What A 'Thrill'

Somewhere around 1984 when I was a small child living in Massachusetts my grandparents came for a visit. Mom, dad, grandma and granddaddy were sitting on the couch in the living room talking and the TV was on. Michael Jackson's music video "Thriller" came on.

I actually remember this very moment in my young life. The video started and I watched. When the music started and the dancers began dancing I thought I could be one of them if I danced along with them. I started mimicking the dance moves (well, the best I could).

My parents and grandparents thought it was the cutest thing. They were giggling as they watched me dance along with the video. Mom grabbed her camera and snapped a couple pictures.

Now, in 2010, my youngest daughter, 14 months old has discovered for herself the magic of dancing. She loves to bounce up and down and turn side to side in beat with the music. Many of her toys play music and she's happy. When a song is finished she claps.

A movie was on TV yesterday and in the movie the song "Thriller" was played. Jessi immediately began bouncing to the beat. I jumped off the couch and grabbed the camcorder and videotaped it. I turned the volume on the TV up so it would get picked up by the camcorder so when it's watched you'd know what the song was Jessi is dancing to.

It sent me back in time to the first time I saw the actual "Thriller" video on TV and today I called my mom and told her about Jessi dancing to the "Thriller" song like her mommy had done so many years before.

Like Father, Like Son

For the first year of his life, my son, didn't want much to do with his daddy. John was a "mama's boy". Understandably so. Our oldest daughter was in school all day and Charlie was at work all day. He had me all to himself all day long.

John's now 2 1/2 and wants to do everything daddy does. He wants to sit with him on the couch, he wants to be in the garage with him. When Charlie walks in the door at night he runs to him to give him a hug and say hello. The stresses of Charlie's day melt for a moment when John comes running around the corner to greet him.

Back in November we had to replace my glasstop stove because there was a large crack across it and made the large burner unusable. I thought it was a safety hazard and tried to do as little cooking on it as possible. We bought a new coil burner stove. Charlie used a handcart to get the old stove out of the kitchen and bring in the new stove. John watched as Charlie unplugged everything and took a piece from the old stove to use for the new stove. John grabbed Charlie's screwdriver and began tinkering with the old stove. It was adorable.

John got a "Handy Manny Tool Set" for Christmas from my parents. He immediately went around "fixing" things. Just like daddy does. Whatever Charlie does around the house, John wants to be a part of it. He's Charlie's 'mini me'.

I love that John looks up to Charlie and wants to do what he does. I'm the 'stick-in-the-mud' mommy who makes him say "Please" and "Thank You" and makes him 'go' on the dreaded potty. But daddy, who only sees him a couple hours in the evening, is the "fun" one. The one who races matchbox cars, plays 'monster', has tickle fights and uses big tools and works on cars in the garage.

Potty Pops

Last weekend I buckled down and got serious with John's potty training. He's 2 1/2 now and I'd love for him to be completely potty trained by his birthday in June. Up until now he was alright with the idea of going on the potty, but never initiated going.

During the day when I would ask if he wanted to go potty he'd say "No" and run off in another direction. He would go at bedtime before brushing his teeth, but I couldn't get him to go any other time of the day.

I tried putting his 'big boy underware' on him in the hopes that wetting in regular underpants would be uncomfortable against his skin and encourage him to go on the potty. He did alright with it for a day or so, but, I'd put a pullup on him for naps and bedtime and when he'd wake up he wouldn't want to go on the potty and would go in the pullup.

I couldn't crack this one. So I gave in and decided to bribe him with treats. I told him if he made a wet on the potty I'd give him a lollipop. He perked up at the prospect of the lollipop and ran to the bathroom to sit on the potty. He did his busniness and asked for a "la la papa".

We went to the kitchen and I got him a lollipop only to discover it was the last one! I gave it to him and when he left the kitchen I searched for any other kind of candy we might have until I could get to the store to get more lollipops. I found some M&M's and I'd give him a couple after each trip to the bathroom.

That afternoon Charlie had to go to the parts store to get some things he needed to work on the car he has in the garage. He picked up a bag of lollipops for me while he was out.

Fortunately, I'm a stay-at-home mom and can focus on encouraging John to go potty during the day. I ask him every 45 minutes to an hour if he wants to go potty and he usually goes to the bathroom and does his business. (although, he won't do #2 on the potty yet, but it'll happen eventually) I tell him he did a good job going on the potty and give him a hug and say "Thank You for going on the potty buddy" he says "Ya wawa. La la papa??" (translation - "you're welcome. lollipop?"). Sure, bubby. You can have a lollipop.

Dinner And A Movie

Tomorrow is Charlie and my wedding anniversary. We'll be married 4 years. A lot has happened in 4 short years. I had a daughter when we met. After we were married we changed her last name from my maiden name to his name and she became his daughter. We've gone on to buy a house and have 2 more children. Busy Busy.

