Rowan's Christmas Email to Santa, 2010

State College, Pennsylvania,
United States



Dear Santa Claus,

My name is Rowan. I am a girl and I am already 3 years old!! I live in the great city of State College. Of course, that's in Pennsylvania, United States, but I'll bet you knew that!! This year I've been so good that my halo is just a teensy weensy bit crooked!

Santa Claus, some things I might like for Christmas this year are:
- Princess DVD;
- Princess computer; and,
- Pillow Pet.

Santa Claus, I almost forgot to say... Santa, I have been learning to go poop and pee in the potty. I'm doing pretty good! I go to preschool and I love it! And I love my dog and Mama and Daddy and Anya. I love funny guys. I hope your reindeer are well.

Love, Rowan

Little Ballerinas

OK, I stopped. No more microblogging. Yes, it was irritating and dropping my visits. Sorry about that. Follow twitter if you like.

The open house went well. We supposedly had several interested people, and someone called for a showing today. I'm hoping it's someone wanting a second, confirming look before they make an offer. I can dream, right?

Rowan doesn't have dance class this week, for Thanksgiving break, so we're enjoying a relaxing morning. Well, as relaxing as making sure your house looks perfect and doing all the laundry can be. At least I'm still in my jammies at 8:48 AM.

The potty training struggles continue, but I feel like we had a bit of a breakthrough yesterday. She tried really hard to use the potty often, of her own volition. We had one small accident, but she begged to nap in panties, and managed to sleep for 2+ hours without wetting. She still wore a pull-up to bed and wet it, but that's completely understandable. I have no qualms with nighttime help if we can manage to get the day dry and clean.

Anya had her 6 month well visit yesterday, with a CNP who's also a friend from Band. She's perfectly healthy (except for a little patch of dry skin on her leg that we're treating, no big deal) and is officially "so cute, she's a Gerber baby!" She's slowed a little on her growth, down to the 50-53% for height and weight, 78% for head size. Like her sister, her chart is kind of up and down, but this is good for me as she's not yet outgrowing most of her 6 month clothes.

And the BIG NEWS! Anya had her first solids yesterday!!! 6 1/2 months old, organic oat baby cereal. Aaaaaannnndddd... she had absolutely no interest. Barely opened her mouth, thrust them out right away, didn't look interested at all. Didn't protest, but just not into it. She loves to sit in the booster at the table for meals with us, but purely for social reasons. So, we'll try again later.

With her, I've decided to just use Rowan's booster, as it works great for a highchair and takes up so much less space. She sits up fine, can be up at the table or use the tray that comes with it, and it's easily cleaned, so it works fine. Rowan prefers a big chair now, as well as big plates, big forks and spoons, her own cloth napkin and real glass glasses.

She's trying so hard to be a big girl. She talks often of turning 4, then 5, then going to Kindergarten. She can't wait. Just like her Mommy, she loves school and thrives there. I had her first conference this week, and her teacher said Rowan is thrilled to be there and loves everything about school (except going to the potty, but that's nothing new.) I was the same way; go figure I'd become a teacher. She is like me in that she likes a plan, structure, and lots of fun activities--and hates being bored. She's already begging to stay for the preschool lunch bunch and wonders why she can't be there for the afternoon session, too. She just doesn't buy this "Mom likes to have time with you, too" thing.

And yet, she still crawls into my lap every day for a snuggle. I'm treasuring every single one.

Enjoying a Brooklyn Brown Ale. :)

Tried to give Anya her first cereal tonight. 6 1/2 months old, and she still has absolutely no interest. Oh well, fewer dishes for me!

Anya's Devo Dance Party

Anya's Devo Dance Party from Ronica on Vimeo.

I am a cruel, horrible mother who makes my baby groove to music so I can film it and laugh.

Note, while watching this replay, she was dancing to her own music video.

Vacuumed and wiped down the car interior, hosed off the mats. Still kind of gross in there. Wish there was a car detailing fairy.

