and I were sitting on her bed discussing which clip(s) she would be wearing in her hair.

Ryan started to pull out all the pants from her draw at which point Maggie got distracted turned in a huff to Ryan and said, "Ryan I don't have that many legs!"

I couldn't keep in my chuckle -- the comical timing was perfect.

El Dorado Nature Center

I Love This Place . I took my kids here yesterday afternoon when plans for a mummy hook up fell through at my end. I was disappointed that I couldn't meet up with the other mummies so had to come up with a game plan of how I was going to survive an empty window in the afternoon.

I spent a good solid two hours at the center and my kids did not want to leave. Their website gives you plenty of info about the history of the center and the programs available but it does little to let you in on the true treasure it really is for local mummies and daddies who need to find something cheap, fun and educational to do with their little ones.

The center has a classroom with kid size tables of touch and feel things from gigantic pine cones to antlers and animal bones right down to fossilized bugs. It has draws at toddler level your little tot can open 'till their heart content and pull out more touch and feel nature artifacts -- snake skins, bird nests, turtle shells, more fossils and animal fur for the less squeamish folk. They even have this little x-ray light and x-rays of several real animals that you can put up and guess which animals they belong to from the picture key. They have books available to read to your little ones, super cool tee-shirts (more about that later) to buy for souvenirs which profits go directly back into the park.

The kids and I spent at least an hour in the classroom before we took on one of their nature trails. They have three nature trails I know of. The one we took was a 1/4 mile trail paved for strollers and those who need a set of wheels to get around or find it difficult to walk on soft ground. Both my kids made it round the whole trail without pleading to be picked up. I thoroughly, truly and intensely enjoyed this time with my kids.

We poked around in the dirt for rolly-pollies, we spied several newts and dragon flies and some beautiful butterflies as well as some lovely cob-webs. We marvelled at all the different leaves, their shapes, colour and size and stopped to watch the sun filter through them too. It was fun to see my kids interact with each other and enjoy different parts of the trail in different ways and it was a very tranquil and peaceful place to be with them too. Ahhh, I have to go back with the kids and hubby. I have to go back with the kids and the grandparents. I have to coax some friends and family to come join us.

During the time there I signed Maggie up for a one week summer class where she will learn, amongst other things, about bees and how they make honey -- I figured this would be a good warm up for upcoming kindergarten days. The "summer camp" name is so cute too, "The Hundred Acres Wood" from Winnie the Pooh. I can hardly wait till Maggie starts.

I mentioned their collection of cool tee-shirts earlier in my post -- Maggie spied a beautiful ten dollar tee-shirt which was white with black ink drawings of butterflies. It looked lovely just like that but when we checked out to pay, the clerk suggested we take it outside for a closer look before we parted with our cash. So I did, and to my astonished surprise the butterfly wings started to develop some bright and beautiful pastel colours. The clerk explained that when the tee-shirt is out in the sun an ink reacts to the rays and which brings out the colour. When its not in the sun anymore the ink colour fades. It was really cool. I'm not sure who is more in love with the tee-shirt, Maggie or me.

Poop Talk

Alright, there was bound to come a time when I had a blog post about poop. Today, there were a couple of memorable moments, one from each child that make for a good poop story.

I was running around the house this morning in my usual routine, cleaning and picking up, throwing laundry in the dryer etc. My hands had already been soaped up and dried off half a dozen times and I'd put on at least two pumps of my hand lotion in a sorry attempt to restore the cracked dried skin to the soft silky feminine smooth as a babies bum hands I'm apparently supposed to have.

I hear my daughter call from the bathroom. I'm in the kitchen drying of said dry hands for the ten billionth time. Her call sounds dramatic but not the sort that sounds urgent. More the kind that is, Mummy I want to show you something and you have to come now. Feeling like I had neglected my little girl in the morning for the chores I was wanting to check of my list I came arunning with pumped up drama and excitement appropriate for my four, almost five year old.

I found her de-clothed and on the throne where she proudly, ever so proudly, announced she had "Soup Poop" and a little accident. In my freshly painted, beautifully and somewhat recently cleaned bathroom my daughter had a little accident with "soup poop" that couldn't wait to come out. It was a priceless moment. I cleaned up the "soup poop" and washed my hands, slapped on the hand lotion and thought to myself -- I must blog about "soup poop" later today.

Later came my son's, a twenty-one month old, announcement of his own bowel movements. For those who are not up to speed my son has been evaluated with having delayed speech and has been recommend for some group speech therapy. He isn't uttering one single word of anything remotely intelligible. But he is my boy and I love him and in my heart of mummy hearts, I know he'll prove everyone wrong one day and show us just what a smartie pants he really is.

