Winter in Phoenix

Fireside Park, Phoenix

The green boogies, white boogies, runny boogies, and crusty boogies. I swore that I would never have on of those boogie faced kids. You know the ones who you are afraid to hug because you would not want their boogies rubbing against your hair, face, or sweater. I've learned that during Toddler years, colds are unavoidable. Regardless, I have had enough of the sick season and have seriously considered locking Olivia , my 2 year old, up in a bubble until all of the humans around us stop leaking boogies.  But, that is not a reality. I am the Pre school teacher to her class, and we will go insane if we are locked in our home for more than 3 hours. Vitamins, Vitamin C, herbal non-caffeine tea, honey, water, the boogie bulb, humidifier, and rest has gotten us through every cold and germ out there. I pray we stay healthy! My hands are dry from washing and sanitizing, our classroom reeks of disinfectant spray, and Olivia is so trained to ask for a tissue and hand sanitizer that the regimens are in fact annoying. I had no idea Phoenix, home of the Sun would have such an intense cold season. I guess Olivia will develop an insanely strong immune system able to fight off these germs so that next year we will be even stronger with germ muscles!  It's part of the Toddler stage-
Oh well. There is always something. Right now we are so happy for the weather that it makes up for the boogies.  We have been out at parks, riding trains and carousels, feeding ducks at the pond, and all the while  able to enjoy the steamy hot tub at night. There are certainly bonuses to living in Phoenix! There are so many things to do with children and so many great friends to do them with!

Rail Road Park, Scottsdale

                                                                   Anthem Duck Pond

There are some things that as a Mom - you just have to laugh at, other wise you mine as well go completely insane! Olivia, my amazing 2 year old, has decided that she is in fact the boss...of everyone.  She walks up to our car, and says "Livi's Car". She walks into our house and says, "Livi's house. She walks into her room and says "Livi's room". This of course is accurate, it is her room. But she also has decided to called me "Mine" instead of "Mommy" and has directed me in ways such as, "Mine, Uppie. Walk. Milk. Wawa. Bath time. Eat time. No sleep time." And there are days when this is exhausting, as I am constantly reminding her and redirecting her back to reality, telling her that no- I am the Mom, I am the boss, and she will follow my schedule. Of course I try balancing the control issues that flare up during the day by offering her choices with simple things such as a banana or strawberry, the park or the pool, shoes or boots? But the mystery remains how such a small, cute, new-to-the- world little human being can in fact claim so much control. For example during a visit to the store, she threw her boots across the room, climbed out of the stroller (yes she was buckled in at the time) and stripped off her underwear yelling, "Mommy! Peepee time!" Wow. Ok. Ultimately I admit that I am jealous of such freedom, and irresistible control.

                                                                        Fireside Hike
Thank God for Mommy friends. Just when you think that you have lost it, your Mommy friends remind you that you are ok, and in fact doing a great job as a Mom. SO here's to you Mommy friends--- for encouraging, listening, sharing stories, laughing, and even lying when you have to just to make your self and your friends feel  like its all going to be ok. You know when we say things like, "it's just a stage, this will pass, you look great really, and oh your little one is so cute!" When in fact the truth is, -this stage is one of many more frightening ones ahead of you, this will pass with another heap of challenges in line, you look like you haven't slept in days, and your little one is driving me crazy at the moment! Come on. The truth is hilarious!
A few helpful tips that have been getting Olivia and I through some of our "stages"

1) I tell Olivia what she CAN do rather than NO, or what she can't do- "You can stomp your feet when you are mad"
2) I tell Olivia what I expect of her such as, "you will put this toy away when you are finished- or you will eat your food before I give you a treat"
3) I break things up into simple steps. "First lets get your socks. Now lets put on your shoes. Ok. Lets go outside. First sit down. Now lets color. Ok time to clean up".
4) We use a visual schedule when things are challenging. The photos explain what we will be doing
5) I am taking away a privilege or a treat as a consequence for misbehaving
6) We have been using "break time" as a way to control and calm down before behaviors get out of hand. Olivia will ask for a "break time" if she knows she is getting out of control, and will sit down and count to 10
7) I tell Olivia what she did well during the day."I love how you shared that toy today with Dylan!"
8) Olivia is able to make requests during the day, however if it is not reasonable, I tell her, "I'm not willing to do that right now"

10) I give 5 minute and 2 minute warnings before we change activities- "2 more minutes to eat, then its clean up time".

Learn and Play Pre School Class

Sometimes these tips work like a charm, other times I am screaming on the inside. But the more tricks up my sleeve the better! Sometimes working with autistic children was easier because I was not constantly having to negotiate! It seems it's always easier with someone else's child....

Anthem Picnic

The Great Out Doors!

We are so happy that the weather in Phoenix has reached a near perfect temperature! There is so much to do, and the children are enjoying the Great Out Doors!
recently, during our Learn and play Class, we went out side with glass jars, soil, and seeds to plant and water our first seedlings! We pray they grow :)

This week we also went on a hike with the toddlers. Out back near our community center are the Sonoran Hike trails. It was about 3 miles, and 1 hour that we all hiked up and around the bend viewing mountains, plants, and sky as far as the eye can see.  It was wonderful!!
Some funny things that happened this week in the Great Out Doors...
Olivia told me a sad story about a bug. It went something like this, "Oh buggy. Nooo. Mommy, buggy urt. Boo boo buggy. Mommy, buggy go poo poo and cry". Olivia also is learning NOT to eat sand, flowers, and rocks that live in the back yard. With sand out lining her little mouth, she says to me, "Mommy. Ewww. No no sand." Um. Too late! And flowers. Olivia can not stop herself from picking what little flowers we have. Yet there is no way I can scold her when she kisses the flower and hands it to me saying, "Wuv you Mommy".
Gotta Love the great Out doors!

