Friday, July 24, 2009

Freshening Up

Look, I've had a makeover! Of the very free, generic, and user-friendly sort, of course, but hey. Now all I need is to work up the nerve for a makeover of my hair, which has gotten so out-of-control thick from all the prenatal vitamins and folate supplements and hormone cocktails and whatnot that every evening by 9PM I end up with a headache from the weight of my ponytail. Um, or maybe I just need to get my hair out of a ponytail and break out the blow dryer and flat iron that are rotting away under the sink.

Well. Like that's gonna happen when I'm busy dinking around on the computer!

Here's some random stuff about kids just to confirm that despite my hip new gray and lime green outfit, this is still just a bore you to tears mommy blog:

-If Addy is awake when I'm on the computer, she is inevitably attached in some way to my body. She is currently crouched behind me, ON the computer chair, crying because I told her that I really do need my arms right now and I can't hold her on my lap. Her usual spot is on my back with her arms wrapped around my neck like a little spider monkey. This could explain the incoherency of some of my posts- I am usually oxygen deprived while writing.

-Sometimes when I notice my hands, tan and kind of hardened from a lot of dish washing and kid wrangling, nails strong and square and short, performing mom tasks, I get a weird, de ja vu-y sense that I am watching my mom's hands do those things.

-Similarly, sometimes when I notice Eli's thighs, I realize that they are exactly my thighs, right down to the generous saddlebags and the little rolls of chub under his knees. Or at least, that's how my thighs used to look before I lifted weights. Now there's a firm, muscular part sandwiched between the layers of chub.

-Adelay is cracking me the heck up lately with all the inappropriately adult expressions that are coming out of her mouth. My WORD. Exhibit a: the other day I was trying to explain something to her and she interrupted me firmly with, "I really don't want to hear it right now!" Exhibit b: I was taking her to the bathroom yesterday and after she got settled on the toilet she announced with gusto, "I really have to take a PISS!"
Um, what? I know I let a few words slip here and there in front of her, but I'm pretty sure I've never said THAT. ("I really don't want to hear it right now" though- I've definitely said that.)

-I've noticed lately that on days when things go smoothly, I've usually started the morning out by complimenting Addy on some behavior of hers that has been cooperative or kind or generous. If I keep up the stream of praise and positivity, she is pretty much golden. It's amazing, actually. I remember reading this book once called "The Power of a Positive Mom" and thinking, "Yeah right, like it's that easy!" But maybe it kind of IS. Except of course that it's only easy if you yourself are capable of mustering up cheeriness and encouragement and positivity all the live-long day. It's scary really, to think that my moods and feelings have that much of a sway over the moods and feelings of my kids. So much power to use for good or evil! I'm not sure I want to contemplate that too long...

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm pretty sure my almost 2 year old called a guy an a--hole last week.

No idea *where* she heard that ...

Nowheymama said...

Pretty makeover!

My three-year old keeps saying, "Look at me. I talking to you."

Jess said...

I like the new look! And I also think it's hilarious when kids say inappropriately adult things.

Katy said...

I love it! Charlie can't talk, so I have a tendency to just fill in what I think is on his mind. . . Lord help me if ever does actually talk like that!

Hillary said...

The new look is so pretty and clean.

And I am SO trying the positive parenting trick ...

Swistle said...

Hey, nice digs!

4yo Elizabeth said to me, "What do you suppose we're having for dinner?" She also says to her brothers, "That is a very rude response!"

Mommy Daisy said...

I like the new look. Sometimes we just need a change.

Ha ha, I'm surprised at things Zachariah says too. I'm just thankful that we don't say bad things to begin with, nothing bad for him to repeat. But here are plenty of things that he does that make me realize it's how I was talking.

Mary O said...

Your bit about Eli's thighs made me remember the day that I realized that I had my MOM's thighs. Not a great day.
I'm laughing at Addy's piss comment. Where do they get these things?

Fine For Now said...

Too funny!

I just ordered the positive mom book...I need all the help I can being a good mom ;-) Sounds like a great technique!