Mommy and Me Class - Week Three

Today, we had our third class. Jayden went in with the usual serious look on his face, but he warmed up very quickly. Our story today was the Three Little Pigs. After the story, the instructor had straw, wood (Popsicle sticks) and bricks for the kids to feel and explore. The kids loved the straw. It has a very different texture and a distinct smell. It was everywhere. The kids really liked the popsicle sticks too. Then it was craft time. They glued together a piggy’s face together and then colored it. It was very cute. It’s always hard to tear Jayden away from the craft table, but when the parachute came out he came running. We played with that for a while and then we built houses with blocks and practiced blowing them down. Of course, they really enjoyed knocking the blocks over. At the end of the activity, the kids helped with clean up. I’m still pleasantly surprised at how much they want to help at this age. We closed with a song and made it out just in time. A rain storm had just ended. I am really enjoying sharing this time with Jayden and I’m hoping that there’s another class we can do together after this one is over. I’m learning just as much as he is. Lots of times, I refrain from certain activities because I think to myself, he’s too little or he doesn’t get it, or it’ll just make a mess. I’m so wrong. I need to do more. He’s this little only once.

A Compilation of Funny Jayden Moments

One day, we were in the car running errands and afterwards we were deciding on what to do for lunch when Jayden announces “want more”. I knew he was hungry and reassured him that we were going home and we would have lunch there. Obviously he wasn’t comforted because he said again “Mommy, want more.” I again reassure him that we’ll eat soon. He responds with, “There it is!” There what is? What is he talking about? I look over and he’s pointing to the Golden Arches! You’ve got to be kidding me. He’s two and he already knows McDonald’s? We barely ever go there.

Jayden competes for attention with Maya in the subtlest of ways. He’s never downright mean, but always makes his point. Maya typically spits up when she’s burped. So, I get her burp cloth and wipe her with it. So Jayden has started to spit so that the drool is hanging off of the side of his lip and then he shows me his pucker very carefully so that the drool doesn’t drip so that I can wipe his face off too. What a guy.

This week, we’ve been watching the computer animated movie, Monsters Inc. Jayden will bring me the remote control for the DVD player whenever he wants to see it. There’s a scene in the movie, where the monsters are coming onto the floor reporting for duty and they kinda show them in slow motion. The other monsters (the assistants) are watching in awe and one of them says in a really goofy voice “They’re awesome!” So Jayden repeats, “Awesome”. It took me by surprise the first time and I couldn’t figure out what he was saying. Was that awesome? No, can’t be. We never say that. But I started to notice him saying it every time that scene plays (and that’s a lot), he says it. Makes me smile every time!

Mommy and Me Class, Week Two

Jayden and I had our second Mommy and Me class. Jayden seemed happy to go, but once he got there, he became very clingy and super serious. He was not smiling at anyone or anything. This week, the story was Jack and the Beanstalk. So we had story time and then we passed around containers full of beans with little treasures hidden inside. Who would have thought the kids would enjoy this so much. They were thrilled and played with the beans and looked for the toys hidden inside. It was so simple and so great. Next we had a craft. The kids painted a picture of Jack climbing the beanstalk and had the chance to glue beans onto their coloring sheets. I remembered what happened last week with the glue stick so I scrapped that idea. Jayden refused to wear the cover I brought along to protect his clothes so we proceeded with caution. It wasn’t bad at all. It was great and he got a kick out of putting his brush in and out of the colors and cleaning the brush in cups of water.

Afterwards, we played “Duck, Duck, Goose”, but the kids were all two years old and they didn’t get the concept so this didn’t work. So we moved on. We practiced up and down since Jack climbed up and down the beanstalk. We each grabbed a hold of a parachute and brought it up and down. The kids got such a kick out of this. Most ran under the parachute, but Jayden was perfectly happy helping raise and lower the parachute. Finally, he was starting to warm up to the other kids and moms. At the end, we had song and dance time and then class was over. This week was a little disorganized since there was only one instructor and she’s in training. Plus, there were some new faces since last week, but everything worked out well.

I love these classes. It’s the only place where it doesn’t matter what Jayden does. He’s never in trouble and never getting reprimanded. He can run and play and doesn’t have to hear me saying don’t do this or don’t touch that. It’s very relaxing when you just let the kids do whatever they want. I run a pretty tight ship at home so it’s great to take him to places where it’s all fair game.

This picture was taken the first week. He loves those foam building blocks. He stacked those up all by himself.

He's such a goofy boy.

Here's week two. This was after the parachute activity. He was happy from then on out.
Here he is working with his little friend, named Maya, just like his sister. They were working together to build the tower and then knock it over. Hmmm. Maya attends Mommy and Me class with her nanny. I thought this was odd, but didn't give it a second thought. Then at today's class, Maya's mommy came for a "visit". She stayed for about 10 minutes and left. Hmmm.

Fussy Girl!

Boy, oh boy! Maya sure has been fussy. Esteban told me she gave him a hard time on Thursday, but when I picked her up from the sitters, she said all was well. Hmmm. Then Saturday, it was chaos. Maya kept fussing and wanted to be held and whenever that happens, it automatically triggers Jayden’s desire to be held, coddled, played with etc. So by Saturday night, I was pulling my hair out and I did it. I reached my finger into her little mouth and aha! I felt it! A tooth. A tooth is breaking through. How exciting. Where is my little newborn baby? She’s growing up before my very eyes. Tylenol came to the rescue. In case you’re wondering, so far no biting! Very thrilled about that, although I’m sure the dreaded moment will come.

