Blizz Buzz

It was a blizzard, an actual blizzard...which I now understand is defined by winds mostly. Looked like any other snow we've had, but it wasn't letting up at all. Then the wind kicked up somethin' fierce---40+mph, I'm told. When it first started, we talked about going outside to play, we almost made it before the gusts started. Fiona was disappointed, but then she hadn't shown much interest in donning anything more than her new fave attire, The Pink Tulle Dress. She's been wearing it practically every day since I purchased it. Only removed to be washed, then it's on again. The tulle has already taken a beating what with the cat, the car seat Velcro, rock climbing, sand sitting---the condition of the dress simply does not matter to her. She loves it intensely, cannot bear to be parted from it much longer than it takes to wash. Yesterday, after arriving home, she made a trip to the potty, I discovered her moments later stripped out of her warm clothes in order to put on The Dress.

Anyway, we talked about the severe weather outside, sitting on the couch looking out the big front window, horizontal snow, garbage cans trekking mid-street, street sign shaking steadily, "See, sweetheart? It wouldn't be much fun to go out in that right now." She said, "A whizzard momma! It's a whizzard!" Too bad she picked up the BL- part of the word very quickly, I wouldn't mind much if she'd wandered about referring to the impressive weather as a "whizzard". We found lots of things to do, it was the first time we'd been home all day, in-doors in a while. Little One actually suggested Hide-and-Seek, to my utter surprise. I was stunned for an instant because it's a completely new game to us, not sure where she picked it up. "Sure! Let's play!" I commenced counting, she went to hide. Wandering about the house, saying all the requisite phrases to enhance anticipation of being found, "Oh, where is Fiona? Where could she be?" And of course, "Where's my little girl?" She hid well, behind some long items hanging from a shelf in the down stair bathroom. Then it was my turn to hide, which I had only a moment to do 'cause Little Girl doesn't count much. I took off away from the bathroom and crouched behind one louvered door of the laundry area. To an adult it was a ridiculous "hiding" place, with a child it's perfect. Fiona, however, did not see me as I thought she might, her attention focused instead on the stairs, and as she ascended them, she's calling out, "Where's my biiiig woman? Where's my big wooooman?" I only barely succeeded in stifling my giggles at that. After Gary came home early (highways were closing) we made blizzard cookies, thoroughly enjoying the spontaneous mini -holiday.

Trading Underpants

I have a friend, a friend I met at the "Turtle Park" playground. We knew immediately that we'd get along 'cause we let our kids pee outside as needed. Today, a long lounging hang out, from R.E.I grand opening to the mall 'round about. R.E.I is expensive folks, even with all the "discounts" and membership stuff. Miss Fiona picked out a fabulous new sun hat. Sadly she's outgrown her much adored strawberry hat. Would that I could magically make it bigger, it's the hat from Maui, the hat she wore for every beaching trip, the hat that smells like that lovely baby sunscreen. *sigh* The New Hat has whales on it, blue and green, with orange tiny fishes and the occasional quadropus. When she spied it---even though I put all the available hats on the floor in a row, to be sure---the Blue Whale Hat won out over them all. My friend and her son picked a new hat, also, making a cute little shopping trip. The New Hat Crew rode the kids motor train together, by themselves---so exciting and special!

Last summer, we visited the zoo with Miss M and her son. Fiona had an accident, silly of me not to have enough extra clothes on hand, so we borrowed underpants from them. We got to repay the favor today, 'cause Little Mister had an accident. Apparently he was unnerved at first 'cause he thought it was Cinderella underpants he borrowed, but never fear it's Curious George instead...never-you-mind the ruffle 'round the waist.
I ask you, how great is life when we have friends to trade underpants? Great indeed!

Teary-eyed

Last night, nothing special to start. Homemade pizza, Fiona put an entire ball of raw dough in her mouth, spit it out, bit it again, back in the mouth, then out again. Ew.
She asked to hold hand with Us for a moment, then prayed. "Thank you god, thank you mama, thank you papa." Oh my beating heart...never had I dreamt to be so moved by such a small person with so much love!

