Happy Halloween

And I bet you were expecting a picture of the Belles.
No southern Halloween here, This is pure Michigan Halloween weather!
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Boo

As in boo hiss. This is what a double ear infection feels like.

30second Thursday

Growing up fast. Cue big smiley emoticon:

Stuck in My Head

Some people get songs stuck in their head.  The official term for that is "ear worm", which my brain takes all too literally and harkens me back to the tire screeching morning I looked in the rear view mirror and saw a tick crawling on my ear. 

Literal bugs aside, we've all had that tune -- sometimes we don't even know the words -- that we just hum or sing all day long...and sometimes in to the night.  I have noticed that my brain memorizes things very easily when things are associated with a rhythm or pattern, so it's not unlike me to have a small set of numbers or other pattern that just 'sticks' with me....not as annoying as a tune, but there taking up valuable thinking space all the same.  Space I don't have to waste these days.

I've always enjoyed poetry, so it's not suprising for me to have poems or particular lines in my brain.  Nothing heavy, and I prefer my poetry to rhyme (and with even flowing rhythm please).  (Incidentally, did you know that you can sing almost any Emily Dickinson poem to the tune The Yellow Rose of Texas?  Try it, it's fascinating.)  So to get to my point, the other morning I asked Big Belle to go get something from her room.  I don't remember what it was, but without incident she went to do it (which in and of itself is amazing).  While skipping merrily down the hall -- all 10 feet of it -- I heard her chanting "Get what you get and don't have a fit" over and over.  I thougth it was cute.  Not advice she usually remembers, but cute. 

Meanwhile, ClaraBelle was finishing her predictible bowl of Cheerios for breakfast.  Really beginning to blossom, ClaraBelle LOVES making up words.  She loves making up a lot of stuff, and is beginning to tell some very interesting stories....  The words she makes up used to just be completely nonsense words, occasionally still very babyish.  But she is slowly demonstrating some more command of the English language, and throws some words together that, while not intentionally doing so, connect quite well.  For no reason -- or none that I knew of -- she announced "Mommy, you know what?  It's a great idea like a quesadilla!"  Finding that a fascinating phrase, I was intrigued, and wanted to know what it meant.  I'll spare you the conversation, mostly because I didn't quite understand it myself, but the gist was that it had no meaning, it was just fun to say.  She likes quesadillas, but that had nothing to do with them being a great idea.  The phrase just fit. 

And so, for the past few days when I find myself having a minute to just "space out", I find my  mind coming back to this "it's a great idea like a quesadilla".  I love it!  Usually, quesadillas turn out to be a good idea.  And whatever else goes on, I'm glad to think that she comes into contact with a great idea.  So for now, I'm using this ear worm to motivate me throughout the rest of the week.  And it's working, because it makes me smile, and it makes me think how amazingly simple, yet more complex than adults can understand, that children are.  So go forth people, and as you go through your weekend, whatever you do feel confident that "IT'S A GREAT IDEA LIKE A QUESADILLA!"

Baby Games

Watch for a purposeful blink in response to a wink, and peekaboo.

ONE WORD WEDNESDAY

"HELLO"

Early Morning

Almost makes me want to get to work just for the view. There are times near-rural living has an edge up.

ANSWER

The answer to yesterday's picture post?

May 2003, Carolina Beach, NC.  It was when we eloped.  We were walking out on a pier, and a man pulled in a fish.  It was a baby nurse shark.  He offered to let Chris hold it.  Supposedly it felt like sandpaper.  I didn't touch it.  I love this picture, because it tells a story, even if you don't know the real story.  You can see the excitement and the "oh my gosh I'm holding a shark!" in his expression.  Not to worry animal lovers, the shark was released afterwards.

Rewind Monday

Let's start something new...to help inspire me.

    

Here's rewind Monday.  I show you a picture, see if you can tell how old it is.  I'll let you know the results tomorrow.  I love this picture!  And I know that someday the girls are going to think their dad is even cooler than they already know him to be, because HE'S HOLDING A REAL SHARK!!!!  I think that's pretty cool!!!!