Last week Charlie made plans to surprise me for our anniversary. Yesterday evening my in-laws came over and I was promptly instructed to "go take a shower" and get ready to go out for the evening.

Slightly confused I look over at Charlie and he has a grin from ear to ear. He got me. I was taken by surprise, which for him, is hard to do. When he plans something that's he's excited about and knows will make me happy it's hard for him to keep quiet about it. It's sweet really.

So, I get myself ready and we head out the door. We went to TGIFriday's for dinner (which is the restaurant where we first met almost 5 years ago). We even ordered the same meal we each had on our first date. Which we weren't trying to do, we discovered that little fact half way through our meal.

After dinner we went to the mall to see a movie. We wanted to see one particular movie, but it was sold out so we settled on another movie. (based on the commercials we saw it looked kinda cool). We got our tickets, soda's and popcorn. We were both flabbergasted at the price of everything. Last time I had been in a movie theater a ticket cost about $7.50, now they're $10.25!!!!!! A medium soda was around $3.75 and a large popcorn was around $5.75. Now, the soda was actually a pretty decent size for a medium and when the guy behind the counter handed us our large popcorn my jaw dropped! It was served up in a lightly waxed paper bag, like the kind you get at a grocery store, lol. It was HUGE!!! (ok, so it wasn't exactly the size of a grocery store paper bag, but we didn't finish the popcorn and when we brought it home the remainder of it filled 2 gallon size zip top bags)

Ok, enough about the ginormous bag of popcorn. We found our seats and got comfy. The movie played and we held hands, sipped our soda's and munched some popcorn. By the time the movie was over the main portion of the mall was closed and people were being redirected out the back entrance of the theater. Well, we parked in the front of the mall. It was SUPER cold outside and we had to walk from the center of the back of the mall to the front of the mall. Our faces and hands were frozen when we finally got to our car.

We had a great evening together. It was nice to get out for the evening just the two of us.

Snow

This weekend about 18" of snow fell at our home. It came in the middle of the night while we were sleeping. When we woke up the ground was covered with a thick blanket of snow. It was beautiful. My husband wasn't as enthusiastic about it. I understand his point. When he sees snow he can feel the cold in his bones, anticipate all the traffic problems for his work day and the hours spent shoveling our very long driveway.

I love snow. When I see snow I feel like I'm in another world. It's crisp. Bright. Clean. Peaceful. Quiet. It reminds me of my childhood. We lived in a neighborhood with other kids my brother's and my age.

I don't remember what year it was, but I remember one snow in particular from my childhood. At the end of our driveway, just in between our house and our neighbors house was a street light. Dad got our driveway and sidewalk cleared and there was a huge mound of snow piled around the light post. A bunch of us kids decided to pack it down and make a "snow chair". It was awesome. There were probably half a dozen of us out there all working together to form this 'snow chair'. After the chair was finished we all took turns sitting in it and pretending to be the Ruler of some distant land.

After playing with that for several hours we went on to our front yard and gathered most of the snow in the front yard into a huge mound and made a snow fort. We sent my brother in to dig our a tunnel for us to all get in and dig out enough room for us to all fit in it. The guys dug and the girls made a window, the 'front door' and 'back door' of the fort.

Those were the good ol' days. That was back in a time were there were no computers, Xbox, Play Station, cell phones or even TV channels dedicated to cartoons/kid shows all day long. We played outside. In the fresh crisp air.

Unfortunately I wasn't prepared for this snow storm we just got. My kids don't have snow suits or gloves warm enough for playing in the snow. My son did go out for over an hour while Charlie was shoveling our front porch and walkway. I had him bundled in a wool lined thick jean coat, jeans with a fleece lining inside and 2 pairs of baby socks to cover his hands. He was having a blast trying to grab 'handfuls' of snow to throw at Charlie or at me on the other side of the front door.

The next day the snow was finally done falling. Charlie got bundled up to shovel our very long gravel driveway. Tabytha got herself dressed and I got John and Jessi bundled up. We all went outside to play. John was having fun, Tabytha soon lost interest and Jessi was miserable. She refused to walk and just stood wherever I put her. She had no interest in the snow. I don't blame her, it was pretty windy outside and the snow was nearly up to her armpits.

I think, as my youngest ones get older (and I'm more prepared with warm gloves and snow suits) we'll all have the same kind of fun I did when I was a kid.

It Runs In The Family

22 years ago I committed my first felony. I forged my mothers name. I was 7 and in second grade. I don't remember the circumstances leading to a letter from the teacher to my parents, but I was suppose to deliver it. Whatever I had done I didn't want my parents to know about so I hid the note from the teacher and signed my mother's name at the bottom. I took it back to school the next day and gave it to my teacher assuring her my mom had seen it.

