Bath Time

A few years back, I remember seeing crayons which were marketed specifically for the bath tub. Apparently, they would mark when wet and come right off. I thought this was a great idea, but not having kids at the time, I didn't get any. When we made the mad-dash run-through of Target when we discovered a few extra nooks and crannies in the crates, I didn't remember then either. Then, I found a website that showed you how to make your own 'bath tub paint'. Intrigued, I looked further for some ingredient that I just can't find here, but low and behold, I had ALL the ingredients! (If you want the directions, you can find them here).

Tonight was a BBQ and hanging out in the garden type of night. That translates, as most mothers know, to one disgustingly dirty child! I figured it was the perfect opportunity to try out the paints so that Em could get a good soak. It was a lot of fun, and the bonus was that since the paint was made with dish soap, my tub got squeaky clean in the process!

Emme was channeling Jackson Pollack on this one. Lots of serious concentration to work this masterpiece!
I loved how many of the gross and fine motor skills this activity worked... yeah, that's the teacher in me coming out.

We worked on our "1, 2, 3" and every time we get three, Em has to clap for some reason. Maybe she's proud that she said the number three... it is a bit tricky!

Story Time

One of the things I've missed being here instead of back in the States is Story Time at the local book stores and library. You see, I had a rough go at learning to read and am still a rather poor oral reader (my former students will all attest to the truth in that stament!). I worried that Em would only learn all the 'informal' reading skills (like voice inflection and tone) from me. However, she came up with a brilliant way of taking care of that problem: Saturday Story Time with Daddy!

Someone subscribed Em to the National Wildlife Federation Wild Animal Baby Series (whoever you are, God bless you!!!). They are Em's favorite books, and as she gets a new one each month, they don't seem to ever get boring to her like some others do.

She's now at the age where Todd can read the two sentences on the page, and then ask a dozen questions about the pictures and Em knows the answers. "Where's the red circle Emme?" These questions are eternally followed by the universal I-don't-know shoulder shrug...

and then she points, so proud of herself. "There it is!!!" It's a pleasure to watch Em and her dad enjoy such tender moments... and a pleasure to enjoy more than a sip or two of a warm cup of coffee!

Longest Month Ever

Some people consider February to be a rather short month, and if you look at it mathematically, it is the shortest month in the entire year. However, after one year in Illinois, I realized that while the actual number of days may be the fewest of the whole, entire year, it is the last month of winter... the sunshine is minimal and darkness is plenty, let alone the coldest and desolation of winter in the midwest... When we moved to South Africa, I figured that would change since our February is equal to the North American August.

That assumption was made, however, before Todd got sick... or Em got sick... or Cooper got sick... or the dog started eating my garden. That said, this has been the longest February in the history of Brittany Februarys! Em is finally just suffering from a slight cough, after a week of battling and one full day of feverish misery. Cooper's fever is almost gone, but I'm not sure if it's hanging around now due to his illness or him teething. One way or the other, he battled for a week and a half before finally spiking his own fever, never to be outdone by his sister. His new friend (which I'm sure he would kick to the curb if he could kick... or knew what a curb was) has also given my cloth-diapered little cherub a nasty diaper rash.

So, to help him out with that, he got to spend some time tonight, "nappy free" on a towel while watching some Praise Baby DVDs. Todd was a bit leery of the toosh hanging out, but I still hold that he has zero toosh, so it's fine. Therefore, if you are offended by infantil semi-nudity, don't look any further!

Why is it that little boys just love being in the buff?!

Home Sick

A few weeks ago, I was up in a mood after the kids were in bed. I was just missing Jamba Juice and In-N-Out and lamenting over not being at Grammy's house for Christmas... like I said, I was in a funk. So, I decided to do something constructive and 15 minutes later, I had a verifiable reminder of home!

It has quickly become my favorite shirt to put Cooper in, but he is, unfortunately, almost out of it. Em was down for a nap this afternoon, and true to form, my kids decided to tag-team me with Em going to sleep just as Cooper was waking up. No better time than right after a nap and snack for pictures though!

Um, Mom, don't look now, but there's a dog... a HUGE dog just outside that window. Don't make ANY sudden movements!!

Sir

There is an evolution and purpose to nicknames. When Em was born, a friend started calling her "beba" which quickly became "Beeba" and there, stayed. Cooper was our "Bubba," which Todd vehemently protested because that was also the nickname of Gandalf the Grey, our cat in the States. "Bubba," therefore changed to "Bubby" which Em started pronouncing as "Bobby," and there, stayed.

So this just became a house of crazy names (remember how I told you about our first cultural mistake when we named the dog Jabulani and shortened it to Lani, and Lani here means "rich, white guy"???) which seemed to fit the crazy people living here.

