A Word for 2009 December 31, 2008

Happy New Year, Interwebby Friends! Every year, my bff and I pick a theme word for the year. (Less resolution and more intention.) It all started when another friend gave us a Goddess in a Box kit and we spent New Years Eve playing with it. My bff is all over “traditions” and so this sort of became part of our New Years Eve repertoire. The last few years I’ve sort of phoned my intention in: Have a baby, mend a broken heart. 2009 is begging for me to pick up the baton again… only, what word should I focus on?

So far my lame contenders are: maintenance and systems. I really would like to wrap up 2009 without the crash-and-burn that ‘07 (emotionally) and now ‘08 (physically) have ended with, you know? I want to have as much in the tank at the end of the year as when I started. Is there a word for that? I bet the Germans have a word for it (they have the best words).

Input is welcome! And hope 2009 is the best year yet for each of you.

Conversations and Christmas Tractors December 11, 2008

In my family, we have a tradition of a new ornament a year. My goal is to try and make that ornament reflect who my child was the proceeding year. So… months ago I happened upon a John Deere Tractor ornament and it was perfect. It’s been sitting on the table in the kitchen ever since and we’ve talked about it a LOT.

My Christmas decorating intention was to wait until mid-December to put up the tree; less time to defend it from toddler molesting, you know. But, last Saturday we got snowed in (snowed in=1 inch of snow and an incredibly lazy mom) so I decide to pull up the tree from the basement. Now our tree is up, lights are on it, but that may be about as far as it goes. Well, lights and one ornament… the Christmas Tractor. When the squirrel monkey came into the family room the next morning, we had this conversation:

SM: Oh, Dear!

Mommy: What’s up, Buddy?

SM: Oh, No!!!

Mommy: What’s wrong, Vin?

SM: Oh, Dear! Oh, Dear! Christmas tractor GONE!

Mommy: No, sweetheart, it’s on the tree.

SM: Christmas Tractor GONE! (He holds up the empty ornament box as evidence)

Mommy: No, Buddy, Look! It’s right here. Look at the tree. (I lift him up to look into the tree at the ornament)

SM: Ohhh! Christmas Tractor. Christmas tractor on a Christmas Treat. Thank you, Mommy!

Mommy: You’re welcome, buddy. Go play.

Turns out, every bit of Christmas Tree defense is totally worth it.

(Oh… all the “Oh, Dear!” that’s been going on around here is reprogramming from when he picked up “Oh, Damnit!” and showed a gift for using it appropriately. Now we both sound like 90 year old women.)

Notes on Toddler Self-Preservation December 9, 2008

Dear Naughty Child of Mine,

Just thought I’d jot down a couple of quick notes on self-preservation that should prove handy. You know that purple vein that runs down the side of Mommy’s neck—yes, you saw it this morning—that is not the latest cool effect in toddler gadgetry. That is a warning, like the stoplight you so love. You should take it to mean that it might be time to go into your room and quietly play trucks… IMMEDIATELY.

Also, when you see the little blue teapot in the bathroom, that means Mommy is working on a sinus infection but cannot afford to dull her senses with cold medicine. It does not mean it is time to play an endless, grating song on the piano as loudly as your little fists can produce.

Finally, should you decide to see what Mommy’s lukewarm coffee looks like spread all over the dining room rug, consider waiting awhile before trying to yank the lights off the Christmas tree. See above… the vein is really your best clue on these things.

Ok… that about covers the time before you went to school this morning. I love you, Little Man, whirlwind o’ naughtiness and all.

Love,
Mommy