Please Excuse This Commercial Interruption

For 5 1/2 years, all Big Belle was "allowed" to watch on tv was Nick Jr.  A bevy of mostly quality children's programming that actually had some educational components to it.  Many shows were more quiet and peaceful, and even I grew to like shows like Dora that I originally found unappealing.  Fast forward to this past summer.  The 6th birthday was approaching, friends were a big part of the social scene that comes with being a first grader, and suddenly these kids' shows just didn't cut it any more.  At first it was iCarly...and several other shows on the Disney Channel.  We hear Disney and think 'how bad can it be, it's Disney!' and they aren't too bad...if you're a pre-teen.  I tried to steer her away from some of the shows I just deemed inappropriate -- with boyfriends and best friends being mean and such -- and it worked.  For a while.  Being the television police is hard.  

Enter: Sponge Bob.  I had banned him as long as I could.  He was here.  It was supposed to be a "special treat".  And that backfired.  He was/is here to stay.  And then I read an article about research that was done that actually proved that kids were dumber after watching a half an hour of Sponge Bob versus other children's programming.  Oh the horror!  My stomach dropped.

Over break I tried to introduce some other things, and while Big Belle didn't watch a ton of tv, during her rest times after lunch, I put on some Looney Tunes.  Ahh the good old days.  Were these really any better than Sponge Bob though?  Perhaps only for the fact that they contained some quality classical music. Big Belle quickly pointed out and asked "why is he trying to kill the other guy?"  It sounded so horrible when she put it that way.  

I still encourage Nick Jr. as much as I can (when the tv is on that is).  After all, there are 2 little Belles who don't need to have their minds warped by sponges that live in a pineapple under the sea.... Another thing that didn't dawn on me originally that I LOVE about Nick Jr.:  no commercials.  All of the other stations have what feels like a bazillion commercials.  I was interested in how this would affect the girls.  Would they start the "I want that, can I have that?" to all of the glittery toy commercials?  So far, I have yet to hear any comment regarding commercials.  

The other day as we were headed to school, Big Belle dutifully reported to me "Oxy Clean does a good job getting the stains out of jeans".  She had worn jeans that week, I wondered if she spilled something and her teacher was sharing a bit of advice.  And then I wondered, wow, maybe that stuff really does work well.  I've always been curious...."Did your teacher tell you that?"  I queried.  

"No, I heard it on tv."  Well, I guess those channels are more educational than I thought.

I still haven't bought any yet though.

Proud

This is Big Belle's homework folder.
Look closely:  very very closely.
You can just vaguely make out what looks to be random folder graffiti....
But lo- it's not.
It says, ever so sweetly,
Clara.
And it is her first official unsolicited "all by myself with no help" autograph.
Sure, there could've been better places to write this.  Like the paper she had 2 seconds before.  But, it's not the worst spot she's chosen while wielding some kind of marking utensil.  Go ClaraBelle.  This made me so happy.

Fun With Hair

Why? Because we can. Finally.

Back to the Grind

Big Belle and I head back to school/work tomorrow and boy is my brain tired!  2 1/2 weeks of constant Big Belle is a lot of work in and of itself.  She still remains uninterested in any toys, so her time at home is spent following me around.  The tv gave me some reprieve, but I did my best to make sure she didn't park herself in front of it, which she isn't necessarily prone to do, but you just never know.  She wants to sit down and read books, and for the most part she can, but she always wants to one up herself.  Read books she just is nearly ready to read, but not quite.  Like chapter books.    Almost, just not quite ready....

We did a lot of errands together, and I did a lot of closet cleaning.  During this time, Big Belle was always by my side.  Sometimes she was a big help.  Most of the time she kept me company, and asked questions.  The usual "why are you doing it that way, what are you doing, why..." etc.  But mostly she wanted to do mental math and mental spelling.  Which totally impresses me -- don't get me wrong! And it's GREAT for her. I mean, what teacher/mother doesn't want their child working on 5+5+2=12 in their head, and coming up with that on their own? I'm thrilled!! But at the same time, my brain has to think to double check that she's right or wrong. And while that may seem a simple feat, while you're trying to find the 2T bin versus the 9-12 month clothes bin versus whose sock could this possibly be and where is its mate? Your brain wants a one way street to focus.

