Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
No thanks, I don't need any more candy!
Sometime yesterday afternoon, Matt and I discussed the fact that neither one of us would ever want to miss trick-or-treating. We wouldn't want to stay home and relax while the other took the kids out to beg for candy. We wouldn't want to miss out on the one night a year when the kids rushed to each door anticipating what kind of treat they might get or the big smile on their faces while they searched inside that plastic pumpkin looking at all that sugar! Then, last night I had to miss it all.
We went to soccer yesterday morning like we do every Saturday morning. Then, afterward we headed to a neighborhood Halloween festival to fill the morning hours before naptime. We had lunch with Nana & Papa so they could check out the kiddos in their costumes and give them some of their own Halloween treats. Then, we headed home for naps. All seemed to be going to our carefully planned Halloween schedule.
But then Abby woke up from her nap...screaming and crying. While Jackson and Matt rushed around getting ready to go, I attempted to calm Abby. She screamed, she cried and she even squirmed away from me when I attempted to soothe her. Nearly 30 minutes later, she was still crying, and it was time to go...trick or treating awaited. Jackson and Matt headed out to meet up with the Whipples, while I sat on the couch trying to calm Abby in vain. Go ahead, I told Matt....when she calms down, we will meet you there.
Abby continued to cry. I tried everything I could think of. Milk? no. Juice? no. Standing up and rocking her? no. Sitting down? no. Lying down? no. Candy? ( I was desperate!) no. Rubbing her back? no. I sat on the couch and I began to cry. Now we were both crying. After about an hour of this, she finally fell asleep lying on top of me. I didn't move...for 2 hours! Luckily, the remote control was nearby. I went through our library and caught up on the shows we tape but usually never watch. Matt called to check in and I whispered into the phone, "She's sleeping...have fun!"
Then, suddenly, Abby woke up. She looked at me, hair amess, face emplanted with marks from lying against my sweater and giggled. She just looked at me and giggled. She was fine. No more screaming and crying. No more tears. Just giggles. We missed trick-or-treating, but she was fine. We ate dinner and had some Halloween treats while we waited for the boys to return from their trick or treating adventure.
Jackson walked in full of Halloween energy and with a plastic pumpkin full of treats. How was trick or treating, I asked? Great! He replied. Then Matt filled me in on what I had missed. Jackson and Sofia had a great time. Jackson promised to share his candy with sister. House after house, Jackson and Sofia collected their treats and travelled from block to block with the other kids. With a pumpkin full of snickers, lollipops and pretzels, Jackson turned to Matt and told him, I don't need any more candy! Yet, Sofia wasn't ready to throw in the towel. They had to hit up those last couple of houses. When Jackson went up to the last door, he informed the homeowner, "No thanks, I don't need any more candy!" Seriously? Yes....he actually refused the candy. The confused homeowner left for a minute and returned with a plastic stencil to give him instead. He happily took it and trick-or-treating was over.
We went to soccer yesterday morning like we do every Saturday morning. Then, afterward we headed to a neighborhood Halloween festival to fill the morning hours before naptime. We had lunch with Nana & Papa so they could check out the kiddos in their costumes and give them some of their own Halloween treats. Then, we headed home for naps. All seemed to be going to our carefully planned Halloween schedule.
But then Abby woke up from her nap...screaming and crying. While Jackson and Matt rushed around getting ready to go, I attempted to calm Abby. She screamed, she cried and she even squirmed away from me when I attempted to soothe her. Nearly 30 minutes later, she was still crying, and it was time to go...trick or treating awaited. Jackson and Matt headed out to meet up with the Whipples, while I sat on the couch trying to calm Abby in vain. Go ahead, I told Matt....when she calms down, we will meet you there.
Abby continued to cry. I tried everything I could think of. Milk? no. Juice? no. Standing up and rocking her? no. Sitting down? no. Lying down? no. Candy? ( I was desperate!) no. Rubbing her back? no. I sat on the couch and I began to cry. Now we were both crying. After about an hour of this, she finally fell asleep lying on top of me. I didn't move...for 2 hours! Luckily, the remote control was nearby. I went through our library and caught up on the shows we tape but usually never watch. Matt called to check in and I whispered into the phone, "She's sleeping...have fun!"
