I'm a Believer

Every time I go to Walgreens, I find a new "As Seen on TV" product I'm dying to try. I'm SO hooked on these things. One minute I'm just running in to grab some milk or diapers. Then before I know it I find myself standing in this aisle, perusing the shelves for the latest gadget guaranteed to revolutionize my existence on this planet.

I've invested WAY more of my impulse money on this stuff than on M&Ms or magazines. PedEgg...got it. Moving Men...LOVE them. Mighty Putty...works on anything! Fasta Pasta...most awesome invention ever! I will even buy things for other people, and then be jealous of their new Mighty Grip or Magic Bullet or whatever.

Next on my list to try is the Strap Perfect, to hitch up my "girls," and the Aqua Globes, so I can quit killing my poor defenseless houseplants. I kind of wish I had a reason to buy the PediPaws because I'd love to try it out on the claws my cat doesn't have.

Maybe you are thinking I must be one of the most gullible people on the planet. Maybe I am, I have to concede that. Or maybe...maybe I'm just an optimist who's willing to give things a try.

Is it really so bad to be a believer?

Unbreak My Heart

Lately whenever Jaden doesn't want to be physically restrained or dissuaded in any way, she'll cry and say "Way from me!" Which basically means, take your hands off and don't touch me. Typically, I find this a little cute. So although I do the right thing and discipline her for speaking to me that way, I smile on the inside a little.

This morning I was cuddling with her on the couch and I whispered, "I love you, Babydoll" and leaned in to kiss her. She looked right into my eyes, shrugged me off and said "Way from me."

That hurt. Really, really hurt. She's only two, and I don't think she knows exactly what she's saying. Except, she does. She knows that she didn't want me stroking her face and kissing her, and had no problem voicing it. I don't think her intention was to make me feel bad, and 10 minutes later she was the one running to me for kisses.

Still...she broke my heart a little bit, and it hasn't fully healed yet.

Fortune Cookie Wisdom

Sometimes I think we are just too quick to judge other people as being asses. I really do try very hard to give my fellow man/woman the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes I cross paths with someone who is not the nicest to me. We all do.

Usually I tell myself... they are probably just having a bad day. Maybe they got in a fight with their wife or mother. Maybe they were late to work and yelled at by their boss. Maybe they got flashed on the highway. Maybe they overdrew their bank account the day before payday. Maybe they have strep throat but can't pay their urgent care bill if they call in sick to work, and that's why they are handing me my change without smiling and saying "Have a nice day!" I could think of a hundred reasons why someone might not smile at me, but you get the point.

Last weekend I was having dinner out at a Chinese restaurant with my family. The girls, who are usually great at the table, were a little crabby this evening. At one point, Jaden let loose a rather high-pitched shriek. The elderly couple sitting near us turned to look at her, and the man winced and shook his head, looking really put out.

I'm not used to people making faces at my girls. I thought to myself, what a grumpy old fart! Sitting over there, acting like an ass because a little 2 year old screamed. Get over it, I thought, and rolled my eyes.

A little later after we paid the check and were passing by his table to leave, the man smiled at Jaden. We apologized for her behavior, and were ready to walk out when he spoke up. He told us he had many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and was used to being around kids. Then he gestured to his hearing aid, which I hadn't noticed before, and explained that sometimes loud noises would cause horrible ringing and feedback in his ear.

My fortune cookie this evening said something about being lucky on the romance front. But what it should have said, was "Don't be so quick to assume people are jerks unless you want to be one yourself."

Words to live by. I'm telling you, and now I'm reminding ME.

Pirate or Ninja?

This evening we laid the girls down as usual in their beds. They were both awake but drowsy, and I expected them to fall asleep in no time.

About 10 minutes later, I hear Caitlyn sobbing in her bed. I rushed into see what the problem is, and find her standing in her crib, holding her blanket and crying for no apparent reason.

Then I noticed she had lost her binkie, so I began doing the hand sweep across her mattress in the dark, hoping I will find it. Nope. Floor? Nope. I shook out her blankets again and nothing. I finally resorted to turning on the light (only in emergencies should this be done!) but I still didn't see it anywhere. All the while, Caitlyn continued to scream and cry, and the tears were beginning to drip off her chin and soak her jammies.

