"People Who Need People"

Having two kids instead of one means all sorts of changes - it takes longer to get everyone in the car, your own dinner gets pushed back farther or doesn't get remembered at all, there are two to cause night disturbances, and suddenly the cost of feeding and clothing your kids skyrockets.  It just seems like everything takes longer to do and more things don't get done.  However, I'm beginning to see the first glimmers of why you have more than one child.  Recently, Sam has become a lot more interesting (waving, clapping, crawling, playing more with toys) and Morgan is reevaluating her pint-sized sidekick.  Granted, she's realizing that he can suddenly get into all her stuff and that she might actually have to clean up after herself.  And that she doesn't really like it when he plays with "her" toys.  But with that is the dawning awareness of a new and permanent playmate who is not named Mommy, for which I give thanks.  Morgan needs people like most of us need our cell phones.  If it's not within reach, we get a little panicky.  When I go up the stairs, Morgan follows, even when I tell her I'm coming right back down.  When I go into the next room, she comes too.  There have been times when I've locked myself into my bedroom because I need a minute of personal space, and that's the only way I can get it.  And then she bangs on the door and screams until I open it.  The thought of Morgan and Sam happily playing (or fighting) together, sans me, fills my personal space bubble with joy.

Morgan's little people issue might be behind our ongoing dilemma with bedtimes.  Sleep has never been much of a problem with Morgan; she took great naps and slept in late in the morning.  I loved that about her.  Ever since we took her crib rail off and inserted the toddler slat, though, she's been testing boundaries and fighting her routine.  Potty training only made that worse, because she learned quickly that I couldn't really say no to her bladder (although after the 5th "I need to go potty" in a half hour, I started to get suspicious...). It seems like it takes a full hour sometimes to really get her to bed, and then she comes in a few times each night to tell me she has to use the bathroom, and then she trots in at 6 AM to breathe on me.  Nap times are terrible; full of potty trips, requests for her socks to be taken off, her sweater put back on, her pillow fixed, her ponytail taken out - anything she can think of to escape her room and make me crazy.  We bought her a pink clock and carefully taught her when she can get up, and even though she understands perfectly, she doesn't follow it.  We've tried threats, bribes, negative and positive reinforcement, ignoring, yelling, the other day I even took a present away from under the tree.  She screams and sobs when I take things away from her, but it makes no difference in her behavior.  So I've started to think that it's about people.  When she's in bed, she's isolated from the rest of us and is all alone.  And I think that she hates that more than being punished or losing things.  However, I hate that she's cranky all the time because she's tired, and I hate not having any kind of private time from my kid.  Solution: we turned her door knob backwards so that I can lock her in her room.  There are some out there who think that's barbaric.  I say that I've tried all their "humane" ideas and nothing has worked.  One lady commented online that being a mom means being tired and on call 24/7 for 18 years, so stop locking your kid in their room and start being selfless.  I think that's ridiculous.  Being a parent is about teaching boundaries, reinforcing consequences, sticking to schedules, and showing kids how the real world works.  And me going crazy isn't going to help my kids.

I'm stepping off my soapbox now, a little sheepishly.  Next post will be filled with fluffy lighthearted pictures and commentary, I promise, and help assuage your doubts about my parenting qualifications.

Disneyland Part Deux

Believe it or not, we actually did make it on a few rides and attractions in between photo ops. 

She was kind of puzzled that I would ask her to pull it out when it was obviously attached. 

Sam got two good naps a day in his stroller, and overall was a perfect child.

Morgan didn't get any naps, and consistently fell asleep every evening in her stroller before we left the park.

While we were waiting in line for princesses, Morgan made friends and played - preschool has done wonders for her social interaction.

Morgan thought the hotel was magical; elevators, fold out beds, and cable TV.  We almost had to drag her away from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse to go to Disneyland...

Erik was giddy in Cars Land - he was as excited to "meet" Mater as Morgan was to see Sleeping Beauty.

Tired little guy...

Ah, the Dumbo ride.

Christmas is really a beautiful time to visit the park - adds just a touch more magic.

