It's Friday, I'm in love

It has been a crazy week (again).  Bode was on Winter Break from school.  It is called a "Winter Break," but it is not a break from the winter weather. We had planned to visit Nana this week. But the weather prevented us from hitting the road.  Hopefully we will be able to visit soon.

This week, we were very low key.  

We made banana bread. We are enjoying it.  But more than that, I love baking with my babies.  The babies got pizza from Mama Mia's twice this week.  We ate cookies in bed while reading stories. It was definitely a week where I relaxed food rules, and it was fun. I loved not stressing about what to make for dinner, or how many fruits/veggies Bode and Gianna have eaten (or not eaten).

We also watched TV.  Aunt Dawnie sent us the classic "Cinderella."  Gianna was very scared by the cat.  She came running to me and refused to leave my side.  So I sat with her for a bit and talked about how it is "just" a cartoon. But then, I forget that her little brain doesn't work like mine does. TV is 'real' in her world. She loved watching Cinderella turn into a princess.  I love how the mice say, "Cinderelly." 

We went for haircuts this week, too, since Bode's hair was in his eyes.  I asked him how he wanted his hair done and he said, "Very short."  So that's what we told the hair stylist. The hair stylist complied, with clippers.  

I really prefer his hair on the longer side. I'm not a fan of the "boy cut." But I think Bode should choose how his hair is done. I always love seeing his smile.

It's been over three weeks, and I love seeing this baby's skin clear up.  He looks so much better. I miss drinking my Starbuck's mocha, and miss eating all things cheese, but I can live without.  I love seeing this little guy's head free of rash and scratches.

On Sunday, it is my blog anniversary, or "blogoversary." I missed last year! So this year, I'm celebrating twice, so to speak. I have some fun things planned. Stay tuned!

Happy Friday!

xo

Hair today

Today Bode and Gianna got haircuts.  We went to a dedicated children's hair salon that I found in a neighboring city. It's the same franchise we went to in Palo Alto.  I like this experience, and more importantly, I think the children do, too.  

Gianna was so tired by the time we got there. But she was a trooper, and so good, while Bode got his haircut and then while she got her hair cut.  Gianna got her baby hair snipped off! I had mixed feelings about this; hate to see the baby-baby stuff go, but also knew that she had dead ends that needed to be taken off.  

Her hair looks long when it is wet and combed out!

Her first "palm tree."

Her hair started curling up again even before we left the salon.

It wasn't until Bode was finished with his haircut that I realized I hadn't even snapped a photo of him.  I think I have a photo of every haircut he has gotten.  Here are his "after" photos:

Bode watching a little boy cry & scream during a haircut.

I am fortunate that both children do so well while getting haircuts.  There is usually a child in the salon that is crying and/or screaming.  Ai-yi-yi!  The drama! I feel so bad for the child, the mother, and the hair stylist.

Afterwards, we went to a shoe store and got Gianna fitted for new sneakers. This weekend, when I was putting her shoes on, I thought that Gianna's feet felt a little too snug. I was right: her feet have grown! I always feel bed, thinking that I'm shoving my kids' feet into too small shoes and they can't tell me. Bode's feet are the same size, so he didn't get any new shoes. I was wondering if this would be a problem. I worried that Bode would think, "Why is Gianna getting new shoes, and I am not?"  But he didn't seem to think anything of it.   That kind of thinking will come later, right. 

This weekend we drove to the "dacks," to Gore Mountain.  It is definitely bigger than the other two local ski areas.  But not anywhere I'd want to just hang out with Gianna. Why don't these places have nice lodges decked out with cushy sofas and fireplaces, a decent cafe, etc?  They need to get a clue from Park City and other areas. We drove into town afterwards and stopped at a little cafe for breakfast. I ordered the "lumberjack breakfast," and after the waitress had walked off with our order, RWF asked, "You do know what the 'lumberjack breakfast' means, right?" I told him that I was well aware of what I had ordered. When my food came, I cleaned my plate (Bode ate the 3 pieces of bacon).  It was delicious.   RWF laughed all the way home, and told me that he'd never let me forget the "lumberjack breakfast." 

