Lessons in Motherhood

Mom and I took the girls to Target last night. Normally, I make Hailey ride in the cart, but I was feeling particularly reckless so I let a toddler loose in the toy aisles. She proceeded to walk up and down the aisles saying that she was looking for things for Hailey. When I asked her what those “things” were, she explained that they were “princess things.” Shocking, I know! She then walked down the girl aisle. You know, the one with all of the pink crap. She was like an obsessive compulsive child, floating down the aisle and touching each and every pink box (which was 99% of the boxes). The whole thing was so funny to watch.

Now, if you don’t have girls, you might not notice this, but they are making the most absurd things pink and slapping princesses on EVERYTHING. So, I’m sending you all on a scavenger hunt. The next time you are at Target or the grocery store or even Walmart (gasp) make a note of the most ridiculous item you see with a princess on it. Then, send us a comment, or better yet a princess, so that we can make a list of these blatant marketing ploys. I’ll start…the most absurd thing that I saw princesses on at Target was a tackle box. Do we really need to have a pink tackle box when we’re out fishing on the lake? Are we planning on catching Ariel???

This morning and today have been better. She’s been eating both from the bottle and from me. I’m pleased with her progress towards being the most ideal baby ever!

Well, my relatively easy day back at work turned into a relatively difficult evening at home. I think that our little monster has decided that she only wants bottles and pacifiers now. Remember just a few days ago when she wouldn’t take either? Tonight, she nursed for a little while, then screamed bloody murder. She only stopped when we gave her the bottle. I’ve nursed this child to sleep for 3 months!!! Now, all of a sudden that’s just not good enough. I think that she doesn’t like me anymore. She’s really hurting my feelings.

I’m feeling a little less (parenthetical) about working today, maybe that’s because I’m actually at work. I’ve just about survived my first day. I mourned a little in the car on the way here because I really missed Sophia. I thought that I would also be sad about all of the other benefits that maternity leave afforded me (shopping during the day, completing home projects, gardening, etc), but really all I was sad about was missing Sophia. However, by the time I got to work, I had pulled myself together and managed to make it through the day quite well. Of course, I have lots of other thoughts rolling around in my head about working and breastfeeding at work and various other topics, but I think the most important thing to say today is that I made it through the day. I’ll worry about the rest another time.

As every good gardener knows, when it rains zucchinis and squash, it pours. Thus, we had a ridiculous amount of produce, as you can see above. So tonight (my last night before work), Mom and I made 3 different baked goods involving zucchini – zucchini bread (classic variety), orange/chocolate chip zucchini bread, and brownies. It only took one zucchini to make all of that, and it wasn’t even the biggest zucchini (which rivals Sophia in size). It was a lot of baking, and of course, Hailey had her hands in all of it (sometimes literally). Wow…I love parentheses today. I’m in a (parenthetical) mood. Either that or I really need a drink on this my last night before going back to work. Did I mention that I go back to work tomorrow? I’m plagued by the thought, but don’t know enough how I feel about it to tell you (maybe I’ll let you know tomorrow). For now you should just know that I’m going back to work tomorrow, and I’m feeling parenthetical about it (whatever that means).

This morning at breakfast, the restaurant had on CNN. Hailey kept identifying Barack Obama (spotting Obama is one of her favorite games). Here’s the conversation that ensued:

Mom: “That is Barack Obama, and do you know who that is with President Obama?”

Hailey: “No”

Mom: “That’s Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany. See. She’s a girl, and she rules a country. Maybe when you get older, you can be in charge of a European Union country.”

Hailey: “I don’t want to do that. When I get bigger, I want to be Tinker Bell.”

At least, I tried.

As parents, we wear a million different hats. When Hailey was really little, we would constantly comment on which hat we were wearing at what time…

Daddy is a jungle gym
Mommy is a nurse
Daddy is a pack mule
Mommy is a moo cow
Daddy is a pillow
Mommy is a human rocking chair

Given all of these roles, we rarely have a chance to just be Luke and Alisa anymore. That’s why as much as I’m not looking forward to going to work and being away from Sophia; it will be kind of nice to go to a place where I’m just Alisa. It’s a simpler role to fill.

I remember distinctly the moment when I realized that Hailey would cry when she wanted us to entertain her. For a while, we tried changing her diaper, feeding her, rocking her, etc. We tried just about everything until we discovered that what she really wanted was for us to dance around and entertain her. She would cry…we would make fools of ourselves. It was a joyous little scam she had going. Well, we’ve reached that point with Sophia. It’s as if she just looks at you and says, “Dance for me, monkey, or suffer the screaming consequences.” Then, we dance or sing or blow spit bubbles or make raspberries. Whatever it takes to get the little one giggling or at least smiling. It’s pathetic, but it keeps peace in the kingdom. So, we will continue to don the jester hat as necessary. How can we not? Have you heard how cute that little laugh is???

What was I thinking when I agreed to fly alone with both girls to Austin to meet up with Luke? It was not such a good idea. The flight wasn’t so bad, but the rental car situation was a nightmare. We landed at 12:30pm. I left the rental car facility at 2:00pm after having to switch cars once, install two car seats myself, find directions to our hotel, etc. Oh yeah, all while surviving in 100 degree heat. It was seriously bad news, but no worries, we made it to the hotel where Hailey and I looked forward to enjoying a nice dip in the pool. Oh wait, the pool is inside and freezing. She didn’t like it. Then, she didn’t like the towels because they were too small. Now, we are sitting in our hotel room watching PBS. Hmmm….coulda done that at home and spared myself the trouble. Grouch grouch! Someone please pass the tequila; Mama needs a stiff margarita!