Then, suddenly, Abby woke up. She looked at me, hair amess, face emplanted with marks from lying against my sweater and giggled. She just looked at me and giggled. She was fine. No more screaming and crying. No more tears. Just giggles. We missed trick-or-treating, but she was fine. We ate dinner and had some Halloween treats while we waited for the boys to return from their trick or treating adventure.
Jackson walked in full of Halloween energy and with a plastic pumpkin full of treats. How was trick or treating, I asked? Great! He replied. Then Matt filled me in on what I had missed. Jackson and Sofia had a great time. Jackson promised to share his candy with sister. House after house, Jackson and Sofia collected their treats and travelled from block to block with the other kids. With a pumpkin full of snickers, lollipops and pretzels, Jackson turned to Matt and told him, I don't need any more candy! Yet, Sofia wasn't ready to throw in the towel. They had to hit up those last couple of houses. When Jackson went up to the last door, he informed the homeowner, "No thanks, I don't need any more candy!" Seriously? Yes....he actually refused the candy. The confused homeowner left for a minute and returned with a plastic stencil to give him instead. He happily took it and trick-or-treating was over.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Sure, Why Not?
We had a day today. I don't know if it was a good day, or if it was necessarily a bad day, but it was a day. We got out the door with relatively little resistance. Oh, except that I had to pick Abby up off the kitchen floor kicking and screaming because she wanted to eat veggie straws. It was 8:30am. We had just finished breakfast. She ate a good breakfast...scrambled eggs, half a pumpkin muffin, half a bagel with cream cheese (she actually ate the bagel too...not just the cream cheese. Although I did have to reload the bagel with a second helping of cream cheese. Still, she ate the bagel.) and some milk. She ate a good breakfast and I just didn't think we needed to be eating veggie straws at 8:30am, just minutes after finishing the above mentioned breakfast. Anyway, we got out of the house...that was a step in the right direction. We dropped Jackson off at school and he managed to write him name in less than 10 minutes while Abby destroyed the little boy's paper who sits next to Jackson, but wasn't there yet. (sorry Jason) It can take Jackson up to 15 minutes to write his name every morning at school. He dawdles, he daydreams, he checks out what the other kids are doing...oh, a K Mommy, sure why not? I can write a K.....and on and on.
Jackson is dropped off and we head to the Y for a workout and Abby's first swim class! How exciting. Except that Abby hates going to the Y. Today, we walked in the door and she started clinging to me and crying immediately. The daycare there is great. They have toys, there are other kids playing, they have tunnels to climb in and they even have cartoons on the tv. But no, Abby cries. Most days I am lucky to work out for 15 minutes before they call me (Attention Irving Park Y Guests: Will Jennifer Olson please report to the amazing kids room?). Sure, why not? I don't need to work out. It isn't like I don't still have 10 pounds to lose from when Abby was born. (She's 18 months old!) Well, today, despite Abby's immediate reaction to the Y, I got 30 good minutes in! Yea! Nice Work Abigail! Then we headed off to the pool.
It seems like a lot of work to get oganized for swim class, get dressed for swim class and get dressed again after for those 30 minutes in the pool....but it is important right? She needs to know how to swim. (Never mind that Jack has never had a lesson!) So we get all organized. I forgot the lock for the locker. We get in our suits. Really, I have to put on a swimsuit, did I mention those 10 extra pounds? We took a shower. (that was Abby's favorite part!) We headed out to the pool. It looked like it was going to be cold. Abby was already suspicious and clingy. We listened with the other 2 moms and kids to the rules of the pool and then 1-2-3 got in. I was right, it was cold. Abby hated just about every minute. She was excited for a minute about the rubber duckie, but then went back to hating it. Out of the pool for another shower, Abby's 2nd favorite part. I also forgot soap and shampoo. ( I still smell like chlorine) Then on to the interesting task of getting both Abby and I out of our suits into dry clothes and ready in a locker room. (That reminds me, we have to wash that elephant!...it spent a lot of time on the locker room floor!) Did I mention that it seems to be a lot of work for 30 minutes of swimming, which Abby hated? 1 swim class down, 6 to go. Maybe we will sign up for arts and crafts next session.
