Lilja’s first joke… April 16, 2008

Q:  why did the chicken cross the road?

A: because there was poop in the street.

if that isn’t first class humor, I don’t know what is.

youthful innocence. April 5, 2008

i always wanted a child who made up songs like frances. we now have one. sort of.

one a couple of days ago: “I’m CWY-ING, I’m CWY-ING! I’m cwying because i don’t have any parents! Or donors!”

huh.

——————-

today, while playing with playdough, lilja rolled out a snake (new skill! go!) but while doing it she said to me “mama, i’m making a pee-nus!” I responded, “oh, really?” to which she said, “yes, look!” and held it up. then she described it, just as evie was walking by: “it’s very long!!! i made a very long pee-nus.” i glanced at evie, who shrugged, “well, if you’re going to make one…”

i then thought about lilja doing this at her noew school on monday, and thought about them calling DSS on us, and therefore said casually, “you know, when you go to school, you probably don’t want to make penises. i don’t think you’re teachers would appreciate it.” to which she responded, “why not? it’s pretty good, right?” and held it up again. she was right, of course. it was pretty good. but i still hope she doesn’t make a penis on monday.

duh. March 25, 2008

jay and i pull into our driveway, and see that one of jake’s friends is there. he has some old generic looking sedan car. jay said “oh, that’s paul. i forgot he had a chrystler.” then i said, “i think it’s a pontiac.” jay says, “no, chrystler has *this* kind of an insignia. actually, i think it’s an oldsmobile.” i say, “nah, i think it’s an…” a couple more ideas were bantered about.

finally, lilja pipes in: “well, i think it’s a car.”

(i’m still cracking up now.)

we are those parents. March 22, 2008

jay had to stop in to 3 stores tonight to buy jellybeans for tomorrow, b/c we just hadn’t had a chance to get them before and hadn’t wanted to buy them in front of lilja. both CVSs that she went to were cleaned out. like not even a Peep. stop n shop grocery store had a few bags of lame “jelly eggs” and a very scary chocolate bunny. whatever - lilja won’t eat much of them anyway. we just wanted her to have some kind of easter basket from the easter bunny.

it’s not like we were buying our christmas presents on christmas eve, but still.

The Boy March 8, 2008

I feel that Theo is getting a little lost in our every day observations because Lilja is such a big personality.  This is dedicated to Theo:

He is still awesome.  Theo’s smile will light up a room and melt your heart.  When you are with him, you think that all he does is smile. This would be a lie but nice that he makes you forget that he cries as well.  His eyes are still blue, but his hair is thinning.

He is almost sitting independently in a tripod.  He is so close to not falling over.  Tummy time is now old news for him.  He lifts his torso up and is ever so close to scooting backwards.

He still doesn’t like the bottle very much but takes enough as not to starve to death if Amy is out.  We are considering starting solid food sooner than later to maybe give him a food alternative. Also, since he still isn’t the best sleeper (poor Amy, he nurses all night long) some solid food may help him sleep.

We have started elimination communication with him.  We “catch” most of his pee’s after naps. It is a start and he will have a good role model in his older sister.  Lucky us, every so often we catch a poop.  I forgot how those baby poops can get EVERYWHERE. 

I am looking forward to spring in Plympton.  I want to get Theo out and about and in the fresh air. I feel badly for him being a mostly winter baby.  I am not a winter mom and had no interest in bundling him up and getting out as much as possible.  The poor boy really go the short end of that stick.

So short of writing a small novel on Theo, that is Theo to date.  Next time I will try to post a photo of him. He is still hella cute.

it’s not fair… March 5, 2008

My daughter is 2 going on 14. No surprise but more proof was laid at my feet last night.

Last night, after supper, I was trying to move her into the bathroom for a bath. I made the mistake of juggling some oranges in front of her. Well, that did it. She wanted to also try and juggle. She wanted to play.

L: but I want to play with you

After apologizing for the temptation and firmly stating that

Me: No, it is time for a bath. We can play another time

Now this is where it gets good…

L: it’s not fair, I don’t get to do anything!

She then sulks, really head hanging low sulk, into to bathroom. Restates her case and lets out

L: it’s not fair. * sssiiiggggghhhhh*, ugh. I don’t get to do ANYTHING.

I’m sorry, when did we skip the toddler and grammar school years and jump right into the teens. A two year old teen isn’t always easy and I know for sure it isn’t fair.

Lilja at the Plaza March 4, 2008

Last week Amy took the Massachusetts Bar exam. The entire family joined her in a Boston hotel. We felt that this would make it easier on Amy and on Theo. He hasn’t taken to the bottle well and, by staying with Amy, she could nurse him during the night and at her breaks.

Lilja took to hotel life rather well. In addition to the pool, television, and elevators, the next biggest draw was the food.

The first night there, Lilja and I (and her doll Pink) had a date in the hotel restaurant. She was amazing. Lilja ordered her meal herself and waited to have her meal served with mine. No fuss. No muss. She loved the bread selection and had her water in a rocks glass. She used her fork and a baby (butter) knife. On occasion she managed to use her napkin. It was a nice time to spend with just her and I. It was actually decent conversation as well.

The next morning she had a light breakfast of cereal in a glass. This was followed by the second seating which consisted of eggs, toast, bacon and potatoes brought by room service on a table. This was the best compliment to her morning viewing of Curious George. What could be better. Lilja said that she never wanted to go home.

Although slightly out of focus, you can see it suits her. Move over Eloise, Lilja is in town.

chip off the old block February 24, 2008

Lilja has started to put her blocks away in color order or color blocking, like this.  I couldn’t be more thrilled to see my genetic material showing itself in this OCD way. - Jay (I can’t import images so used Amy’s sign in)

The good, the bad and the ugly February 18, 2008

Oh, it isn’t all roses. Yesterday was one of those days.

Lilja held it together most of the day but unraveled shortly after lunch. Everything set her off. It started with her wanting one particular “exersaucer” over another. It went down hill from there.

It is hard to explain the level of frailty that Lilja is experiencing right now. I wish I understood it myself. She gets in such a state of upheaval that it becomes an emotional spiral, that often ends in a body flailing tantrum. It is hard to be strong and soft at the same time. She needs something. She needs control and to be controlled.

Later in the day she told me that she felt a little yucky from her tantrum. She gets it but, as a two year old, is helpless to stop it. She is a fierce little girl. She has all the traits that I want for her as a girl, and as a woman, moving in the world. Unfortunately, those traits also make it had for me to deal with her as a toddler.

I want to find a way to help her through this hard time. I feel that if I don’t learn how to help her though this, I will not be any help to her during her potentially volatile teen years. I have to figure out how to be loving and supportive but also strong and guiding.

No easy answers, just ongoing growth. Ouch.

So the bottom line is that she is always good. Sometimes the situation is bad. And sometimes we both get ugly.

Updated family, Updated Title February 15, 2008

Well, since Lilja isn’t a solo act anymore, we have changed the name of the blog. The title may be a work in progress but the web address will be the same… ie- mslilyz.wordpress.com

hope you enjoy it just a bit.