fashionista

From quite an early age, Geekygirl has taken an interest in what she is wearing. As a toddler she loved certain shirts, and had favourite colors and fabrics. So far she has not morphed into an "all pink, all the time girl" either, which I'm pleased about. She has a fair amount of pink, of course, but seems to have an equal attraction for turquise, orange, and even black, sometimes looking like a tiny nightclubber or art student in black stretch pants and funky T's.

I used to offer her a choice of two or three outfits, matched by me, every morning, but as her independence has grown she now prefers to select the whole outfit herself. Since she also gets herself dressed, I'm pretty happy with this state of affairs.

Given how hurried we are many mornings to get everyone fed and attired, I'm not too picky about what she wears. Layering is her big thing. She was told once that it was too cold to wear her favourite spaghetti sleeved top, and I suggested putting a longer sleeved top under it. This has started a trend, it seems, now if I ever warn her that a chosen outfit is not warm enough for the day, she simply puts another shirt on underneath it.

Sometimes though, I'm really impressed with the outfits she puts together. Like this one. Notice how the turquoise spotty pants bring out the turquoise stripes in the sundress, and also echo the spots on the sleeve of the shirt she has underneath. The pink boots work very well and the headband tops it off perfectly, pulling together all the colors in the outfit. I didn't even buy any of these items with the intention of combining them. Maybe we have a future contender on "project runway"? Though judging by today's choice of green striped shirt under orange tank top with pink leggings, maybe she has a way to go!

Let them eat kibble.

With cats, dog and kids constantly clamouring for sustenance, I harbour a secret desire for a big bag of "Family Chow". Something nutritious and delicious, oh, and organic of course, that can be poured into a bowl and served to either animals or children. It would save me so much time and mental energy.

I dither so much, wondering whether I should feed the cats before the kids. The advantage of feeding the cats first is that I don't get tripped up by leg winding, apparently famished cats meowing "I'm emaciated, my ribs are showing, feed me or I'll expire right now" while I make the kids dinner. The disadvantage is that leaving the cats alone with their food while I make something for the kids gives the dog a chance to sneak over to the cat food, (and oh yes, a 60 pound dog can sneak) and gobble it all up.

The dog gets fed last, since it doesn't matter how much food she has already consumed, she will still eat the cat food given half a chance, and hover around the kids table hoovering dropped food. (How do people without dogs keep their floors clean?) Or these days, getting an offering of a pureed chicken coated spoon; Geekybaby loves to share. (yes, it gets licked by the dog and goes straight back into the babies mouth. It's five against one here and I don't have eyes in the back of my head. Besides, it's good for the immune system).

This morning the inevitable finally happened. Geekygirl was happily enjoying her bowl of cheerios and allbran. The morning almost went badly, since she had requested raisin bran (something I have only bought once, but for some reason has stuck in her mind). Fortunately, though I had no raisin bran, we did have raisins, so I sprinkled a few of those in her bowl, and breakfast got off to a good start. I was making coffee, feeding the dog, and eating my own breakfast all at the same time, when I heard

"What's this mummy?". Geekygirl proffered a small, brown, milk coated item from her cereal bowl. "That's a raisin" I replied. "Remember, I put raisins in your cereal today". She put the item back into her mouth cautiously, the removed it again.

"Mummy, it's not a raisin, it's a kibble" she said indignantly.

I inspected the item more closely, and sure enough, it was a dog kibble.

"I already ate one!" She said.

I had to laugh that it has finally come to this. I am feeding the kids kibble.

stormy days

We have finally got our much needed rain here in the bay area, but along with it we seem to have brought thunderous toddler mood swings. The atmosphere in the house is much like the weather in Kauai; if you don't like it, wait five minutes and it will dramatically change. Come to think of it, a trip to Kauai would be most welcome right now, especially if the resort had a babysitter.

Geekygirl is a child who needs her breakfast in order to become human, and since her morning moods have particularly unpredictable this week, actually getting breakfast into her has been a challenge. There was the morning when instead of asking her what she wanted, I filled her cereal bowl with her usual cocktail of cheerios, cornflakes and mini shredded wheats. I figured that since she always eats the same thing I may as well save a bit of time. But having this usual ritual of cereal choice so cruelly taken away, she burst into floods of tears and refused to eat. She finally agreed to consume her ereal as long as she was sitting n my lap. But this was not OK with Geekybaby, who also wanted this prime position.

Geekybaby has mastered bipedalism, and with his new found skill can toddle far and wide. Along with this skill of independence has come a new clinginess. It's as if his little legs carry him away from mummy almost without his control, then he suddenly sees how far away he is and comes barreling back too fast for his abilities, so desperate is his need to be back with me.

Geekygirl, a preschooler now, is learning to write her name. She is delighted with this skill, and I am very impressed that at three she can make a passable effort at writing. I was less thrilled when I found her autograph markered onto our living room wall this morning. Geekybaby has also developed a new passion for marker pens, and is no longer fooled by the old 'bait and switch' tactic of replacing one unsuitable object with another of my choosing.

Our weekly grocery run, usually a pleasant family outing turned into a scene from "Supernanny" (the part before supernanny arrives). Geekygirl, adorable and helpful shopper for the first part of the trip, tried to climb out of the cart at the checkout. As he lifted her out, Geekydaddy noticed something dripping onto the reusable grocery bags we had on the bottom of the cart (green citizens that we are). Was it a leaking milk carton? A squashed juice box or an overripe grape? No, we realized in horror. It was pee. Geekydaddy opened the box of tissues we had in the cart wile I chased the pee soaked manic child through the throngs of shoppers, and carried her out kicking and screaming to the mixed looks of amusement, disgust and I hope a little sympathy on the faces of my fellow shoppers.