Mommy and Me

I try so hard to spend as much quality time with the kids as possible. Sometimes I have to prioritize, but that’s ok. I love being with them, but I think it’s important to spend time alone with each of them. When I run errands, I take one or the other with me but that’s not really “quality” time. I nurse Maya and when Jayden isn’t vying for attention, it’s a really special time between Maya and I. To me, it was really important to spend quality time with Jayden too. So Jayden and I started “Mommy and Me” classes.

At first, I didn’t really know what to expect, but after our first class, I was very happy. It was very structured, which is important because I feel that Jayden doesn’t get enough of structured activities. First the kids sat in a circle and listened to the story of Little Red Riding Hood. They had a puppet that they used to tell the story with and afterwards, they passed the contents of Red Riding Hood’s basket around the room for the kids to see. Jayden was very good about passing the items to the other kids. Then there was a craft activity where the kids created a Red Riding Hood puppet out of a toilet paper holder, construction paper, and a glue stick. Jayden was glue everywhere and there was no tearing that glue stick away from Jayden. Then, the kids practiced over and through since little red riding hood went “over the river and through the woods”. The kids jumped over shapes on the floor and went through tunnels. Jayden hasn’t mastered the skill of jumping yet so I grabbed him and hopped over the shapes which he enjoyed just as much. As for the tunnels, Jayden thought it would be more fun to roll balls through them, but then I rolled one in and asked him to get it and he did it! Then there was dance time. Again Jayden struggled with wanting to do his own thing and I didn’t want to force him into doing anything at all so we just went with it. Finally, we sat with our kids and sang songs and all the while I was hugging and kissing my little man. And then the class was over.

Next class, we will be painting! Should be interesting. Jayden has painted before at the sitter’s but this will be my first time with him. Can’t wait!

Anniversary Weekend

Our wedding anniversary was on Friday, but both Esteban and I were working so we decided to celebrate it over the weekend. Esteban had requested Saturday and Sunday off so we could spend some family time together. I was so excited.

On Thursday, Esteban brought me chocolate covered strawberries. Yummy. They were huge, juicy, ripe and delicious.

On Friday, when I came home with the kids, I found a card and a rose in my bedroom. It was beautiful. I do believe it was the most beautiful rose he has ever picked out for me.

Saturday was what I would consider the most perfect day. We took our time in the morning without rushing ourselves or the kids. We had breakfast, showered, dressed and left the house with no real plan. We headed to the park and let Jayden run around while daddy chased him. I sat on the swing with Maya and watched. Here are the boys at the slide.

Here I am with the kids. I love this!
Unfortunately, we heard some thunder. We decided that was a good time for the grand entrance so we dragged Jayden away and went off to the next stop.

We took Jayden for a much needed haircut. I was armed with all sorts of goodies in hopes that he would stay as still as possible. A box of gummi bears, an applesauce and a box of Chex treats later, the haircut was over. The cut turned out well. It can't be easy to cut a two year old's hair. Jayden was moving around so much and there's a few missed spots but it's all just a part of his charm. It a little shorter than I had hoped, but it’s very cute on him. Here's the side view. He refused to look at the camera because he was busy coloring.Here's the back. The picture couldn't have turned out any better. If I had asked him to show the back of his head, he would have probably smiled and said cheese. ha-ha
After the cut, Jayden was pretty cranky so we took the kids home for a nap and then we went to church. It felt really great to go together. It had been a while. We decided to try the new Spanish service and we really enjoyed it. The pastor was very funny and it was a small but close-knit group. Afterwards, we decided to try a new place in town for dinner. We went to Guso’s Italian Grill. It was fabulous. We received the best service possible. We didn’t feel bad at all with the kids. It was definitely a family restaurant without feeling rowdy. There was great service, delicious food and did I mention we really enjoyed ourselves? I was so happy with how the day turned out. It’s too bad we don’t get to spend as much time together as I’d like because we really enjoy it.

Happy Anniversary

Today is my wedding anniversary. Six years ago today, I thought I had won the lottery by finding Esteban and marrying him. I used to joke around and say that the marriage license was my receipt and I could return him whenever I wanted, but I secretly knew I would never do it. Not then and certainly not now. Esteban deals with all my mood swings. He listens to all my ranting and raving, my vents and my nasty remarks. When I tell him I'm PO'd, he says I'm always PO'd and laughs. He deals with my pickiness and although it’s impossible, he tries to do things the way I would want them done. I’m sure the number of my pet peeves is mind boggling to him. I never give him enough credit for working so hard so that I could stay home part time with the kids. Not only does he work whatever hours he can get his hands on, he does a great deal of the housework and helps with the kids. He’s a wonderful man and I’m looking forward to many more years of marriage. I thank God for giving me such a great life partner. I am a lucky woman and I did win the lottery with him!

I should by no means quit my day job, but I wrote Esteban a small poem and text him the following:

Six years ago, I became your wife,

And I can't tell you how my life

Has changed and all because of you.

That's why I'm happy. This is true!

Happy Anniversary Darling!