November Pumpkins

Pumpkin Patch Play date! What a great time!

Moms from our Learn and Play class went to a Pumpkin Patch last week and had a great time!

They had a corn maze, petting zoo, tractor, lady bug train ride, bouncy house, and of course, PUMPKINS!

After arranging the car pool, which means putting car seats in each others cars- if you have done this- you understand! the sweating, pulling, grunting, and fastening of mysterious straps is all very painful- once done, you hopefully get some car time with your girl friend Mommy. That is unless you are playing spaghetti arms to reach for the sippy cup that just fell, or singing ABC's for the 100th time, or cleaning up your entire out fit plus the car with a single baby wipe. Come on. You know you've done these things! And once you all arrive in one sane piece, the day is wonderful! Big pumpkins, small pumpkins, and the kids want them all! Savor in these adorable pics :) xox V

animals at the farm

the pumpkin patch (Fatou, Tristen, Livi)

farm chickens (Dylan)

Logan

Lady bug train

Corn Maze

Tractor

Trent, Gabe, and Olivia

Yeah for pumpkins!

Dress Up!

Dress up!

We all love to dress up...think about it. When was the last time your hubby asked if you wanted to go to a black tie dinner and you didn't say, "YIPPIE!!"

So let's not let the fun stop at Halloween. Dress up is a blast, and it emotionally and socially is beneficial for your child (therefore you).  I have a bin of scarves, hats, beads, and shoes that Olivia loves to dress up with. I also give her the freedom to choose different parts of her out fits each day, and her p.j.s at night. She is enjoying imaginary play, and is so creative with what characters she invents during dress up time. I encourage dress up for children, and adults. Want to have a girls night out anyone???

The fascinations of a child

Choo choo trains. We enjoyed a day at The Scottsdale Train Park, which I highly recommend, and Olivia was beside herself.  She could watch, talk about, and ride trains all day long and never tire of it.  What decides a child's fascination? Is it something new? something predictable? Something that they don't yet understand?? So many things are new to a child. It is in their delivery makes these new encounters fascinating, or boring.  Think about movies and TV shows... the delivery is so tempting that you are drawn into it. When we introduce foods, books, and other experiences and we are excited, curious, and also fascinated, our child will be drawn into the experience with us.  Sometimes I look at situations from Olivia's view and let myself feel 23 months old...unexpectedly awaiting the new events each day.  Living as a fascinated child can be so much fun!

How many Hours are there in a day?

Sometimes I think that I can create extra hours in the day.
But with a toddler, everything either takes twice as long, or runs backwards.
We have accomplished potty training, and this is major for us. I guess that I forgot that this would mean sitting in the bathroom across from my toddler reading countless books and encouraging poop. This takes a long time.
Then there is going to the pool. Change of clothes. Toddlers try to do this with out help. Carrying bags. How strong is this little person anyway! Eating. Well...that takes so long that by the time we finish a meal its time for the next - or a snack at least. Chores. I need a set of chores for my toddler, and she wants to help so I must be patient and excited about this. Bath time. At least until we prune! Playdates. We can say good bye 100 times, and clean up takes an hour at least. And about Mommy time. That is limited to when little busy body is napping, or the in between minutes of independent play. How we make it to the library, play ground, grocery store, and lunch dates is beyond me. But if you see us there, know that it took a lot of effort for both of us :)
It is always fun, and there is always a story to tell at the end of the day---- which has how many hours?

I count at least 36 :)

Meeting Moms

It's a lot like dating-
tiresome, exciting, disappointing, and funny.
Meeting the Moms that you like who have the kids that your kid likes.
First I need to learn the culture of the city here. Phoenix is NOT Santa Monica, where I previously lived, and it's NOT New York City, who I previously was (sort to speak).  Its its own place. Good and bad to it. The summer. Bad. The homes. Good. The shopping. Wal Mart= Bad. The land. Mountains= Good. And so on.
I've tried Meet Up groups. I've put myself out there, trying to connect with Moms. Olivia tries to kiss every toddler she sees. I've even started a toddler Learn and Play class in my community---- but it is only time that will build the fortresses that I call friendship. The boats that keep us floating.
I was with a group of Moms who were talking feverishly about another Mom. I asked them "who is this Mom?" and they replied "you don't watch Moms of OC?" or some kind of reality show. No. I don't.  I am a reality show! We all are!
Is this everywhere? This escape into another person's drama, life, pain...ignoring our own- or numb to it?
I swear that I was able to share, listen, and be heard at times of my life. I swear I knew those kind of amazing people who thought beyond their city, beyond their TV.
Maybe my time to be dreaming, or to be far away in thought is just not now? Maybe it is all about the baby, the moment, the here and now. The "Mommy" stage of life. But I do still have dreams, thoughts, disappointments, and they must be shared even if I am typing them out into the great space of inter net land far and beyond. I know that other Moms look to connect with people, to share, and to feel.
so  that's the raw truth blog update. with out the poetry and photos.
not sure if anyone will read it. But send me luck as I continue to "Mommy date" and seek those friendships that are gold. because- God knows, I miss all of you who helped carry me through  heavy times. I need you now...