Big Wheels Keep On Turning!

As of February 3, 2009 my little Princess is a bike rider. 

I picked her up from school that day, and she and her teachers were beaming! "Guess what?" they ask me.

 "What?" 

Dramatic pause. . . . 

At this point I'm positive she has done something absolutely amazing-taught the class to read,written her name in cursive,  solved world hunger. . . 

"BELLA LEARNED TO PEDAL!"

Who needs reading?! My kid can finally pedal!!! 

I jump around the class like a maniac, hug her and kiss her, tell her over and over that I am so proud of her. You know, the usual proud mommy stuff. I have been trying to teach her since last summer with absolutely no success; she goes to preschool for one day and comes home knowing how to do it! Maybe they aren't over charging us. . .

Like most things requiring effort and energy,  the Princess has been completely uninterested in learning to pedal a bike. I don't know why I wasn't more prepared for her total lack of interest, she didn't crawl until she was 11 months old and didn't walk until she was 17 months old. No thats not a typo, it was really 17. She was perfectly happy having her fat little self toted around on my hip forever! She's simply never been a big fan of cardio, so I'm not sure why I expected her to be excited about learning to ride a bike. But that was all in the past. 

Or so we thought.

That night when daddy got home, we told him all about the monumental day. Then Mommy, Daddy, the Princess, and even Aunt Mary all loaded into the car for a trip to Wal-Mart to get a NEW BIKE!!! After some deliberation, we decided to go with the Barbie big wheel. Why not start small, then work our way up to the BMX. She did just learn.

So after getting home and helping Daddy assemble her new prize, we all set off. The plan was for us all to take a nice long stroll around the block-grown ups walking, Princess pedaling diligently alongside us. That was the plan. Since when does anything ever go according to the plan? It took us about 10 minutes to get as far as the next driveway, 40 feet away! This wasn't bike riding! I didn't understand! Her teachers had said, "She learned to RIDE a bike today" not "she learned to pedal twice then sit on a bike today." What had happened ?? 

But she wouldn't give up. So for the next 30 minutes Daddy, Aunt Mary, and I coaxed and encouraged her to keep trying while we quietly played a game of  "I bet I could do _______ before she gets back home." Example, I bet I could run a mile backwards and on one leg before she pedaled the 40 feet it would take to get back to our driveway. It was slow going to say the least.  But then, all of a sudden, it clicked!! She started pedaling (consistently) and didn't stop! The freedom of the open road, the wind blowing through her hair, she was unstoppable! We were all so proud. It was then that I realized, pedaling, just like everything else in her life, was something she had to do in her own time. She has never been one to be forced into anything, and this was to be no different. Why had I been so adamant about her learning before she was really ready? Because everyone else's child was ahead of her when it came to this? I won't make that mistake again.

 Through the simple act of her learning to ride her bike, she taught me that it is not my job as her mommy to force things upon her. It's my job as her mommy to point her in the right direction, and to be the gentle guidance she needs to learn and discover things on her own. She is her own person, smart and able, capable of anything, when and if she's ready. 

Big Girls Don't Cry

Last Thursday, my little Princess started pre-school for the first time. Again.

A little over a year ago, we tried it, but it was awful so we quit, and we don't really like to count it as her first school experience. She would wake up on school mornings with some sort of weird sixth sense, already crying and begging me not to take her! It was terrible.

This time though it has been great! When we went to visit, she walked right in like she had been there forever, she wasn't shy or scared in the least. We knew we had found "the one." Her teachers are so sweet and she has already made lots of new friends; although she can't tell me a single one of their names.

I had a friend ask me if I was sad about her starting school, and my honest answer was no. I'm really not. (And not just bc its one less kid in my house or bc I am finally getting a much needed break from the little monster, I mean Princess). I might have thought about being sad or nervous for a minute or two. After all, this is my shy, scared baby, and I just threw her into an unknown world. It had to be really scary for her.

