Reed: boy in flight

Reed Manhart, our godson. If he was a superhero his name would be Aqua Man. You ain't seen nothing like the likes of him. He has been swimming- actually swimmming- since before he turned two.

He is like a Golden Retriever who can't put down the tennis ball.

And...if no one will throw him, he will just throw himself!

Look closely at the young face of your future American Olympic swimmer. I would put money on it.

Ms. Maya Captain Crazy Hair Carver

Maya deserves a blog post all about her. (And, Ange, given your comment on the last post, this one- which was already in the works- is for you.)

Currently she does some amazing facial expressions, is quite a ham on the potty (although not much of a producer as it turns out), and she keeps our family precariously balanced between outright hysterics and maddening frustration.

Inherent spitfire meets terrible twos. Yikes.

What's the one thing that you might never want to have in Maya's possession?

Dynamite, sharp knives, a small kitten, a cut crystal vase, nail polish...

Conversations with Maya sound like this:

"I don't want that blue shirt! I DON'T!!"

"Okay, Maya."

"I said I want that blue shirt! Give it to me!"

"Okay, Maya."

"I don't want it! I don't!"

or

"Momma, what are you doing?"

"I'm weeding."
"What?"

"I'm weeding."

"What are you doing?"

"What am I doing, Maya?"

Sad shake of her head, "I don't know."

Insert any daily task into this conversation and it happens 10 times a day.

She puts her blanket over her head and walks around like Casper the ghost to hide the banned pacifier in her mouth. She steals shoes and hides them all over the house. She puts 5 Bandaids on various parts of her body everyday. She prefers cereal and pasta to all other food. She adores her big sister.

I asked her if she was a silly goose today and she said, "No. I'm Maya."

If Maya was a color she would be siren red. If she were a food she would be 3 alarm chili. If she were a mountain she would be a volcano. If she were a soundtrack she would be disco meets electronic dance. If she were an activity it would be skydiving.

But since she is just a kid, I guess we'll call her "ours."

She came without volume control, without the ability to sit down, without warning or instruction. We always say it's a good thing she is so damn cute.

Ella, not meaning to be funny, said "I think when Maya grows up she's going to be a clown."

I think she already is.

from the scraps of me

I swear sometimes my children are sucking me dry.

Or trying to see just what will happen when I lose my mind.

Or perhaps wishing to see if it is possible to make my eyes bug out and my head spin around.

Sometimes I feel like they want to own me, to possess the deed to my body, my soul, my checkbook, my heart, my every whim and want. It's almost as though, if I left them to their own devices, they would pull and tear and rip, each grabbing an appendage and holding it up in victory: "I got her arm!"

"Oh, yeah? Well I've got both her legs!"

And they would bleed me dry, laying claim to each and every scrap and morsel of me, each hording their share in their respective corners, proud of the portions that had secured.

But, alas, then one would want the ear the other had, while the other would HAVE TO HAVE my liver and then the fighting and stealing would erupt and they would be right back where they started. Because that is all the girls do these days- fight, terrorize, whine and complain.

Did I mention it has been kind of a hairy transition for me with Sandi being back at work after 14 days off?

Out of sheer necessity I took them to the childcare at the gym for an hour this morning in hopes it would improve my parenting morale (it did) and then spent a few decent hours before our babysitter came and I went to work all afternoon (glorious). I came home to happy, missing- Momma-girls, who gave big hugs and appreciated me and told me silly stories.

Then we went upstairs to bed and they fought over who got the most snuggle time with me.

I guess I should be flattered but all I want to do is run from the room, pulling my hair for comfort.

Some days I like my kids better from afar.

beach vacation paradise- installment one

We spent 12 days at camp.

Sand, sun, beach, good food, laughs, only the teensy bit of rain, and memories to last a lifetime.

Here is the first installment of (some of the 700) pictures Sandi took:
I'm not sure if I'm lecturing Maya or holding something up to show her. Either way...a typical moment.

Me and Kenna, of the Carver blue eyes, who just turned one.

Even Coconut came to camp!

Full moon on the lake + a kayak ride = bliss.

This would be the teensy bit of rain: