You know when you are sleep deprived, your emotions are so much closer to the surface? You know how you can be more edgy, jumpy, angry that much quicker than you normally would? You know how you can also be more goofy and more inclined to laugh at inappropriate things?
Good. I just wanted to set the stage for this.
Miss A loves kindergarten. She has some wonderful friends that she's made and we are so happy for her. It's not surprising that she's made these friends, but it's a relief, I guess, on some level. Anyhoo, one friend, Varshini, came to Miss A's birthday party and wore the most gorgeous birthday dress (black velvet with rhinestones, etc). So cute. Granted, she was the only one in an official party dress, but no one really noticed (except how beautiful the dress was!). ANYWAY! Varshini is already writing really well and has super fantastic handwriting. Miss A is constantly bringing home notes and cards and many many envelopes (envelopes and "getting letters" appears to be a big thing for Miss A and her compadres).
The other day, Miss A brought home a note from Varshini commiserating the fact that a little boy in their class has been teasing Miss A. Miss A had not brought this up, but this little boy has been calling many of the girls, "Baby Dinosaur". Can you imagine the horrors????
I tried to comfort my chagrined daughter and asked, "Who's calling you names?"
"Akshat!"
Yes, Gentle Reader.
Akshat is the name of one of Miss A's co-kindergartner. His name means, "One who cannot be injured," which is lovely in thought, but alas...it is pronounced, "Ox-shat." Unless you are in kindergarten (or, as I'm almost 100% sure, you have the emotional maturity of someone in middle school, but I'm not one to judge when one is calling my daughter, "Baby Dinosaur!"), and then it's pronounced, um, somewhat differently. And poor Miss A cannot quite get the difference yet...well, that's not true. She corrects herself after initially mispronouncing through substituting her erroneous short "i" sound with the corrected sound of the short "a" (you see where I'm going with this). You can tell that her sweet kindergarten teacher has been working mightily with the kids on this matter. Seriously.
But holy smack, Gentle Reader. It takes everything I have not to laugh or flutter my eyes at this. And I know I'm one to talk about names, considering with my own name or the name of Miss Q. But still. Bless this little kid's heart!
In fact, when Miss A later related the same tale to Super J later yesterday, Super J gave me a smirked look when Miss A made the same flub and then said, "Sweetie, I just don't think you need to worry so much about this kid making fun of you. Just be nice to him."
So. For my friends who are expecting, please please please think through the name you give your children. ...especially if you are thinking of living abroad, because the name that is so lovely in meaning in one country may not translate so well elsewhere. And that's my life lesson for all of us today, lol.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back...
There are some highs and lows happening here around The Zoo:
First, Super J and I are working hard to keep the house (ahem, the main level. Let's not get too crazy here) neat and tidy. So far (um...4 days of it), so good.
Secondly, Super J is keeping Mount Doom (aka: Mountain of Laundry) from reaching it's critical mass point by not only folding but putting it away! Thanks, Sweetie!
That's two steps forward, I do believe, so I basically got the title of this blog entry a bit wrong. Darn that new math!
That being said, we do have a couple of missteps happening simultaneously with all these happy things:
Miss O...bless her sweet little heart!...seems to have redeveloped the need to attach herself to my leg (think tree hugging) whenever someone she does not know approaches. YEGADS! It started Sunday at Miss Q's baby blessing (and those of you who were there can attest to it), and it continues these five days later. Tonight, we fed the missionaries and initially, she could hardly be in the same room with them. Very hard to manage both a clingy toddler AND a nursing infant. My favorite is when I've got Miss Q in her car seat thingy (which not only weighs a ton but is very cumbersome to get around things!) and I'm carrying something else in my hands and Miss O DEMANDS I hold her hand before she will go ANYWHERE and detach herself from my leg. Sigh.
AND! Miss E...has started wetting the bed at night. Hmmmmm. When asked about it, she says that she's afraid to go to the bathroom at night, but she says it grinning and laughing. It's hard to believe that she's that terrified if she's telling it like a joke. Anyway, she's wearing bedtime pull-ups for a while until we get a better handle on this situation. My feelings are that she is so tired out by the days activities (and that she drinks half her bath water before bed!) that she is in a deep sleep and doesn't wake herself up.
I have much sympathy for this, as I remember an event like this from my own childhood. I was maybe four, and it had such an impact on me that I can still remember it...I was dreaming I was in the jungle and in my dream I had to use the bathroom, BAD, so I kept asking where to go and was shown the bathroom "hut," but there was no toilet so I just peed on the "floor". In reality, I actually wet my bed, and got into some trouble for that.
SO! I'm trying to be loving and compassionate with Miss E as we work through this situation. Alas, as you can tell by the above story, she comes from a long line of bed pee-ers (on both sides of the family, truth be told).
Still there are worse problems, so I'm not really grousing. I'm just recording for posterity. One day, Miss O will be complaining when one of my beloved future grandchildren will be a Cling-On (get it??? hahahahha. I'm such a nerd!), and I'll tell her that she truly comes by it naturally.
First, Super J and I are working hard to keep the house (ahem, the main level. Let's not get too crazy here) neat and tidy. So far (um...4 days of it), so good.
Secondly, Super J is keeping Mount Doom (aka: Mountain of Laundry) from reaching it's critical mass point by not only folding but putting it away! Thanks, Sweetie!
That's two steps forward, I do believe, so I basically got the title of this blog entry a bit wrong. Darn that new math!
That being said, we do have a couple of missteps happening simultaneously with all these happy things:
Miss O...bless her sweet little heart!...seems to have redeveloped the need to attach herself to my leg (think tree hugging) whenever someone she does not know approaches. YEGADS! It started Sunday at Miss Q's baby blessing (and those of you who were there can attest to it), and it continues these five days later. Tonight, we fed the missionaries and initially, she could hardly be in the same room with them. Very hard to manage both a clingy toddler AND a nursing infant. My favorite is when I've got Miss Q in her car seat thingy (which not only weighs a ton but is very cumbersome to get around things!) and I'm carrying something else in my hands and Miss O DEMANDS I hold her hand before she will go ANYWHERE and detach herself from my leg. Sigh.
AND! Miss E...has started wetting the bed at night. Hmmmmm. When asked about it, she says that she's afraid to go to the bathroom at night, but she says it grinning and laughing. It's hard to believe that she's that terrified if she's telling it like a joke. Anyway, she's wearing bedtime pull-ups for a while until we get a better handle on this situation. My feelings are that she is so tired out by the days activities (and that she drinks half her bath water before bed!) that she is in a deep sleep and doesn't wake herself up.
I have much sympathy for this, as I remember an event like this from my own childhood. I was maybe four, and it had such an impact on me that I can still remember it...I was dreaming I was in the jungle and in my dream I had to use the bathroom, BAD, so I kept asking where to go and was shown the bathroom "hut," but there was no toilet so I just peed on the "floor". In reality, I actually wet my bed, and got into some trouble for that.
SO! I'm trying to be loving and compassionate with Miss E as we work through this situation. Alas, as you can tell by the above story, she comes from a long line of bed pee-ers (on both sides of the family, truth be told).
Still there are worse problems, so I'm not really grousing. I'm just recording for posterity. One day, Miss O will be complaining when one of my beloved future grandchildren will be a Cling-On (get it??? hahahahha. I'm such a nerd!), and I'll tell her that she truly comes by it naturally.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Milestone for Miss O
Guess what?
Miss O is now in her toddler bed. Last night was her first night and she did great--slept all night long. I think her favorite thing is the fact that she was able to get out of bed all by herself this morning and didn't have to wait for anyone to come and get her out of her crib. She looked really pleased with herself when she joined the rest of us this morning.
Now let's see how I feel about this in a few days when Miss O realizes that she can actually get out of her bed ANY TIME SHE WANTS. Oh, and that she can turn the doorknob on her door.
...to be continued!
Miss O is now in her toddler bed. Last night was her first night and she did great--slept all night long. I think her favorite thing is the fact that she was able to get out of bed all by herself this morning and didn't have to wait for anyone to come and get her out of her crib. She looked really pleased with herself when she joined the rest of us this morning.
Now let's see how I feel about this in a few days when Miss O realizes that she can actually get out of her bed ANY TIME SHE WANTS. Oh, and that she can turn the doorknob on her door.
...to be continued!
Hello from the Other Side!
So, we made it through the weekend with only one potential nuclear bobble (between my mom and Miss A, of all things! Ugh).
Miss Q's "name and blessing" went really well (this is where the baby's name goes on the official record of the church and they get a blessing, and Super J did a great job), and I was so grateful for my family and friends being there, but I don't think I breathed easy until after the actual Sacrament had been passed. I know there was a point where I actually let out a big breath and felt hugely relieved, mainly because I thought Miss Q was going to fill her pants during her blessing and that would be the only thing people (and ME!) would remember...a giant audible noise and grunt (and I totally had cause for concern because she tends to move her little bowels in the morning and she was squirmy squirming until she finally fell asleep at the end of the meeting). Happily, she held fast and waited until Monday for all her pooping (she had 5 throughout the day!).
Considering we had 10 kids and 5-10 adults in the house at one time, it could have been alot crazier than it was. I mentioned to someone as we were all trailing in to the church building that the fact that we were about 3 minutes early was like seeing the Children of Israel walk on the dry land after Moses parted the waters.
Looking back, all worked out just fine (with the above noted exception of the situation with my Mom and Miss A--and it was one of those things that could have really spiralled out of control, so I'm glad my brother was there to help mediate and that all of the other adults held there tongues while things got worked out). I'm not sure what it is that's in me that gets me wound tighter than a clock and chuck full of anxiety when people come to my house (hmmmmm...unless it's because of potential nuclear bobbles? I dunno). But I was pleased with it overall and truly felt blessed.
And did I get a single picture????
Why yes! I did. Of Miss Q in her car seat. But, of course, didn't get a single picture or moment of film, of any/all of us this whole weekend. Sigh.
Miss Q's "name and blessing" went really well (this is where the baby's name goes on the official record of the church and they get a blessing, and Super J did a great job), and I was so grateful for my family and friends being there, but I don't think I breathed easy until after the actual Sacrament had been passed. I know there was a point where I actually let out a big breath and felt hugely relieved, mainly because I thought Miss Q was going to fill her pants during her blessing and that would be the only thing people (and ME!) would remember...a giant audible noise and grunt (and I totally had cause for concern because she tends to move her little bowels in the morning and she was squirmy squirming until she finally fell asleep at the end of the meeting). Happily, she held fast and waited until Monday for all her pooping (she had 5 throughout the day!).
Considering we had 10 kids and 5-10 adults in the house at one time, it could have been alot crazier than it was. I mentioned to someone as we were all trailing in to the church building that the fact that we were about 3 minutes early was like seeing the Children of Israel walk on the dry land after Moses parted the waters.
Looking back, all worked out just fine (with the above noted exception of the situation with my Mom and Miss A--and it was one of those things that could have really spiralled out of control, so I'm glad my brother was there to help mediate and that all of the other adults held there tongues while things got worked out). I'm not sure what it is that's in me that gets me wound tighter than a clock and chuck full of anxiety when people come to my house (hmmmmm...unless it's because of potential nuclear bobbles? I dunno). But I was pleased with it overall and truly felt blessed.
And did I get a single picture????
Why yes! I did. Of Miss Q in her car seat. But, of course, didn't get a single picture or moment of film, of any/all of us this whole weekend. Sigh.
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