Any sadness I might have had though,  was erased at pick up on her first day. I got out of my car to see her running blissfully around the playground with her friends, grinning from ear to ear, laughing out loud, and having the time of her life. I knew we had made the right choice. Who could be sad about that?

31 Flavors of Jesus

Kind of a random thought I know, but have you ever noticed all the different "varieties of Jesus"?

Sitting in church on Sunday, I started thinking about it. Visit one church and you will enjoy oyster cracker Jesus. Another, and you will partake in wafer Jesus.  I wonder what makes churches chose the flavor they do. Are they just walking through the cracker aisle at Kroger one day, spot some tasty looking treats, and think "That's it!! That will be our Jesus!"? Or is it a matter of price? Is one type of Jesus more of a bargain than another? I just wonder these things.

And as far as the drinks go, WINE people!! WINE!! He turned water into wine, not Welch's grape juice. 

In my opinion, you should not be able to buy Jesus's flesh and blood at the grocery store. It should have to be purchased from a special Jesus store. 

Just my thoughts on the matter.

Hark! the Harold Angels Sing, Christ is Born in. . .Bella's bedroom??

This morning I walked into Bella's room to find her standing on her bed, huge smile on her face, and a giant bulge under her princess night gown.
"Look Mommy," she says, "I'm gonna have a baby Jesus!!" Then she reaches under her night gown and "births" a little stuffed Savior right then and there. Baby Jesus was born today in my daughter's bedroom. It's a miracle!!
She was such a great mommy to Baby Jesus all day. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloth (a.k.a. her lovie) and carried Him around with her until bedtime. Throughout the day she tended to all of His needs: she fed Him "delicious Lucky Charms" for breakfast, shared her peanut butter sandwich for lunch, she took Him potty, and even kissed His booboos (that He sustained from repeated dropping on His head! ouch! Can Jesus get brain damage??).
It was really neat to watch her "interact" with Baby Jesus all day. So many of the things she said to Him, were exactly the same things I say to her. When He'd "cry" she would hold Him and gently bounce Him and whisper, "It's ok baby, Mommy's here" just like I do with her. After He'd "potty" she would clap and cheer, "YAY!! Mommy is so proud of you!" The love and care that she showed her baby was so touching; the gentle way she tended to Him let me know that maybe, just maybe I'm doing a pretty good job as a mom. Moms, if you ever want to know what kind of job you are doing, watch your daughters playing with their babies.

last ones. . .

here are a few more pics from the rehearsal. . . .

A Star is Born 12/5/08

So tonight was rehearsal night for the Princess's very first ballet performance, The Nutcracker. We arrived really early so that I could get a good spot to photograph from , but it turns out that everybody else had the same idea. 45 minutes before rehearsal even starts there are about a million people already there. Of course this puts my little prima ballerina into freak out mode, and she assumes her usual "crowd position" which consists of her face crammed into the back of my thigh, death grip on my leg. 

Well, she looked adorable (picture this:pink leotard & tights, LEG WARMERS, [ahhh! too cute!!] and a scarf , so naturally everyone wanted to see her and talk to her. This attention only sent her into SUPER freak out mode, and she attempted to test her climbing abilities up my body.  She succeeded.

So anyways, we headed into the auditorium where we patiently waited for her group to be called up. . . .

here is a run down of the 3 year olds' parts in the performance. 1. they are dressed as gingerbread girls and they basically walk across the stage. The outfits are brown and have nothing that sparkles on them. Bella could care less about this part of the show. 2. next, they are "Christmas Girls". For this part they do an entire little choreographed  number in the most adorable costumes ever. Red velvet dresses, white fur trim, sparkly headbands. Bella would live in this outfit for the rest of her life if I'd let her.  Each time they have to put the gingerbread costumes on, I have to force it onto her and threaten her with no red dress if she doesn't do the gingerbread part. Every time she even sees the brown, she instantly says, "I want the red one." Diva.