We pick up Jackson at school and head home. No issues in the car, probably because I had granola bars on hand. When we got home however, the dog had gotten into the kitchen garbage. What? you say, the Olsons don't have a dog! That's right we don't. And we won't ever have one. We are however currently dog sitting for Max, our neighbor's dog. He is a nice dog, but quirky for sure. He has been terrified to leave our living room all week because he is afraid of our hard wood floors. Well, he must have gotten over that today while we were out, when I left the garbage out. I usually put it back under the sink, but not today, not the day that Max decided to venture out into the rest of the house. So, there is garbage everywhere. Fun. Did I mention that we will never have a dog?
Lunch goes something like this...I'm not hungry. I don't want grilled cheese. I'm not hungry. But you asked for grilled cheese. I don't like tomato soup. I need ketchup. I'm not hungry. Just eat your grilled cheese. No, I wanted my ketchup in a cup. No Jackson, don't take Abby's ketchup you are making her cry. I'm not hungry. Eat your grilled cheese please. Abby, please don't eat your ketchup with your spoon. Can I go watch a show? Sure, why not.
Nap/Quiet Time goes something like this.....After Abby's first swim class, she was more than happy to take a nice afternoon nap. Not Jackson. Not, "is my quiet time over yet Mommy" Jackson. No, it isn't. No it still isn't. No, not yet. Sure, why not...come on downstairs. I give up.
Me: Jackson how was your quiet time? What did you play?
Jackson: I colored all over my walls. It was fun!
Me: Are you serious?
Jackson: Just a little serious.
So Jackson was made to go upstairs and clean his walls.
Jackson: Mommy, this is more fun than coloring on the walls! (Really?)
Me: No more crayons in your bedroom Jackson. No more crayons in your bedroom.
When Matt came home from work I escaped to the library to get some school work done, so I guess I should get back to that! Tomorrow is another day...maybe it will be a good one.
Jackson is dropped off and we head to the Y for a workout and Abby's first swim class! How exciting. Except that Abby hates going to the Y. Today, we walked in the door and she started clinging to me and crying immediately. The daycare there is great. They have toys, there are other kids playing, they have tunnels to climb in and they even have cartoons on the tv. But no, Abby cries. Most days I am lucky to work out for 15 minutes before they call me (Attention Irving Park Y Guests: Will Jennifer Olson please report to the amazing kids room?). Sure, why not? I don't need to work out. It isn't like I don't still have 10 pounds to lose from when Abby was born. (She's 18 months old!) Well, today, despite Abby's immediate reaction to the Y, I got 30 good minutes in! Yea! Nice Work Abigail! Then we headed off to the pool.
It seems like a lot of work to get oganized for swim class, get dressed for swim class and get dressed again after for those 30 minutes in the pool....but it is important right? She needs to know how to swim. (Never mind that Jack has never had a lesson!) So we get all organized. I forgot the lock for the locker. We get in our suits. Really, I have to put on a swimsuit, did I mention those 10 extra pounds? We took a shower. (that was Abby's favorite part!) We headed out to the pool. It looked like it was going to be cold. Abby was already suspicious and clingy. We listened with the other 2 moms and kids to the rules of the pool and then 1-2-3 got in. I was right, it was cold. Abby hated just about every minute. She was excited for a minute about the rubber duckie, but then went back to hating it. Out of the pool for another shower, Abby's 2nd favorite part. I also forgot soap and shampoo. ( I still smell like chlorine) Then on to the interesting task of getting both Abby and I out of our suits into dry clothes and ready in a locker room. (That reminds me, we have to wash that elephant!...it spent a lot of time on the locker room floor!) Did I mention that it seems to be a lot of work for 30 minutes of swimming, which Abby hated? 1 swim class down, 6 to go. Maybe we will sign up for arts and crafts next session.