The Bug's Life area was one of Morgan's favorites - very low key and  not scary.  My kid was scared of the Winnie the Pooh ride and Peter Pan.  No daredevil here, which means I'm stuck riding THE most tedious ride ever.

This flying ride didn't allow lap sitting, so Sam got his own seat belt, pretty wide eyed.

And bonus, my brother is getting his PhD in Irvine, so we got to see him for dinner!

 We had a great time, and while I'm not a Disneyland fanatic, I would definitely go again.

Happiest Place on Earth

Erik had his first week of vacation in November, and we live with a princess-obsessed child only 6 hours from Disneyland.  No-brainer, right?  For Morgan anyway.  We had all sorts of other considerations - money - will she even remember any of it? - naps - 10 month old child - naps - money - but in the end it all worked out.  Morgan has been preparing for this her entire life; she just didn't know it.

On our first of 3 days, we walked into the park and immediately met Alice and the Mad Hatter, who swept Morgan up into a dance.  That's kind of how our trip was - random moments of Disney fortuosity.

These pictures (lots and lots of them) should give you a good idea of how our time was spent: waiting in line to meet Morgan's heroes - and a few of Erik's.  There had better be princesses in Heaven, or Morgan will be disappointed.

One of our highlights: while waiting in line to meet Donald, she turns to me and says, "Mom, Donald Duck is real!" all full of wonder.  Sure, sweetie.

The pinnacle of Morgan's entire life.  She's still talking about it, and how Briar Rose invited her to the castle to play.

"I'm three!"

Random Cinderella mouse that somehow Morgan could name.  

"I want a horse.  A real one.

Mary Poppins and Bert randomly walking down the street.  We couldn't get near, so we stalked them and ambushed them in a quiet moment.  Disneyland MASTERS!

Erik's hero - Morgan had no idea who she was holding hands with.

And then all of Erik's dreams came true...

Halloween. I'm a little behind.

I'm going to say that I'm behind on blogging because we are so busy, fulfilled, and full of meaningful activities and outings that I couldn't possibly tear myself away to blog about it.  That sounds good.  The busy part is true, anyway, even if I'm not always sure what I did all day to be so tired.  Certainly not much that can be checked off a to-do list.  I really need to start putting breakfast, lunch, dinner, shower, and kids alive on my list, so that I realize just how productive I am each day. :)

I don't know how many of you have ever been in Arizona over Halloween, but it's a little different than other parts of the country.  I remember Halloweens in Illinois growing up where it was so cold that we ran to the neighbors on either side of us and were glad to be done.  Most of your costume was irrelevant, because it was covered by your coat, and crepe paper hula skirts are likely to be ruined by rain or snow (true story).  Sound familiar?  Well, not here.  Here you can shed the coat (heck, we still haven't brought ours out) and display your costume - although sometimes I wish the girls would wear a coat.  Or at least a shirt.  Here no one huddles inside waiting for the doorbell - they bring out lawn chairs and set up on the driveway, making Halloween a neighborhood block party, with candy for the kids and booze for the adults (first time I've witnessed "adult trick-or-treating").

We didn't think anyone would be knocking on our door in our gated anti-children community, so we went to Aunt Diane's house instead.  I handed out zero candy and came home with a bucket full.  Best Halloween ever!  Morgan had the spiel down - "Happy Halloween!  Trick or treat!  Thank you!" princess wave - and was really in her element.  By the end of the night, she could hardly walk because her bucket was so heavy, but she refused to hand it to me until I solemnly promised not to eat her candy.  I figured that was a "while carrying the bucket" promise, so I didn't feel badly about raiding all the KitKats later.  And maybe the Snickers.  And a few other things I'm sure she wouldn't have enjoyed.

Last year, Cinderella; this year, Sleeping Beauty.  She has informed me that she will be Ariel when she turns 4 and Tinkerbell when she turns 5.  I don't foresee any witches or ghosts in her future.

He was almost sweating in his little dog costume.  I made the mistake of buying it on clearance after Halloween last year, before we knew we were moving down south.

Sporting Erik's mullet, which is somehow revived every single Halloween.  I should have "lost" it in the move.