So anyways, her group is finally called backstage to prepare to go on. I kiss her, tell her I love her, and send her on her way. Then there is a mad dash amongst the mommies for the little area right in front of the stage, all of us hoping to get front and center for the best photo ops. I won. I'm am not against violence when it comes to getting the best spot for pics of my baby.(So, other mother's beware-I won't lose.) So there we all sat, cameras aimed and ready, when the curtains are pulled back, and there stood our tiny dancers.

 I recognized all of them, except one. . . .my own. The little girl that couldn't be invisible enough only an hour before had suddenly turned into an attention crazed maniac!! She was up on the stage with the biggest smile on her face and waving to the crowd like she had just been crowned Miss Ballet America!! When the music started she really went crazy, she was like a pint sized Rockette. Dancing and moving like the stage belonged to her alone; her toe perfectly pointed the entire time . She was not the least bit scared or shy. The crowd LOVED her!!! 

When her part was over I had to practically drag her off stage. Backstage, she refused to take off the red dress until she had sufficiently modeled it in the ballet mirror-this meant at least 15 minutes of looking at herself while she made various faces and struck different poses. She had some of the other moms laughing so hard; they couldn't take their eyes off of her! No one could believe that was the same little shy girl from the lobby.  I never really expected her to to be afraid onstage, she does love to perform, but I never  expected her to come alive the way she did either. I think at three, she's found her calling.

It was an amazing night; one I know I will remember for a long time, but should I start to forget, I know she will remind me- she told me repeatedly how "AWESOME" she was the entire way home! She certainly won't be forgetting any time soon! 

Strengthening Bonds One Book at a Time

I have to take a second to brag just a little bit. . . .

about 3 weeks ago Bella really started picking up on words, cat, dog, hat, etc. Small words I know, but give her a break, shes 3!!!

Lately though she has been a reading MANIAC!! She sounds out everything she sees, and she's getting really good! 

Just today she read the words plus, step, still, and a couple of others I can't think of right now. Not only is she reading, but she is attempting to spell words too. I've been really impressed at her effort-especially since I can't spell anything unless I have a piece of paper to write the word down on. 

All of this intelligence almost caused me to have an "open mouth, insert foot" moment the other day. We were waiting in the lobby of ballet class and there was an older girl (kindergardener) there practicing her reading list for school. After listening to her struggle and finally complete the list, I almost busted out with, "WOW!! My 3 year old can read every one of those words!" Thankfully, my brain kicked in and I didn't open my mouth. I wasn't trying to be mean. honestly. I just really am so proud! And excited. . . I LOVE to read. LOVE LOVE LOVE it! If its got words, I will read it. I read the back of my shampoo bottle every time I get in the shower. I read the backs of water bottles. I read toilet paper packages. and books. Seriously, I cannot get enough. The sad thing is that no one in my house shares this passion with me! I read a great book and want to share it, but there is no one to share it with because no one will read it! So the thought that my daughter may share this love excites me immensely!! When she's older, we can have our own private little book club. We'll meet for lunch on Sundays to discuss our reads. We'll talk. We'll share. We'll always have a reason to get together!! We will conquer the world one book at a time!

Mother daughter bonding at its best (and my secret plot to keep her close)!

 Am I getting ahead of myself? 

no.

So I'm getting Bella dressed and it goes like this:

"Come here baby and put on your jeans."

Her response:

"and my boots with the fur??"

are you freaking kidding me??

Macaroni & Cheese and Princesses

Last night we were graced with a performance by our very own future Hollywood starlet. Zach was practicing his chords like a good little student when Bella decided she needed to practice as well. So out she strolls, guitar in hand, and proceeds to burst into an original piece entitled "Macaroni & Cheese and Princesses." I have no idea today how the song went. I can only tell you it was very unique, very long (it went on for at least 15 minutes), and it involved a lot of Macaroni & Cheese and Princesses. Oh, AND there was original choreography! Seriously, it was awesome. She had a chorus, a refrain, and I am pretty sure there were at least a couple of verses. I'm thinking I have a prodigy  on my hands.