Today, however, Cooper's nickname has changed. I now affectionally refer to him as Sir Chomps-A-Lot... which is shortened to just plain "Sir." I was looking for something that worked with snapping turtles, but couldn't think of any. Besides, Sir is still fairly decent as far as nicknames go! If you watch the video, you'll fully understand. Please also bear in mind that this is only his second real meal with a spoon... I was using my finger, but it started to hurt.

Laundry, Flowers and Cereal

There are days where I am totally inspired and motivated to do and be everything. Those days, I feel like SuperMom! Then, there are days like today, where my house looks like the washing machine got sick in the middle of the night!

Due to a severe shortage of clean clothes this morning, I was forced to be a bit creative with Em. She was given this 6-12 months dress from my mother and I just adore it, but she had about 8 million other dresses at that age, and never was able to wear it enough for my satisfaction. But she still fits into it as a top, and so, hello cutie-patootie!

I couldn't let such a cute girl, on such a good hair day (she finally has enough for a clip... barely... if there's no wind and she doesn't touch it, which is really pushing it, but I still try) go to waste. So, once Coop was down for a morning nap, we explored the great outdoors... otherwise known as the carport!

Got these flowers for my birthday from Auntie Linda and they are Em's absolute favorites! Maybe I should pick up flowers instead of just growing "useful" things like veggies and herbs... hum.

Another major event happened last night. Funny to think about it because I just got it into my head to do it because, well, it just popped into my head. Cooper has been watching us all eating intently for a few weeks now. By that I mean, if I'm holding him and anything is brought to my mouth, such as coffee, he will literally turn his entire body into a squirming, squiggling worm in order to crane his neck to watch the whole process. He then gives this very pitiful look of, "do I get any?" He officially turned 5 months last week and is able to sit up, just for a few seconds, but handles it like a champ with even the slightest help. So last night when he was just throwing a fit (Todd had coffee and I was noshing on piece of chocolate) I figured I couldn't put it off any longer.

With Em, it was a BIG production: video camera, special organic food that required a special trip to the store, etc. This time, I just started hunting in the cupboards to see what I could come up with. I found some cereal (which I truly despise all by itself) and threw it in with some liquid and there you have it: Coop's first meal!

Needless to say, he LOVED the stuff, and got very angry with me when I cut him off. I think, if I'd let him, he would have eaten the whole box!

"Hi, I'm Cousin Braedo's twin... don't mind me, I'm just hangin' out, eatin' some cereal!" (Seriously Hil, I need a picture of him to put next to Coop... totally uncanny how much they look alike!)

Claimed

I love the books and movies by the author L.M. Montgomery, known for Anne of Green Gables. Somewhere in there, the main character (whom I fancy myself to be much more like than is true) says something to the affect of "there's a book of revelations in everyone's life." Today was one of those days where you're tired by 7am and the day just seems to go downhill from there. It was hectic and hurried... and then I received an email from a friend. As clear as day, I was able to open my book of revelations. Some people might say it's like looking into a mirror, but it was so much more clear than that... almost like watching a movie of things that haven't happend yet, but none-the-less, there you are, as the starring role.

Maybe we all need to be reminded of what our book says. Sometimes, between the dishes and the laundry and the dog and the kids and the... whatever, I forget. I forget that my kids are watching. I forget that they grow so fast. I forget that while they may not remember me making the cupcakes for the pre-school party, they will remember me being there. I've always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom, but sometimes, reality looks a bit different than the dream. Never, when I was a girl dreaming of having kids of my own, was mopping up a muddy floor from my toddler who just so happened to learn how to (with help from her trusty dog) shimmy the gate open just enough to go and play in the good ol' South African clay, a picture in my fantasy. Nor was doing an entire load of laundry because my son has a personal distain for all things clean and non sour-milk-smelling, something I thought of. I always pictured those "Hallmark" moments with the pristine children in their sparkling white clothes running off the playground into open arms as we hustle home to go share some hot chocolate and graham crackers while talking over the day. (Like I said, I was a GIRL in those dreamy days of old!) But then, when this friend emailed, I was suddenly reminded of why I wanted to do this job of "mom" in the first place. This may seem odd to some, and others may say, "but there has to be more" and perhaps, some day, there will be, but for now, my priority is to my family. My friend wrote: "being a mom is my raison d'etre." My Spanish is rusty, but my French is nearly non-existant, so I wikipedia-ed it (yes, I made up that word, but maybe it'll make it into the dictionary some day... just like "googled" and "tweet" made it in) Raison d'être is a phrase borrowed from French where it means "reason for being"; in English use, it also comes to suggest a degree of rationalization, as "The claimed reason for the existence of something or someone." "The claimed"... I love that. Yes, I'm a mom, but it's up to me to claim my kids, both for myself and for Christ. So while I'm sure this was too heavy (with not enough pictures I'm sure) for some, maybe, just maybe someone else will remember that we are here to claim as loved and for Love... our family, our friends, our loved ones, because we first, were claimed.