Let me just say, my mom has the most beautiful handwriting of anyone I've ever known. I had relatively good handwriting for a 2nd grader. It was neat and legible. Nothing compared to my mom's calligraphic handwriting, though. So, my attempt at signing my mom's fancy handwritten name stuck out like a sore thumb.

I got busted.

Fast forward to yesterday. My oldest daughter is now in second grade. She does well in school, loves to read, has her own circle of friends. . .etc. . .

Yesterday I had a similar experience with Tabytha that my mom had with me so many years ago.

Normally, after Tabytha gets off the school bus she gets a snack, does her homework, gets her chores done and then has the rest of the evening to play, watch a show or two or read.

Sometime after Tabytha had finished her homework and I was in the middle of wrangling one of the little one's, she started writing on a paper. Nothing out of the ordinary. She loves to draw and there's usually some blank paper on the table for when she or John get the urge to draw a picture. So, when I came into the dinning room and Tabytha quickly stood up and put the paper and pen behind her back I knew something was up.

I put my hand out and asked "what are you hiding?". She gives me the pen she was using while her other hand was clenched behind her back. I asked for the paper behind her back and she gives it to me. I look at it and it's the reading calender that the school gives each student. It's a calendar that parents sign off on each day of the week their child reads at home. At the end of the month the calendar is turned in and the child receives a coupon for a free personal pan pizza at Pizza Hut.

Tabytha had signed my name to the remaining days of December. I won't lie. I was really upset. I gave her 2 swats on the butt with the spanking spoon and told her after her chores were done she was to spend the remainder of the evening in her room. At the dinner table, eating our pizza we talked about what she had done wrong and why it was wrong. It was a good talk. She understood what she had done and why it was wrong and sincerely apologized for it.

I can only hope and pray she learned from this and won't do it again. Heaven knows I didn't learn my lesson and went on to sign my mom and dad's name to lots of stuff when I got into 8th grade.

A Year Goes By So Fast

One year ago today Charlie and I welcomed our third child. She was a scheduled c-section because big sister and big brother had both been c-section babies as well. The day before I took Tabytha and John to my parents house to stay with them while I was in the hospital to have Jessi.

Nov. 25, 2008 Charlie and I woke up around 7am. I took a shower, got dressed and we headed out the door to have a baby. My c-section was scheduled for 11am and we needed to be at the hospital 2 hours beforehand to sign final paperwork and have blood work done.

We get settled into our room, sign paperwork, get blood drawn and get hooked up to IV's. Then we wait.

And wait.

And wait.

Time stands still when you're waiting to have a baby by scheduled c-section. I try to get some rest while we're waiting and Charlie's watching TV and relax. It's so hard knowing that in a few short hours we'll be holding our new baby girl.

The doctor comes in to say that the anesthesiologist is caught up in another surgery and we won't be going in at 11am. We have to wait until he's done with the patient he's with before we can have baby. We're disappointed and I'm at the point in my pregnancy that I REALLY want this baby OUT! So, I try to get some rest again, but the waiting is killing me!

FINALLY. The doctor comes in and says we're ready to go. I get taken into the OR to get my spinal while Charlie waits outside the door. I prep for the worst because both other times getting a spinal have been agonizingly painful. But, praise the Lord, this time he got the spinal in quickly and with minimal discomfort. I know what's coming. My body gets warm and goes numb. I'm laid back and the curtain goes up. Charlie is allowed in and comes to my side. He's giddy with excitement and I'm groggy and trying not to throw up all over the place.

This time around I actually wanted pictures of baby being born. I never wanted pictures with my other children. I had no desire to know what it looked like having a baby pulled out of my body, but this time was different. I NEEDED to see THIS child born. I had given one of the nurses my camera as I was taken into the OR and she was ready to start taking pictures once I was opened up.

I hear the suctioning and know they're close. I'm tired and numbly nauseous. The nurses know I've been through this before and don't sugar coat it when they say "You're gonna feel a 'little' pressure". I know it's coming and like each time before they press on the top of my pregnant belly to push baby toward the c-section opening and I let out a loud grunt as all the air is pushed from my lungs temporarily.

She's out! Nurses take her to the scale to clean her up and weigh her. Charlie goes with her to finish trimming up the cord. She's 8lbs 3.5oz and 20 inches. That's IT?!?! She's tiny compared to my other children at birth. I dub her my runt and the nurses whisk her off to the nursery, along with Charlie, as I get put back together and closed up. Then I'm taken back into my room and wait for Charlie and Jessi to come back from the nursery.

I'm exhausted, sore and overjoyed. Charlie brings Jessi back and I meet my little runt. She's beautiful and perfect.

Today my runt is a year old. It seems like just yesterday and at the same time it's hard to believe it's only been a year. Jessi has grown so much. She began crawling at 6 months old, sat up independently a week later. She has 8 teeth and she began walking just before 11 months old. She can be as rambunctious as big brother and laid back as big sister.

Jessi had truly blessed our lives and our family was completed when she came into the world.