Ages and Stages - My Girls Keep Growing!

Last night after work I took the girls outside.  We grabbed a blanket and my Yoga book and we had a stretching session.  I'm amazed at the flexibility of my daughters.  I was also amazed that Rose was interested in trying this out.  Of course we had to eat Cheerios while we were yoga-ing, but they both took an interest and did some of the moves along with me.

My girls are quickly leaving the really little kid stuff behind.  They will happily tell me some shows are too "baby" for them (Emma more than Rose) and they both understand the philosophy of passing on your too small clothes, so they can graduate into more new (to them) clothes.  I don't really know when I noticed this stuff starting to happen, but it's in full flow now.

My favourite thing that is happening now is their ability to reason.  There are many less "tantrums" as they've started flexing their reasoning muscles.  We can (usually) calmly discuss sharing and taking turns, as well as if we watch movie A now we can watch movie B next time.  This doesn't always end well, but we're getting there.

Along with reasoning is the knowledge that 'it is time to sleep when I'm tired.'  Emma took a very long time to learn this skill.  Rose is further along at a younger age, and actually goes and lays down for a nap if she's tired in the afternoon.  We've gotten away from naps with her, but sometimes she'll just take one and not even tell anyone!

Last week my parents had the girls for 4 days at their place.  Usually getting them there entails tears and fits and all that (even though they always have a good time), but not this time.  Genuine excitement and full knowledge they were going to be there for a few days in a row.  My mom told me that before they were brought back home they both - separately - went to her and told her they would miss her and asked for snuggles.  How sweet, right?  Then they were super affectionate with me when they got back, which I totally missed while they were away.

The real excitement for me was also last night.  Emma watched her Murdoch Mysteries while I read Rose a story upstairs.  When it ended she went up to brush her teeth and I looked for another Murdoch.  The only one I found was the one she had just watched, so I put on Jeopardy! until she returned and gave me input on what she wanted to watch.  Well guess what?  She wanted to watch Jeopardy with me!!  I don't think I've really watched it since Emma was born.  And I could see her looking at (reading?) the words.  She thought it was great!  Let's hope she keeps her interest in it, so I can test my knowledge on any and all things another night soon.

Stay tuned for more random thoughts from me.  Toodles!

Old Friends Becoming Mom (or Parent) Friends

I am ridiculously excited. I have a coffee date tomorrow with a friend (who I love!) that I have not really spent any time with since before I had kids. My oldest child is now 6 so it's been a while. She has also had 2 girls in the intervening years so my pre-child friend is fast becoming an awesome mom friend.

This friend of mine has spent all of her time over the last few years completing a degree, often by correspondence, while having babies and toddlers and of that. She just recently finished up and I am so excited for her, not to mention in awe of the things she has accomplished during the very young child phase of her life.

Her daughters dance at the same studio as mine and now with this crazy rehearsal schedule we've been running into each other more. I was so glad she was as keen as I was to get together!   I've tried reconnecting with other old friends with much less success.

In case you can't tell I am very much looking forward to this coffee date. Partly because I'm going to indulge in some fancy (expensive) coffee and snack, and partly because I miss sitting with my friends and just talking.

I hope this is the beginning of my return to doing the things I used to do all the time before kids. Of course the things will be modified and changed to fit my current lifestyle, but so will be the people I hope to do these things with!


Toodles!

Friday Night Out - I'm So Ready For A Concert!

On Friday I am going out.  Hubby is staying home with the kids and I am spending an evening with myself.  Potentially others may join me, but right now that is totally secondary.

There is a free concert in the city's market square and I am so there.  I missed the free concert in the square last year but hubby and I did catch the one the year prior.  I am feeling musically deprived (sort of) lately, and I think this will put the spring back into my step.

Before kids, and even before hubby, I was a concert junkie.  Although I was never one for the late, late bar scene (I like to go to bed before 10pm) I would willingly forgo my bedtime for a good rock concert.  Now I'm more an arena concert person, solely because I don't want to pay a babysitter into the wee hours of the morning.  Yes, I realize that makes me seem more old and less cool, but that's the reality.  There are a few bands I would still brave the late bar concert scene for, but not nearly as many or as often I used to.

I miss concerts where I can just weasel my way up front (I'm small) and totally swoon to whomever is up there making great music.  I can't put into words how much I'm looking forward to this on Friday night.  The show starts at 8pm and I work until 5.  I've actually booked myself a haircut for 5:30 that may be an hour, but what am I going to do in between?  I guess I need to eat something, but really that will take 20 minutes.  I could show up really early - I've been known to do that before...

People seem concerned that I'm going to this function alone - why?  I used to do tons of stuff alone before I had a husband and kids.  I'm someone who loves company, but only if they're going to enjoy what I'm doing as much as I am.  I don't want someone to tag along and then not have a good time.  Then I don't have as a good a time because I'm worrying about their state of mind.  That's less fun.

So I can't wait - in case you didn't pick up on that.

Toodles!