Just got complimented on my housekeeping by the busybody neighbor who came to the open house. Not sure how I feel about that. :-

Is this microblogging horribly irritating? And other stuff.

I'm sorry. Yeah. I was getting a bit stressed out because I wasn't updating the blog often enough (and didn't want to get in trouble with Blogher), so I pinged it. I hope it's not driving you crazy. It's much easier to ping than update all my social networking sites, so I've been lazy.

But here's what's happening in my life.

We found a house. Did I tell you this? I can't remember, and am too lazy to scroll back to find out. Yeah. So. We were thinking of redoing our flooring (because carpet is gross and never ever ever gets clean) and some windows in our townhome because we thought that we were stuck here anyway, might as well make the best of it. Then our friend (a mortgage guy) told us we could likely get a bigger mortgage for close to our current payment--one that would actually buy a house. Like with a yard. And a big living room. Bedrooms for each kid so naptime isn't such a crazy juggle. A basement. And a garage. A deck. Did I mention the backyard?

So we started looking. Didn't take long. 3rd of the first 4 houses we saw. Perfect. They are holding it for us as "sale pending" until January, but we have to sell this one.

So, we've been cleaning, magic erasing, touch up painting, staging, storing extra junk off site, breaking the attic stairway and generally just finding out how filthy our home really was. (It was nasty. Really gross. And once again, I really hate carpet.) Worked like crazy, manically. Poor Rowan, babysat by the TV during much of this--she really was a trooper. So it's ready. We had an open house.

Nobody showed up.

Yesterday, I got my first call for a showing. I was over the moon!

Today, they cancelled.

ARGH.

So that's what's up. It's like a state of suspended animation. I know it hasn't been long, but it's still frustrating. So close, yet so far. I know it hasn't been long yet, but still.

We've bought our tickets to go back to North Dakota for Christmas, and coupled with earnest money on the house, Dr. B's summer funds still not included in his paycheck, several consulting jobs that still haven't paid him, various expenses and more to come--well, we're broke. It sucks, big time. I am a bit frustrated because really there's nothing I can do about it. Christmas will be really, really lean this year. Thankfully, they're probably too little to notice. Our family understands that our presence is their present. At least I hope they do.

And for Thanksgiving, I have zero motivation. We've decided on Enchiladas. I might make them with ground turkey. You know, because it's festive. We had the church Thanksgiving dinner last week, so I figure that counts.

And MORE COMPLAINING MORE COMPLAINING MORE COMPLAINING MORE COMPLAINING MORE COMPLAINING MORE COMPLAINING MORE COMPLAINING MORE COMPLAINING MORE COMPLAINING MORE COMPLAINING !!!

OK, it's out of my system now. I think.

So here's some cuteness to make up for my irritatingness. Will you forgive me?

Rowan's first PT conference. She loves school and is doing well with everything. No surprise, but I wish she behaved the same at home! ;-)

Chocolate swirl marshmallows are surprisingly delicious.

First showing tomorrow! Woot! Finally. (Runs to frantically clean things again.)

Field trip to Giant (grocery store). Guess who ended up wearing the paper hat?

Enjoying a calm morning. Bribed Rowan with a surprise if she was cooperative and threw no tantrums. So far so good.

Watching Muppets from Space with Rowan while we eat supper. This is my favorite movie soundtrack ever. http://bit.ly/cgSMli

Anya just rolled front to back! Yes, I know she's six months old, but she beat her sister by 2 months! We're a bit roll-challenged.

Checked her and walked back out of the room. She fell asleep again. Phew! Must break this weird nap cycle.

Wow. 800 mg. of Advil is really something. I feel so amazingly good right now. Absolutely nothing hurts! And both my kids are napping! Woot!

Dentist adjusted and gave me big Advils since I couldn't get to the store until tomorrow. Can be tough on the stomach, good reason for cake.