Desperately, I called to Craig to help me, and he found it right away. In Jaden's MOUTH! The little sneak had been so quiet all along, which was very unusual for her when there's a screaming sister 10 feet away. She was just laying there snuggled up, trying to stay low I guess.

After settling them down again, I tried to picture this scene in my head. Did Caitlyn drop her binkie and Jaden, seeing a window of opportunity, rush in to claim the spoils? Or did she tiptoe up to her half-asleep baby sister, sneak a hand in through the bars, and try to pull the binkie out of Caitlyn's mouth without waking her? What do you think...is Jaden a pirate or a ninja?

My Anniversary Gift

For our anniversary in March, Craig gave me a digital picture frame. A really good one with lots of memory and plays music with the slideshows. I finally got a chance to set it up today and I love it!

I've been wanting one for the longest time. Every time we are brainstorming gift ideas for someone else (for any occasion) I say, "Ummm...how about a digital picture frame?" But it's just not something I could break down and buy for myself. So he did.

I think that's the nicest kind of gift...something the other person desires but won't give them self, for whatever reason. Maybe it's jewelry, or a massage, or even a wok. It takes some thinking and some knowing to figure out what that is.

I love my picture frame, and I love my husband for knowing me well enough to choose it. And every time I look at it, I will smile and remember that.

Open Your Eyes

If you have been dying to read a sappy "blue" blog post...here we go.

Last night I watched American Idol and I was really touched by what I saw. No, I don't get all choked up by singing and dancing :) In fact, sometimes even I don't get Paula's teary critiques.

Well, last night was the weekly elimination episode, where the contestant with the fewest votes leaves the competition. The person who lost was Scott, the singer from Phoenix who happens to be blind.

I remember back when they were doing auditions, I thought to myself how challenging it would be for him to participate, and wondering what kind of accommodations would need to be made. I wondered if the show would dump him right away in order to not have to do that.

He turned out to be pretty good, so he hung around awhile. Every week I took notice of how the other contestants aided and guided him while performing. They've been really kind and considerate about it. They are very subtle. You barely see what's happening unless you're looking for it.

To me, that's the considerate part. Because I suppose the show producers and directors can tell the others they have to help this blind competitor. But they can't make them do it in this gentle, thoughtful way...a way that allows Scott to become a member of the group, with the emphasis on his singing ability instead of his challenge.

Last night, the group performed a song together that required a lot of position changes, turns, and going up and down stairs. What I noticed was that at any given time during this performance, one of the others would be withing an arm's reach of Scott. They would ever so slightly touch his arm or elbow or hand, directing him where to go. They even seamlessly guided him up and down the stairs.

At one point, they were all lined up in a row, and Scott was a little too far forward. The person beside him didn't reach out and pull him back. He didn't say anything to cause Scott to realize he was out of position, or tell him to step backward. What he DID was take a small, quick step forward and make it look as if the two of them were out of line.

And THAT was the part that touched me. I know it's a small thing, just some singing on a reality TV show. But it gives me hope. It was a small moment of kindness that makes me believe in people. In the goodness and niceness of average, everyday people. Once you open your eyes and start looking for those things, they're everywhere. Open up your eyes and you'll really see.

A Cap, a Gown, and a Diaper

Today my baby graduated from her infant room at daycare to the One's room. She's walking, beginning to "talk", eating regular table foods and using a sippy cup, and has only a couple of comfort bottles a day. And, big shocker...I'm not taking this very well.

I really like the One's teacher. I feel very comfortable with her, and I was genuinely happy with Jaden's care when she was in that room. I'm not worried about Caitlyn.

I'm just sitting here, shaking my head and wondering what has happened to my baby? This is NOT a cool milestone at all.

Fruitcakes

Jaden and Caitlyn both become almost giddy when they see a piece of fruit. It's the first thing either of them want to eat. Jaden would do ANYTHING for a handful of berries. When Caitlyn sees an orange or banana she makes little singing noises and can't stop kicking her feet. :)

I hope this lasts for a long time! Can you imagine what it would be like as a girl in her teens, or as an adult woman, to crave fruit instead of chocolate or ice-cream or cookies or McDonald's?? How healthy and energetic you would feel? I want that for my kids.