Fish Stickers, too

It's 07:20, god bless coffee, I just removed a sticker from the nape of my neck. A fish sticker...which isn't surprising considering the first thing she did yesterday upon opening the package was attach all the stickers to her her knees. If you're new to parenting, here's a tip: stickers migrate. The bike trailer interior has been partly papered with sparkly Power Puff Girls.

Lately it's all about the fish, sharks, whales, octopus, and divers. Most especially purple diver, pink diver, blue diver, and green diver. Diver is around a lot, as is Peter Pan---who by the way, cannot seem to figure out how to buckle himself in while we're driving in the car. One day Peter Pan was flying outside the car, following us apparently. I opened the window to let him in, and then of course, Fiona made sure that I buckled him in properly---lucky it was before the light changed. The make believe play is amazing, unending, with limitless possibilities. Need to get to the grocery store, the salon, or the bike shop? Have biddy-pink stroller, will travel. Don't have any money? "Here's some purple money, mom!" Need a cake? She bakes one of colored agates and old Mardi Gras beads. Another tip: for stirring-pouring-baking in the play kitchen, cheap bead strands make for great cooking accessories, plus they're colorful which makes awesome cupcakes.

Newly considering Homeschooling and part time work. Although, eyeballing the next Training Plan, it seems that I'll need to magic some new hours into the day, I think if I could just get an extra 4 hours, make a 16 hour day/night instead of 12, that would just be peachy. With the time change this weekend maybe there'll me more time as well as daylight? Hmm.

The Day She Ate Cake...

...for breakfast. Well it was Valentine's Day weekend, I purchased these lovely heart shaped cakes to celebrate. One would have fed at least 3 people, 2 chocolate, 2 vanilla, moist single-layer, covered with an fondant-like icing...so I bought 4. We love our sweets in this house, Gary and I both awoke with sugar hangovers the following morning. Of course though there was cake left over for breakfast, what better way to start the day than with cake and coffee? None, I say! Little Girl proceeded to tear her way through about 1/4 cake, "Be Mine" smeared on her face.

Then we decided a visit to the Nature & Science Museum would be fun. Delusions abound with any kind of hangover. Under-slept Toddleator + cake breakfast + public arena + random small children = disaster. How appropriate that we visited the "Nature Unleashed" exhibit. Technically the adventure started in the Gem & Minerals when I witnessed the child acting rather territorial around another toddler, we evacuated the area and moved on. Now it's fair to note that we didn't take the normal course of action, explaining the where, the how, what's expected of Fiona before we venture anywhere. This mistake just set up the rest of the morning. While spiriting through Earthquakes Fiona is unruly, upon reaching Tsunamis she's pushing the limits, when we hit the Hurricanes she's entirely outta control. This culminated in shoving another little girl into a structure. I didn't actually see what happened. I turned in time to see the smaller girl bump/bounce off the exhibit post and fall. I don't think she was hurt, as she didn't cry, I'm apologetic to the mother. Fiona stood tall, I knelt and asked Fiona if she had indeed pushed the other little person, "Yesss" was the reply. Immediately, calmly, I said, "We're leaving," picked up my offspring and with Gary trailing slightly behind, we walked swiftly from the area. Once, at The Man's askance we tried to stop and get some snack into her, but there was no going back. The flailing had begun, the "NOoooo, I dooon't waaant (you-name-it)", hitting at what Gary offered, yelling at top of lungs....and we're done. She fought the car-seat, hollered all the way back to the house, eventually in her bed she slept, and post-nap it was as if nothing happened. Talk about natural disaster!

Funny thing the weekend prior we had a nice time at the museum, and when we were waiting for Little Girl to say bye-bye to the bronze wolves out front, we witnessed a tantruming toddler tossed over the shoulder of an exasperated---yet smiling---father. We return smiles with empathy and acknowledgment, you are not alone.
She had been pretty cranky in the last few weeks, waking at weird hours, just generally on edge. I noticed some new molars while brushing teeth the other night---teething! Which makes total sense, now that I think about it. Her behavior is right in line with how she 'handled' teething as an infant---except she's bigger, stronger, talks, and is much more expressive.

I'm still triathlon training, getting the volumes up proper before starting the Half Iron Man plan in March. My races are June, July, & August. I'm excited already!

So Sad! :(