We pick up Jackson at school and head home. No issues in the car, probably because I had granola bars on hand. When we got home however, the dog had gotten into the kitchen garbage. What? you say, the Olsons don't have a dog! That's right we don't. And we won't ever have one. We are however currently dog sitting for Max, our neighbor's dog. He is a nice dog, but quirky for sure. He has been terrified to leave our living room all week because he is afraid of our hard wood floors. Well, he must have gotten over that today while we were out, when I left the garbage out. I usually put it back under the sink, but not today, not the day that Max decided to venture out into the rest of the house. So, there is garbage everywhere. Fun. Did I mention that we will never have a dog?
Lunch goes something like this...I'm not hungry. I don't want grilled cheese. I'm not hungry. But you asked for grilled cheese. I don't like tomato soup. I need ketchup. I'm not hungry. Just eat your grilled cheese. No, I wanted my ketchup in a cup. No Jackson, don't take Abby's ketchup you are making her cry. I'm not hungry. Eat your grilled cheese please. Abby, please don't eat your ketchup with your spoon. Can I go watch a show? Sure, why not.
Nap/Quiet Time goes something like this.....After Abby's first swim class, she was more than happy to take a nice afternoon nap. Not Jackson. Not, "is my quiet time over yet Mommy" Jackson. No, it isn't. No it still isn't. No, not yet. Sure, why not...come on downstairs. I give up.
Me: Jackson how was your quiet time? What did you play?
Jackson: I colored all over my walls. It was fun!
Me: Are you serious?
Jackson: Just a little serious.
So Jackson was made to go upstairs and clean his walls.
Jackson: Mommy, this is more fun than coloring on the walls! (Really?)
Me: No more crayons in your bedroom Jackson. No more crayons in your bedroom.
When Matt came home from work I escaped to the library to get some school work done, so I guess I should get back to that! Tomorrow is another day...maybe it will be a good one.
Monday, October 26, 2009
A Healthy Dose of Self Esteem
Jackson: Where are Nana and Papa going?
Me: They are going to follow us in their car.
Jackson: Why are they going to follow us in their car?
Me: Because they are going to come watch you play soccer.
Jackson: Why are they going to come watch me play soccer?
Me: Because they love you.
Jackson: Why? Why do they love me?
Me: What do you think? Why do Nana and Papa love you?
Jackson: Because I am really cute and funny! :)
Me: They are going to follow us in their car.
Jackson: Why are they going to follow us in their car?
Me: Because they are going to come watch you play soccer.
Jackson: Why are they going to come watch me play soccer?
Me: Because they love you.
Jackson: Why? Why do they love me?
Me: What do you think? Why do Nana and Papa love you?
Jackson: Because I am really cute and funny! :)
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Trick or Treat!
Ok, I know that there is still one week until Halloween! But why should Halloween be limited to only one day? I say it shouldn't! Which is why we celebrated with Jack and Abby's friends at our house a week early. There were costumes, cupcakes and candy, who could ask for anything more? Oh, yea, and beautiful weather so everyone could be outside. We had spiders, bubblebees, ducks, firemen, a policeman, a bear, a monkey, a dragon....you get the idea.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Some random recent stories
Here are a few highlights of the past few weeks. I have been so busy with school and life that I haven't been keeping up with the blog. Sorry...hopefully this post will get you up to date!
The other day when I picked up Jackson from school, he was at his cubby putting on his coat and getting ready to go. When he saw me, he ran over and said, "Mommy, I missed you!" while he threw his arms around me and gave me a big warm hug! :) Next, he turned to Abby and said, "Oh Abby, I missed you too!" (Seriously, he really did!) and he proceeded to give her a big hug too. How cute.