I say I'm going back to work tomorrow, but really I am not.  ClaraBelle and Baby Belle's day care is closed tomorrow (ugh, don't get me started) and so I will stay home with them.  It's not ideal, but it's a heck of a lot cheaper than paying a sitter for the whole day.  And it will be nice to give Clara Belle some quality big sister time.  Maybe I'll even have time for a real blog post.  One, you know, interesting!

Saturday

It was a good day for one of these.

Buy these...please

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Socks!

Big Belle and I are on a mission, and boy am I glad she's helping. Man (woman) was not meant to match socks alone. You should hear the sighs and "hard work" sighs coming from my partner. In fact, she just asked "mommy, did you do this when you were a little girl?"
Great pause.

"yes I did, and I really enjoyed it!!

"oh. Well, I guess it could be fun. Like when we throw socks up in the air!"

Me watching piles of socks whiz by my head.

"Mommy, are you going to help? It actually is a little fun when we find matches!"

"Mommy is blogging all this fun."

But now, mommy must intervene, as toys that have never been played with are suddenly fun--and filled with socks.

Think of me.

Beach Trip, part two

This is a much better picture than her hightailing it as far up the beach as possible, because "I don't like that big pool" was repeated many many times.  

"It's the ocean, it's not a pool dear."  

"Well, I don't like it."

Fair enough.  Sandcastles are fun too.

Boredom Busters

Here are a few things that have definitely entertained me as of late:

1) Watching Big Belle sing in her microphone headset along with Justin Bieber rockin' You Tube belting out Baby.  Definitely entertaining.

2) Enter, Clara Belle.  Determined to finally assert herself as budding "big girl" she is slowly developing her sense of want for independence.  So when she asks me if she can get her own spoon to eat her yogurt one day, I certainly say of course.  And then watch as she grabs a giant serving spoon.  But I don't stop her, because she did it herself, and it doesn't seem to bother her that the spoon is as long as her arm and the bowl of the spoon is nearly as big as her face.  She eats.  She's proud.  And, most importantly, I'm thoroughly entertained.

3) And Baby Belle.  Now past her first birthday, she's entered this second year of life head on.  Following in the footsteps of each Belle ahead of her, Baby Belle has now developed a serious dislike for sitting in the bathtub.  Don't ask her to sit, and don't try to make her sit.  unless you want to be entertained.  Yes, that's what I'm calling it.  Because I've learned that -- most of the time -- temper tantrums can be really funny. And much like her oldest sister, Baby Belle has seemed to develop the perfect tantrum at a much earlier stage than Clara Belle, but I actually think it's worked out a bit better that way.  Hopefully that continues.  All we have to do is look at Baby Belle and quietly tell her no (as in "no, don't eat that piece of dog food"  "no, stop throwing food off of your high chair" "stop hitting me!" and she goes face first on the floor.  And then pushes forward like a dumptruck.  Her face has slid across the floors of Chuck E. Cheese (gasp, I kNOW!), a hotel room (eesh), every room in our house (possibly eek depending on the day), and the beach -- hello exfoliation!  It's possible I might try to catch this on video...

4) Clara Belle learning to enjoy books, and learning to tell us books by using the pictures as guides.  It's fascinating to hear her interpretations of what she sees, and we're so happy to see her get involved and excited about learning.  I know she doesn't realize it she's doing it, which makes it even greater.

5) Watching Big Belle realize that the world is open to her on a whole new level now.  Meaning, there is very little she can not read when she is out in the world.  Posters and signs and information, she is so eager to take it all in.  She finished her first marking period of first grade with great marks.  I will refrain from giving you exact details, but if you are family and want to know just how great she did, feel free to ask.  :)  <--- I'm trying to rid myself of this horrible smiley emoticon addiction, but it's not going well....

6) Watching Baby Belle move away from being a baby.  Sigh.  I'll save that for another post.

7) I'm refraining from mentioning the great deal of cleaning and organizing that is a part of our existence.  You can thank me for not whining now.