Today, he pooped in his diaper. A nice big juicy solid bowel movement filled up his huggies and gosh darn it he just had to let me know about it -- in a public library. Here's how it all went down (no punn intended). I was sitting with both my kids in the library reading books with them and having them crawl over me. I felt like I looked like the perfect mother to outsiders -- I had the attention of my clean, groomed four (almost five year old) and my twenty one month old. Both were quiet, enjoying the books I was reading with them and cooperating with my mother chants of stay close to me, put that back, don't pull on this etc etc.

In the midst of reading a book my son stepped off my lap and marched over to the bathroom door, pointed his little index finger at it and said, "duer...duer..." He then looked at me and then at the librarian who I usually ask to push a button that opens the bathroom "duer". Lamely, and excitedly I projected my voice across the library (my four year old was clasped around my neck in a love hug) and asked him, "Ryan did you go poo-poo?" His face lite up like a lantern. My son and I were communicating with verbal utterances and understanding each other. It was a triumphant moment. Without shame and in true motheresque style I projected my voice again, "Ryan do you need a new di-di?" He responded with "Da, da" and walked towards me with confirmation that yes indeed he did want a new diaper. Of course I left the diaper bag in the car. We marched back together to the car for a diaper change and decided there just wasn't enough room to change him with the risk of loosing some of that juicy poop. What did I do? Well, I marched back to the library with the diaper gear layed him down on the floor in his full glory and changed his diaper in full smelling view of the poor unsuspecting patrons. Aren't I just a terrific mum?

I can't end this poop talk post without giving a small mention to one little book I bought for my daughter a couple years back. Check out the book below and look for it in your local library and bookstores. It is quite hilarious and perfect for little ones learning to let go.

These are my kids and why I love what I do

Maggie -- she has many interesting and funny things say, like all children her age, and I do my best to make a note of them and write them down. Her most recent couple of comments which made me laugh to myself went something like this -: "Mummy I want to bring the shari desert with me." This was a red box she usually keeps her collection of dinosaur and various other animals in. In it was a soft bear toy of Ryan's we affectionately named Yogi because of his size and colour. Another memorable Maggie comment came as we were having some girl time together. We were looking though a children's clothing catalogue, I was showing her a dress I thought she would like to have and she was showing me some items she wanted to have and some items she thought Ryan would enjoy too. In the midst of turning pages she held up her hand and said, "Wait, wait. No mummy. Wait a minute! I want to go down this aisle."

Ryan. Ryan, Ryan, Ryan. My sweet Ryan. He by far has to receive the sweetest boy award (for this month anyway). He loves to blow kisses, pout his lips and lean in for a kiss, give me big bear hugs with his little arms wrapped around my neck. He also loves, loves, loves his collection of truck books. I don't know what it is about them but he simple loves them and doesn't like to be parted with them either. For a few nights in a row he has insisted on taking them to bed with him. He loves the real thing just as much. I could be putting him down for a nap but if he hears a loud roar of a truck outside his bedroom window he'll come right out of his sleepy like trance, look up at me and say, "aah-doo". I had to chase him in the park a few weeks back as he made a run for the dustman (aka trash man truck) and park ranger truck. He was really fascinated by them. Like most boys, he also loves balls. Anywhere he see's a ball he'll want to move towards it. It doesn't matter what colour it is. It doesn't matter what texture or what it is made of. If it is small, big or middle size. If it is round and rolls and he can pick it up (and even when its way to big for him to pick up) he will love it and play with it for many a "toddler-hour". Tonight he went to bed with a big soft ball that was more than half his size. I layed him down in his crib and he just starred up at me with his big blue eyes and hugged the big soft ball as if it was his new best friend. My Ryan, gosh I love him so.

Never a day goes by when I don't appreciate the good fortune of my family. Sure I worry about them and have blogged about my concerns regarding them but when I put them to bed at night I feel truly blessed and thankful for another day I got to be their mummy. In the same vain, I rarely get bogged down by the endless pile laundry. I realize that I have a pile of laundry because I have two beautiful children and wonderful husband. The clutter of toys may make me want to toss them out the window from time to time but they remind me of my children's imaginations and their innocence. Similarly, cooking and preparing three meals a day might feel overwhelming at times but always feels me with joy when all the family get to share a meal time together. They store some of the most precious moments.

Tonight, I am feel tired and ragged but I will be happy to get up in the morning and start this all over again. I love you Maggie. I love you Ryan. And Eric, I love you too -- always.