In the last couple of weeks Jackson has been waking up in the middle of the night crying, sometimes several times a night. Sometimes, he won't tell us why he is upset. Other times he blames it on bad dreams, feeling sick or cold. Whatever the reason, it is upsetting because 1. he is crying 2. I am awake in the middle of the night. 3. He insists that Matt or I crawl into bed with him to make whatever it is wrong better, and I prefer our bed! So, the other night Matt was in Jackson's room for the 4th time and they talked about Jackson being afraid of the dark. Matt suggested a new nightlight and Jackson was very excited about the idea. Everyone was happy and went to bed. The next day I went out and got a new Lightning McQueen nightlight for Jackson, hoping it would make a difference. It goes on automatically in the night, but if you put your finger over the sensor, you can make it light up. So, of course, Jackson and Abby were playing with it when I brought it home. On....Off....On....Off....On.....Off.....On......Off......and so we have Abby's new word: OFF! :)
Abby woke up from naptime first the other day. I snuck upstairs so not to wake up Jackson and grabbed Abby from her crib. I had to convince her to not go into Jackson's room, and we crept down the stairs as quietly as we could. We were sitting on the living room floor hanging out when I asked Abby, "Would you like a snack?". She very carefully set down her elephant, took the paci out of her mouth and placed both in a pile with her blanket on the floor. "yea!" she responded, as she ran into the kitchen. She looked so adorable running into the kitchen after the snack she was so excited about. When we got into the kitchen, I unwrapped and handed to Abby a piece of string cheese. She immediately started crying and went running out of the kitchen. Apparently, string cheese wasn't the snack she was hoping for. We settled on some graham crackers and milk.
Jackson excused himself from dinner the other night to go potty. He got up, went in and just as he sat down, he starting singing, "I have a really nice Mommy! I have a really nice Mommy!"......pause........"I have a really nice Daddy too! I have a really nice Daddy too!" Nice little potty song!
The other day when I picked up Jackson from school, he was at his cubby putting on his coat and getting ready to go. When he saw me, he ran over and said, "Mommy, I missed you!" while he threw his arms around me and gave me a big warm hug! :) Next, he turned to Abby and said, "Oh Abby, I missed you too!" (Seriously, he really did!) and he proceeded to give her a big hug too. How cute.
In the last couple of weeks Jackson has been waking up in the middle of the night crying, sometimes several times a night. Sometimes, he won't tell us why he is upset. Other times he blames it on bad dreams, feeling sick or cold. Whatever the reason, it is upsetting because 1. he is crying 2. I am awake in the middle of the night. 3. He insists that Matt or I crawl into bed with him to make whatever it is wrong better, and I prefer our bed! So, the other night Matt was in Jackson's room for the 4th time and they talked about Jackson being afraid of the dark. Matt suggested a new nightlight and Jackson was very excited about the idea. Everyone was happy and went to bed. The next day I went out and got a new Lightning McQueen nightlight for Jackson, hoping it would make a difference. It goes on automatically in the night, but if you put your finger over the sensor, you can make it light up. So, of course, Jackson and Abby were playing with it when I brought it home. On....Off....On....Off....On.....Off.....On......Off......and so we have Abby's new word: OFF! :)
Abby woke up from naptime first the other day. I snuck upstairs so not to wake up Jackson and grabbed Abby from her crib. I had to convince her to not go into Jackson's room, and we crept down the stairs as quietly as we could. We were sitting on the living room floor hanging out when I asked Abby, "Would you like a snack?". She very carefully set down her elephant, took the paci out of her mouth and placed both in a pile with her blanket on the floor. "yea!" she responded, as she ran into the kitchen. She looked so adorable running into the kitchen after the snack she was so excited about. When we got into the kitchen, I unwrapped and handed to Abby a piece of string cheese. She immediately started crying and went running out of the kitchen. Apparently, string cheese wasn't the snack she was hoping for. We settled on some graham crackers and milk.
Jackson excused himself from dinner the other night to go potty. He got up, went in and just as he sat down, he starting singing, "I have a really nice Mommy! I have a really nice Mommy!"......pause........"I have a really nice Daddy too! I have a really nice Daddy too!" Nice little potty song!
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