The plan for lunch was to go to our favourite taqueria, so I put Geekygirl in a pull up and we headed out. Storm over and back to adorableness again, Geekygirl chattered along the street, matching letters and sounds to everything we encountered. The quesadillas were wonderful, the beer even better. The taqueria has beautiful murals on the walls. Geekygirl looked at them in delight, "Mummy, someone drew on the walls in here, but we don't draw on walls?".

Time to hide the marker pens, I think!

How Geekymummy got her boobs back

Almost 4 years have gone by during which my body has been through pregnancy, nursing, another pregnancy, and more nursing. Before they fulfilled their mammalian destiny, I had always thought of my boobs as no more than attractive accessories, subtle embellishments to elegant outfits.

OK, who am I kidding, they were adornments to be flaunted to their greatest advantage in wonderbras and teeny T shirts. Then along came the babies and I realized what marvelous but bizarre organs they truly were. Source of nourishment and comfort to my babies, and cause of such mixed emotions in me; pride (how productive I am, how well my baby is growing) angst (am I making enough milk, do I have thrush in my nipples, am I leaking everywhere, am I making enough milk?) and embarrassment (ever accidentally sprayed a fellow customer at starbucks with your breastmilk?)

In the very back of my underwear draw sit delicate flimsy brassieres from those long ago times. At the front of my underwear drawer sit washed out heavy duty nursing bras that have now, apparently, served their time.

Geekybaby has decided that he is ready to quit nursing. Ever since he tasted his first real food he has become less and less interested, until at last, he squirmed away from my embrace as I attempted his bedtime feed, and reached instead for the books on the nightstand. "I want bedtime stories, Mum, not breastmilk" he seems to be saying.

I, however, don't feel ready, and I am sad to break this bond with my baby. I nursed Geekygirl 'til she was 14 months old, stopping when I got pregnant with Geekybaby. I had intended to nurse him at least this long, or longer, blithely assuming that he would continue to want this source of motherly goodness for as long as it was available. I had always thought that quitting would be my decision, and that it would be hard for him, not hard for me. This is a bittersweet milestone that I didn't see coming. A reminder to slow down, enjoy each moment, because kids grow up too fast.

But there is a shiny side to this coin, my voracious middle of the night nurser now sleeps right through the night. As my body is no longer grabbing every last nutrient to turn into milk the spring is returning to my step, and the bags are retreating from under my eyes. Could it be that my body is finally my own again? It has been so long as a host or food supply to another being that I can hardly recall how that feels. Boobs, you have done a truly marvelous job, and I think it is time for you to retire in style and return to your original calling of looking cute under tight sweaters. You've been through quite a lot in the intervening years though, so may need a tiny little bit of help. I hear the lingerie department at Bloomingdales calling!

Happy Birthday little handsome!

Today our Geekybaby turns 1 year old. You arrived ten days late, I was staring to think you would never arrive, but you were worth the wait. Sweet and mellow from the day you were born, you take life in your stride. Your motto seems to be "if in doubt, smile". A big strong baby, you have grown into a plump and sturdy almost toddler. You have taken your first unsteady steps, but prefer to speed crawl. You can say mama, bye bye, uh oh, and dog, and are so thrilled by your communication skills. You complete our family so perfectly. Happy birthday, sweet baby.

Happy Birthday to my sweet girl

Geekygirl turned three on Friday. My tiny baby has grown into a little girl, so sweet and precious I can hardly believe she came from geekydaddy and I. Sometimes it seems the years have just flown by, and that it was only yesterday we brought you home, a tiny bundle. Yet other times it is hard to believe you are only three years old, such a big personality you have become.

Happy birthday, darling girl

Thankyou, Nordstrom

I want to take this opportunity to say thanks to the kind sales assistants in the shoe department at Nordstrom. maybe it is a sign of the weak economy, you are desperate for any kind of customer. Even a customer with two small children, one of whom is testing the springiness of all of your elegant 'shoe trying' on furniture. You smiled indulgently as I explained that the couches in the store were for sitting on and lying on, not jumping on. And that, well, OK, marching on them was an acceptable compromise. You laughed as I informed my daughter that she could not take shoes from the displays, but that she could try on the shoes I had selected. You smiled as my almost walking baby used your displays as support, and perhaps you didn't even notice him drooling on the strappy sandals.

You indulged me when I gave up browsing since I had to keep the sofa bouncer in my peripheral vision like a gazelle watching for a lion, and said, "bring me everything you have in black, closed toe, high heeled shoes", and then did not laugh as I attempted to walk in stripper style patent leather 6 inch stilletos with platform soles. Well, they looked cute in the box. My three year old daughter looked more elegant walking in these horrors than I did.

You kindly pointed out the one pair of shoes that was elegant on the outside, but soft and cushy inside, correctly assuming I would be grateful, not insulted by the implication that I can use all the comfort life can throw at me.

I bought the shoes, Geekydaddy also found a pair (not high heeled, I hasten to add) and since Geekygirl was still in good spirits, we popped up to the kids floor and got her a new pair of crocs to boot. So thank you kinds people of Nordstroms, your kindness to a frazzled family was rewarded with our purchases. We will return!