Rowan, upon seeing drawings of reindeer: "Look, Mom! Feather Goats!!!" Imagination is awesome. :)

Stuck my kid on the potty chair with _Babar: the Movie_ on her Daddy's laptop playing on the lid of the toilet. I call this parenting.

Worked my fingers to the bone for the open house, and no one showed up. Argh. I declare tomorrow yoga pants, ice cream and boob tube day.

Anya slept for 13 hours. Huh. So that's where Jean-Paul Gaultier got the idea for those cone bras.

3 hour rehearsal: just what I want to be doing the day before perfect strangers are coming into my house to judge me and my housecleaning abilities. :- *tries to let go*

Roasting chicken makes your house smell pretty darn awesome.

Rest in peace, Coffee Maker. You had 3 good years.

My daughter took her daily halloween treat, and a second one, too. That one was for me. <3 <3 <3

Toad in the Hole. Delicious, and weird.

It appears Amazon has pulled the offensive ebook. About time. Can't believe they sold it. Shame on them.

Mmmmm, pork chop gravy. :)

Just cleaned the living room carpet. Wow. Gross. I need one of these machines. This should be done weekly.

Enjoying homemade stir fry leftovers. Glad hub was willing to drive to Chinese place for rice when I ran out. Bow tie pasta would be weird.

Yay! Staircase is fixed for $10. Woot! Knowing a metal forger in town is a handy thing.

Hubby's off to Ace hardware. Hoping to fix the attic walk up ladder thing. Open house Sunday, no time to order a new one. ARGH.

Was going to shampoo the living room carpet, but somehow managed to break the attic ladder thingamabob. Ugh. Will we ever get it all done?

taking a break from scrubbing, spackling and magic erasing.

Confession: I buy Spaghetti-O's with meatballs. And sometimes, I share them with my 3-year old.

Will's Sleepy Haircut

My friends' son, Will got a haircut. Also, he fell asleep in the middle of it.

Lucky he didn't lose an ear. This cracks me up.

The Queen has joined Facebook. Pretty sure that's the last nail in the coffin of coolness.

Is it just me, or does Big Chris on Roary the Racing Car look just like Elliott Gould (except clay)?

Vacuumed the lampshades. Huh. They were white all along!

Difference between my husband and myself: to me, the safe place for a very important teeny, tiny key is a keychain. For him, it's a windowsill.

Does anyone have a crappy chili recipe? No matter how big a batch of my chili I make, my husband seems to think it equals 1 serving.

is trying to limit Xmas gifts. Big gift is our trip, she won't get much. Rowan said she wants a computer. Parents: suggestions? Leapster?

Must grocery shop today with 2 kids in tow. Will be glad when preschool is back next week. Pray for me.

Is trying to consolidate my social networks. Bear with me, it may get repetitive.

Wonder Woman!!!

Today, I earned my golden lasso. And satin tights (but no hot pants, please. I have had two kids.)

And my three year old? She's definitely in the running for the role of Evil Villain in the next movie. That kid has major tantrum stamina.

I used to feel guilty for not doing aerobics (I get dizzy and faint), running (ditto), lifting weights (I'm muscular without--I don't want to look like Conan the Barbarian. Or Conan O'Brien for that matter.) I do yoga when I can because I like to.

But I've shown that I'm definitely a contender. An hour-long screaming, crying, kicking, fighting tantrum. Epic proportions. Temperature taken on the back of her neck (102.5). Advil snuck into juice and refused (and finally taken from a cup.) Food refused, drinks refused, and lots and lots of snot and tears. A phone call, an appointment. More screams, shouting, refusals, finally begging. For naught.

We arrived, and she kicked me as I tried to put shoes on her. So, I hauled her out of the car, shoeless. Lifted her sister in the carseat on one hip (26.5 lbs.), her on the other (31.6 lbs.) She kicked and flailed and screamed and wiggled and cried. But she was going to the doctor, come hell or high water.

Ear infection, severe. Both ears.

Post workout, I caved. Princess chicken soup for her. Ben & Jerry's for me. We earned it.