A Sign of the Times?

I like to think that I am a cool mom. Not the WAAAAY "cool" kind that looks at her children like "little adults" trapped in midget bodies. Not that kind. But the kind of mom that has found a nice balance between letting her kids feel big and experience the world while keeping them close and not experience too much. The kind that doesn't shelter too much of the real world but enough to keep my kids from growing up too quickly. I think I'm failing. Below is the list of why.

The other day we are riding in the car and Bella busts out with, "OH HOT DAMN, THIS IS MY JAM! KEEP ME PARTYIN' TILL THE AM! YA'LL DON'T UNDERSTAND, MAKE ME THROW MY HANDS IN THE AI-ER, AI, AI-ER!" Perhaps you've heard that song. Catchy little tune. Not so much when its your THREE YEAR OLD singing!!!

Strike one.

Then a few days later, another song that she apparently loved was on the radio, and in the middle of singing along, she stops long enough to inform Daddy and I, "I want you to put this on my ipod." HUH?!?! You have an ipod?? Did I miss something?  So I ask her, "You have an ipod?" "No, but when you buy me an ipod I want you to put this song on it, ok?"  ummm. . . .

I know she knows about ipods. Her favorite thing to do with Aunt Mary is listen to hers. But how did she know you have to put music ON the ipod, and who told her she was getting one?!

Strike two.

Then the big one. Strike three.

We are driving back for a soccer game when she informs us that so-in-so is her boyfriend, he is in love with her (IN LOVE WITH HER!), they are going to get married and kiss. WHA, WHA, WHAT!?!? I'm sorry, did you say boyfriend, married, and kiss?Whatever happened to Daddy's her prince charming and she's going to marry him?  On the plus side, at least she said get married before they kiss (because we all know how that goes). Maybe I'm doing something right.

Since Last Time. . . . .

Lots has happened since my last blog, but mostly just every day life. Things have been so hectic that I haven't been able to sit down long enough to peck out a new entry. We've taken a  trip to the beach with Granny Karen, and spent an entire wonderful week laying next to water of one kind or another. We've partied at Pickwick with PapaGigi and the rest of the giant gang that comes. Bella was impossible to keep off the tube and out of the river. We've spent some time at Nana's cabin playing and visiting and trying to catch wild kittens. We took a trip to Ms. Melissa's and had so much fun visiting with her and the boys and SWIMMING!!!! 

We've joined ballet class where she is preparing for a role in "The Nutcracker." We have spent tons of time at the soccer fields with Brother, also known as social hour for Bella-she has made tons of friends and looks forward to seeing them to play tag and Barbies. 

One of the biggest things we've done is started preschool.  Of course its at home, but its preschool none the less. We do table work every morning, followed by outside playtime, then circle time. So far Bella has learned to spell and write her first and last name, her continents, the 4 oceans of the world, many of the states and their capitals (working on more every day), her days and months, and she is reading many small words  and 1 short book!!! We are so proud of what she has learned and can't wait to see whats to come. Hopefully, I will be able to keep up with the blog better than I have, so check back soon! I'll get pics up asap!

Little Fish in a Big Pond

I took Bella-roo to a pool yesterday for the first time since last year. I came with a bag full of toys (barbies and princesses and such) because I fully expected her to avoid the water like the plague like she did last summer.

 Boy was I wrong! She loved it! In fact, when a friend's son jumped wildly off the steps into the deeper water, guess who was right behind him? Yep, she jumped right in! I had to grab her by the pony tail to keep her from sinking to the bottom!! It scared her for half a second before she was jumping off the steps again, but this time it was safely into my arms. She loved the water so much that I ended up having to leave the pool in order to buy a pair of floaties. Even still, I wasn't sure how she was going to do with arm floats. Honestly I didn't think she'd do it at all. Floating freely is very different from hanging on to mommy like a baby monkey! She proved me wrong again!! Although she was less than thrilled about the bulkiness of the floaties, she LOVED actually floating around in the water! She wasn't scared at all! This may seem like no big deal to many parents out there, but anyone who knows my super cautious daughter, knows that this was a major feat for her. I was so proud! And thanks Aunt M. for playing with her so much in the pool! We love you!