Sunday, RWF took Bode skiing at West Mountain.  RWF said that he had the hardest time getting Bode to stop skiing. Bode gets tired, but isn't ready to stop. RWF always has to bribe Bode with food. I love that they go out to breakfast after skiing.  I love the idea of my two boys hanging out together. I think Bode really enjoys the time with his daddy. And I know that RWF loves it, or he wouldn't take Bode out every weekend. This may be the last weekend for skiing though. 

Today the high is supposed to reach 66 degrees. The sun is shining and I'm wondering why we are inside (naps).  I hated to use this beautiful morning getting haircuts, but Bode wanted to do that instead of going to the park.  (I can't explain it.)  This afternoon, I plan to take the children to a park.  We need to enjoy this beautiful weather while we have it!

Happy Monday.

xo
PS It should be noted that it snowed Friday night!  While Bode and Gianna were modeling their new rain gear, I looked outside and it looked like a blizzard.  I am gearing up for Spring, but becoming fast-aware that we are living in a totally different environment this year!

  

The third time's the charm

Yesterday, Bode and I made peanut butter, chocolate chip, oatmeal cookies while Gianna napped.  I let him lick the spoon when we were done. 

When Gianna woke up,  I decided Bode needed to get a hair cut.  It was close to nap time for Bode (even though, he really hasn't been napping) but I decided to stretch it anyway.  We drove all the way to the salon, and then when we pulled into the parking lot, Bode announced, "No, I don't want to. I don't want haircut."  I tried reasoning with him. I tried bribing him with a muffin.  I got mad and told him that he needed a haircut, we were here, and we were going to get a haircut.  He cried and said "I don't want to."  I thought about it being close to his nap time and figured it really wasn't so smart of me to pull this on him at such a vulnerable time.  So we drove home. I was really mad at him. I hissed, "I can't believe you won't get your hair cut!" And then, a few minutes later, I realized I was really mad at myself for (foolishly) thinking that I could do this so close to a nap.  Our drive home was absolutely silent. We got home and I put him to bed immediately. He didn't sleep.

That afternoon, we went to a play date with Bode's 'birth mate' Derek, and  friend Jack. We met at a park that had zero shade. It was hot and too sunny. Bode and Gianna were both covered in sunscreen, but the sun exposure was too intense. I had put Gianna in a sleeveless romper.  I didn't like how exposed she was, so, from my purse, I pulled out a pair of pants and long-sleeved top that didn't match. 

Bode and Derek

Gianna in Bode's old sunhat.

We ended up walking to the library and hanging out in the air-conditioned toddler area. The boys had fun playing with the Lego table and pulling books off the shelves for the mommies to read.

Bode left the play date in good spirits, and when we were driving home, he announced, "Go get haircut."  I eyed him in the rearview mirror.  "Really?" I asked.  He nodded and said, "Bode go get haircut."  So I turned the car around and drove to the salon. It was close to dinnertime, but I thought I would seize the opportunity while he was in good spirits. 

What is the definition of insanity? --doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.  We pull into the salon parking lot, and Bode starts crying.  He tells me that he doesn't want to get his haircut.  I get mad and tell him that I drove "all this way because you said that you wanted to get your haircut.  Now let's get your haircut!"  I unloaded everyone and we went into the salon.  Bode cried.  Then he peed.  We went to the bathroom and cleaned up. I changed him into new clothes. We re-introduced ourselves to the stylist. Bode continued to cry. So we left. This time, I wasn't mad at him. I wasn't mad at myself either. I just knew that I had made a mistake, listening to, and following, a 2 year old's suggestion. I shrugged it off and told myself to find the right time.

This morning, we went on our usual walk with Priscilla. While walking, I decided a morning appointment for a hair cut would be perfect. I called the salon for an appointment. I was told that there were no appointments available, but if we got there in the next few minutes, we would be squeezed in for a haircut.  I was about 15 minutes away from our house, but I hoofed it back as fast as I could. While I walked, I talked to Bode about the hair cut again. He seemed agreeable.  But, we weren't in the parking lot of the salon, were we?!

