March is not too late for Halloween

Remember that time I canceled Halloween?

The other day Lily asked me to help her get into her kitty costume, and once she was in it, she wanted Josie to get in her chicken costume. I was pretty surprised that Lily even remembered Josie's costume, and really excited that Lily wanted to engage Josie in what she was playing. Lately Lily's been prone to scratching Josie in the face and pushing her down when she's sitting up, then running away after she thwacks her poor little head on the floor. So I got the cuties suited up and pulled out the camera, just for Aunties Emily, Cami, and Wendy :).

I have had some less-than-awesome mom moments lately. Yesterday I was cutting up some food on Josie's highchair tray, which I thought had been cleaned from lunch. Then I saw this piece of dog hair and was like, "Huh, that's nasty, but I mean, sometimes these things happen..." Then it dawned on me that I had never actually wiped the tray down, but Dirk had helpfully licked it off for me. How nice. Have some dog saliva with your dinner, Josie, it'll put hair on your chest.

Then yesterday Lily peed on our bed, all over our down comforter. Dry clean only. Cool. Also I feel like all efforts I make to discipline that child are in vain. Scolding, time outs, even spankings are treated with cheerful indifference and usually, mocking. Ok, she's not really mocking me but it feels like she is. From conversations with other moms I have come to the conclusion that feeling inept is a big part of parenthood, and I'm not alone.

Pretty soon here I'm going to put my latent knowledge of behavioral theory to use and put Lily on a reward system. If anyone has any successful methods, do tell!

I'm glad I got pictures of this little piece of time in which Lily wanted to play dress up with Josie. They are both so impossibly cute right now. I love when, out of nowhere, Lily will look at me and say, "I luw you, Mom". I wish I could've captured the moment yesterday when I was feeding Josie lunch, and she gave this big burp, then looked at me and we both started cracking up. Or how can I describe how sweet it is when your kids are so happy to see you every time they wake up? The innocence and loyalty with which children love is a whole lesson in itself. Every night I ask God for help to do better the next day; to have more patience, show more love, play more. Every day I get these small reassurances that I'm doing okay in spite of all my imperfections.

Colorado

We took a quick weekend trip to Colorado last week and had a blast. We got to stay with my good friend Erin and her husband Nathan. I got to meet her sweet baby Aoife. Looooovvee her! We had so much fun with the Boones.





We also got to visit my stepmom's parents. I haven't gotten to see them in a while and it was so great to see them and show off our girlsies.



We even got to see our good friends from Milwaukee, the Rowans. We are very seriously recruiting/begging them to move out to Albuquerque after Matt finishes his anesthesiology residency in Denver.

I can't believe how grown-up Isabel is. I've known her since she was is utero, and now she's such a big, sweet, smart girl. Amazing.





Lily and Elliot had a fun time reuniting. They were born a week apart. I have fond memories of walking along the Menomonee River with Chelsea when we were both pregnant.

Sometimes when I get lazy about blogging I just REPOST

I know I've been terrible about blogging. How about a repost?


Who Does That?

So on last Tuesday night, my friend Jen and I set out to prove that we are just as young and hip as...other young hipsters. We went to see Death Cab for Cutie, The Ting Tings, and Jack's Mannequin at The Rave, which is the concert venue near Marquette.

I guess we forgot how much we hate secondhand smoke, and dumb sorority girls that screech lyrics in your ear, stomp on your toes, and hit you in the head with their cellphones while they drunkenly attempt to take pictures.

I guess I forgot that I kind of have a temper problem when it comes to that type of girl, who has pushed you, and spilled beer on you, and literally made one of your feet numb because she has stepped on it so many times.

I guess I forgot that I was a peace-lovin' social worker until I yell in Jen's ear, "If she pushes me one more time, I'm putting an elbow out", and then actually shove her, and then suddenly the guys behind me are nodding at me and yelling, "We've got your back." Wait a minute, did I almost get in a fight Tuesday night? The answer is yes. Did Jen try to stop me? No, she only egged me on by miming strangling them with her scarf.

I may never go to another concert again. Apparently I can't control myself. I hope you all still love me.