Things I'm thinking about today -

Why is it that if I consider myself one of those parents that doesn't let their kid watch so much television, that I find myself watching more PBS programs than anything else? Why is it that the days of staying up to watch Jay Leno are a mere memory, and I consider it a late night if I stay up to watch the news at 10 o'clock let alone 11 pm? Why is it that I'm wasting any of my brain cells watching television or even analyzing the amount that I watch?

Things I'm doing today -

Paying... more

Okay, all you adoptive parents or hopeful adoptive parents out there: Raise your hand if you've had someone tell you that now that you've adopted (or are adopting) you'll get pregnant. How many times have you bit your tongue and stammered some neutral response? How many times did you fly off the handle and take them to task for their insensitivity? And how many times have you had the same conversation with the same people?

We can talk about all the good lines - and maybe some of you will share your good ones - but I think there really are two schools of thought on the matter, and people not touched by adoption have a hard time understanding why I tend to choose one and not the other.

If... more

I don't think Anna's two year old stage was so terrible. She wasn't very contrary, generally followed directions and was a pretty happy child all around. The main issue we had with her two year old year was her sleeping - she continued to have night terrors - and totally random screaming and occasional tantrums.

Now, thankfully, her behavior is much improved. We have few tantrums with her - and now if she has one, it's generally "for a cause" not just because she happens to feel like throwing a tantrum. We've practically eliminated the random screaming - which if you imagine the loudest child screaming, I'd bet you a nickel she was louder. And she really doesn't have night terrors... more

I always tell people - as I'm sure you do as well - that I'm still looking for the eighth day in the week The Beatles were singing about. I'd settle for even an extra hour. I absolutely love it when we change the clocks back, and despair when we move them forward - I really feel like I'm gaining or losing an hour.

But! I found an extra hour today! Although now I'm alot more sleepy for it. In my sluggish stupor of the late hour and the darkness last night, I was trying to change the time my alarm was set from 6:30am to 7:30am and somehow managed to set the actual time one hour ahead while also setting my alarm ahead. While no time-warp continuim was established, my bedroom seems to... more

So, things - as you may imagine - are a bit busy here at Naomi's house. The new baby has now been here a week, and is doing quite well, although he's not so into the idea of sleeping in the crib. I guess that's boring. He's a pretty good baby - only really cries when he's wet or hungry. And Anna's doing mostly okay with the baby. She's a big help getting bottles and diapers and wipes and pacifiers. She's not so understanding of the fact that he just doesn't do anything and he actually likes to be left alone when he sleeps.

The pile of work that I have here on my desk is amazing. It's not intimidating - it's just gotten to the point where the amount of stuff to do is just... more

Things I ponder this weekend, as I count down the days until Rosh HaShanah and insist upon not looking at my to do lists ...

- Why is it that when I am trying to clean up my house and rid my little space here of clutter, all I seem to be able to find are these twenty percent off coupons from Bed Bath and Beyond, and yet when I find that I actually need to buy something from said store, not a single coupon is to be found?

- Why is it that children do not have the concept of hurrying when it is time to hurry, but are all set and ready to go on other occasions when you are not yet ready to go?

- Why is it... more

So,.I.complain.a.lot.that.Anna.knew.what.a.computer.mouse. looked.like.long.before.she.could.recognize.that.small. rodent.creature.that.cats.chase.after.

Anna.loves.to.type.on.the.computer...she.likes.it.when. I.make.the.letters.really.big.in.a.word.document.and. she.entertains.herself.by.typing.her.name.a.hundred.times.

On.the.one.hand,early.computer.literacy.is.a.good.thing, but.on.the.other.as.you.may.have.guessed, it.does.come.with.some.hazards,as.Anna.spilled.something. or.other.and.now.I.clearly.have.no.use.of.my.space.bar.

This.clearly.goes.to.show.several.things.that.I.have.learned.today

One:We.do.not.appreciate.the.little.things.in.life.until.they.are.gone

Two:We.are.overdependant.on.technology.as.I.am.going.quite.crazy.... more

We are almost there! I can see the light! You'd think that I'm one of those parents who can't wait to drop their kid off at day care/ school and waits until the last minute to pick up in the afternoon, and who complains when there is a day off here or there. That's not me. Anna's only been at day care two days a week from when she was fifteen months, and is only going to be going full time, five days a week because that's the only option the new school she's going to offers. I'm really fine with Anna being home. It's Anna who is not so fine with this arrangement anymore.

Anna truly misses the structure in her schedule. We get up when we want, we do art projects and little day trips.... more

It's now more than any other time that I question my ability as a parent. We have no air conditioning, so I'm hot and whiny. My husband - who is normally quite wonderful and shares in parenting and household stuff as much as possible - is still wonderful but generally absent, as he's working literally more than 70 hours a week on a project. Our house is upside down under construction - it will be quite amazing when finished but until then, quite a mess! And Anna's done with camp and not yet started school and I'm gearing up for work and school myself but not quite there.

And so we are here. Trying to occupy keep up with Anna. I get exhausted just watching her even if I'm... more

After several beautiful months of potty trained bliss, we are back to this stuff. Anna seems to be having on average one accident per day - usually at night or at school (camp - whatever it's called) during rest time. She always says something like "Mommy, I'll try not to make in my underwear" or "I'll try to make on the potty next time" but I'm not quite sure where to go from here. My husband was threatening her with going back to diapers, which I quickly yelled at him explained to him why that was not a good idea. What happens if she says yes - she does want to go back to diapers. Then what? So I'm telling her that she can't do ballet or gymnastics in the fall if she's having... more