We get to the salon, and Bode makes noises about not wanting to get his haircut. I cajole him as we walk over. He is not crying but he isn't exactly over-joyed, either. We walked into the salon and there was a child screaming her head off.  She was screaming, crying and thrashing around.  Not exactly the picture that I want to present to Bode. I direct Bode over to the train table. I look over at the crying child, and see that she is in her mother's lap. Her mother is holding onto her tightly and another woman is holding the baby's legs down while the stylist is snipping away at her hair.  The child is crying so loudly that it hurts my heart. When the receptionist asks for my name, I literally have to hold my index finger up so that I can  take a minute to compose myself and swallow the lump in my throat before answering.  [side note: my mother always winces and looks upset when she hears a child crying, and usually always murmurs something like, "oh no, please don't cry."  I never understood this response by my mother. Until now. Now, I hear a child crying and my immediate response is tears. I hate hearing a child in distress!] The receptionist tells me that we have a 40 minute wait, but we can leave and come back in 30 minutes.  I grab the opportunity to get Bode away from the drama of the screaming child. We walk over to a cafe for a muffin and a mocha.

--Hi. My name is Heather, and I'm a judgmental person.
--Hi, Heather.

And here is where I put on my name badge:  Judgey McJudgerson.  Is it really worth it to put your kid into so much emotional upheaval and drama for a hair cut?  Is it really necessary to hold your child in a body-lock for her bangs to be trimmed? Or ask another mom to hold her legs down?  I drove to that stupid salon twice and turned around and drove home twice, because Bode cried and didn't want to get his hair cut.  I just didn't think it was worth the drama.  Maybe I am too easy.  But the scene before me at the salon, of the screaming baby being held down?  I realized that I was totally cool with my laid-back approach to Bode's haircut. As frustrating as it was for me to drive back and forth (and I realize not very many people have the time for that), I am glad that I don't have to "force" Bode to get his hair cut.

So what happened?  As we were walking back into the salon, a mom from Gianna's playgroup was walking out with her 16 month old daughter.  We exchanged pleasantries, and then the mom announced that her daughter was "throwing an absolute fit" in the salon, and told me, "she was trying to kick the scissors out of the stylist's hands, so another mom had to  hold her legs down." I mumbled something about how tough that must have been, and congratulated the baby on her pretty hair cut.  That was the mom and the baby?  The scene inside did not match the mom and baby on the outside, the two people we see on Friday play dates. I like this mom from Gianna's playgroup. She seems mellow and well, crunchy, in a cool way.  So I don't know how to explain the dramatic scene that unfolded inside the salon. Maybe it was just a bad day for everyone. Or maybe that's the way things are done in her house. And I guess that's just it:  I can't explain it. Just like I can't explain my behavior, my parenting style, etc. toward Bode and Gianna either. There are many moments that I am not proud of, many moments that I would like to request a "do-over" and there are moments, late at night, when I feel like the worst excuse for a mother.  I want to do the best for them. I hope, most days,  just by trying, I succeed.  And I'm sure that the other mom feels the same.

--My name is Heather, and I'm a judgemental person.
--Thanks, Heather.

So what happened with Bode?  He was great.  He got a little upset in the beginning, but then was distracted by the cartoon on the tv monitor.  He squirmed a few times, but the stylist was able to work with him easily. 

Looking absolutely tortured, but that really was not the case!

And somebody else got her bangs trimmed! It was a spontaneous decision, as I swiped her bangs out of her eyes yet again. And you know what?  She wasn't upset in the least. In fact, she kept smiling up at the stylist as the stylist snipped away.  It was pretty funny. It's like she knows that she's got a lifetime of beauty appointments ahead of her, and is ready to get started.  Unfortunately, because I was in such a RUSH! to get to the salon to snag a walk-in slot, Gianna showed up in mismatched pajamas!  But, as the stylist remarked, "Doesn't matter, because she is still beautiful."

Love that belly!



Bow added by the stylist


The tiny snippets of Gianna's baby hair are saved in a plastic baggie. And I am so happy to not have to brush the hair out of either baby's eyes.  Happy Thursday, everyone.
xo