Little Miss Manners

So, the other night we are all sitting in a fairly crowded restaurant when Little Miss Manners proudly (and loudly) announces, "I POOTED!" Yeah. She did.

I immediately lean over and inform her that that is not something we yell out in restaurants; its bad manners. So what does she do?

She leans waaaayy over the table, in order to get as close as possible to everyone,  and in her most polite voice whispers, "Excuse me everyone. . . .I pooted."

How's that for manners mom?

As God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again!

 Maybe I've mentioned it before, maybe I haven't, but my daughter is a "drama Princess"! She says some of the most hilarious things!

For example, when she is sad, she doesn't just cry. Oh no! She looks at you, tears streaming down her fat little face and says, "That makes my heart SO SAD!" But the words "so sad" aren't just emphasized; they are said with such a Scarlett O'hara type exasperation that you end up feeling ten times worse than you should, even if you never should have felt bad in the first place! The funniest part about it though, is WHEN she says it. Yes, often times, it is at a time when she feels legitimately sad-she has just been put in time out, something sad is on the television (she is very aware of people's feelings), or even if a song has sad undertones (she is oddly in tune to the moods that different music is meant to evoke). But  MOST of the time, she uses her dramatic skills at times that only seem necessary in a 3 year old's mind. "That makes my heart SO SAD" that I can't eat chocolate and suckers for breakfast! "That makes me SO SAD" that I can't buy every Barbie in the Barbie isle at Wal*Mart! (or even just 1 BRATZ doll! *see earlier post to learn my feelings on these little plastic hookers.) Sometimes, it is almost impossible to control our laughter long enough to come up with any sort of coherent response! It usually goes something more like this : "Mommy *choked giggle* Said *slightly louder and less choked giggle* No! BWWWWAAAHHHHHHHhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

And the vicious cycle begins again. Now her fragile little heart is SO SAD that you have laughed at her. . . . its her own personal circle of life. 

Another emotion she is really into these days is ANGER. She has a book that goes through the letters of the alphabet, and assigns each letter a feeling/emotion that corresponds with that letter. Well of course, the first letter is "A" for angry, which in her opinion, that is the way EVERY book should start, no matter what its about. . . . letter "A" is for angry. . . .Once upon a time, in a castle far far away. . . . 

Every time I read it, she tells me "ANNNGGRRRRYYYYY is my FAVORITE!" Should I be nervous??

Next on the list of funny things she says is Band-aid. Normally, this word isn't really all that funny. But used completely incorrectly, by a drama filled 3 year old, it can be really really funny.  Bella thinks the word Band-aid is what you call the actual boo-boo, NOT the protective bandage you put over a scrape. Now, before you read her next quote, go look in the mirror and practice your BEST Scarlett impression. You're gonna need it. "Oh Mama LOOK! That little girl fell down and got a BAND-AID!!"  HA!

If you really want to freak her out, just pop up and ask her if she wants a band-aid on her leg. Mean, but pretty funny.

And last on her list of soon to be famous quotes is, "Call me if you need me!" No, my 3 year old does not have a cell phone (I'm sooo behind the times ;); it is just her new thing to say anytime she is leaving our presence. Going to a friend's, "Bye Mommy, I love you. Call me if you need me!" Going to bed, "Good night Mommy. See you in the morning. Call me if you need me!" Going potty, "I need to go potty. Call me if you need me!"

A very wise friend once told me, God HAD to make children cute in order to keep them alive on the days they are being ugly. I for one have found this to be true, because on the days that Bella is mastering her ANGRRRY emotion, it only takes 1 "Call me if you need me" to remember how very HAPPY she makes me.