Tag Team Reading

The Kitty Whisperer

Night Night

I didn't realize just how many new CUTE pictures I had to share until I sat down to put them on the blog. This girl makes it easy! We've had a couple more good potty experiences. She'll say absolutely anything except "thank you", "I love you" and "Carina". Yesterday as Kenny ran through the living room she said "Crazy Kenny". She has also taken to saying "Oh boy" after Daddy. Her new favorite anatomy word is "pits" and she loves to pretend to put on deodorant (weird kid). This week she is loving spoons, plates, stickers and candles. If anybody on TV has a bike or ball she immediately runs to get her own. This morning while I was working out she did some jumps and squats with me. She keeps my life exciting and joyful!

Peter is still bringing home the bacon so that I can stay home. Being in a supervisory role has its own set of challenges and he's learning as he goes. I met up with two good friends last night and I realized there are quite a few mom friends of mine whose husbands are in grad school classes at night or whose jobs keep them away overnight. I know those are great opportunities for those men and families but I am very thankful to have Peter here with me now. His emotional support, help around the house and most of all his quality time spent with Carina are so precious to me.

Not much new with me - my life revolves around Carina girl. At the library yesterday she had a meltdown because I was trying to help her play a computer game and wanted to sit on the stool behind her. She wanted neither and I came to the realization that she not only expects the universe to revolve around her she also expects to be in control of it, haha. I certainly don't want to set the precedent that she has the final say on what happens around here but she is so young to understand that message. Today she was upset because she wanted something out of our bathroom cabinet and I didn't know what she was saying so I asked her to calm down and help me understand what it was and she did stop crying so that I could lift her up and she could point to the sunblock (which apparently is "baby pits"). I think she is learning that she doesn't have to cry to get what she wants but it must be terribly frustrating to not be understood all the time - I get that. So this is my latest parenting dilemma.

But aside from Carina I'm in the beginning stages of planning a weekly small group with 3 lovely ladies. Peter put Carina to bed last night quite successfully (also this week she has put herself to sleep twice with no crying at all!) so I think we can all handle a weekly night out for Mom. I'm also planning on working a temp job for 2 days this week just to bring in a couple bucks and get out of the house. I don't know that I'll be making a habit of it but I do have some very excellent and generous individuals lined up for child care (you know who you are - thank you!). That's all the news from here. I think I'll go take advantage of Carina's nap time and relax a bit!